David Arquette keeps it simple for Coco's 1st bday

"I don’t believe in overdoing the first . They won’t remember it. They have no idea [it's their ]."

-David Arquette, on daughter Coco‘s first on June 14th.

What do you guys think? Did you have a big blowout, a small family party, or anything at all for your child’s first?

Comments

Ebony on June 22nd, 2005

I can understand both points of view about whether to have a party for a 1 yr old or not.I know when my little girl turned one. We had a very small party. I wouldn’t even call it a party. Just me, my husband, my mother and a small cake. Which we let her put her hands in and smash all on her face. However I do have friends who have had big blowouts for there children’s first birthdays. They know the child won’t remember it. The party is for the parents, grandparents and other adults who love this baby and to commemorate that special day when the baby was born. And they usually video tape the event so the child can and will see it later when they are old enough to understand.

Lisa on June 22nd, 2005

My first babies first birthday is coming up. We just ordered her cake today, $100 for a custom pink castle cake. But we are only having 20 people so it’s kinda extravagent but not to much. She is my princess. I think 1st b-day are more for the parents like, we survived the first year!

julia thorne on June 22nd, 2005

We had a small family party. But I think at that age the party is more for the parents to celebrate making it through the first year of being parents than it is for the baby.

Jane on June 22nd, 2005

I’m not a parent – but I just wanted to say that my parents had a small family party for me – I don’t remember it (duh! lol) but I love knowning that I had my whole family there and that is was a special day.

Nicole on June 22nd, 2005

I know people who have spent hundreds of dollars on their son’s 1st birthday, renting tents and chairs and having a huge blowout, almost like a wedding! I think this is a bit over the top for a 1-year-old, someone who’s most likely going to sleep through the whole thing anyway! I agree with David Arquette, a first birthday should just be a small family celebration, nothing too overdone.

michelle anne on June 22nd, 2005

boy is she tiny for one

Sarah, CBB Editor on June 22nd, 2005

That’s not a recent photo, Michelle Anne.

Jayden's Mommie on June 23rd, 2005

For my son’s first birthday, we simply had relatives and a few close friends come over for a small celebration at home. It was definitely not a big blowout by any means. It just seemed natural to have my son surrounded by people that he spent the first year of his life getting acquainted and familiar with, and not confuse him with a huge celebration which he wouldn’t remember anyway. Of course we took many pictures, especially with the cake, so there is some tangible reminder of that birthday…And to the comments about the party being more for mommy and daddy than the baby, I couldn’t agree with you more! It definitely is an occasion for celebration because there are days in which you question your sanity (as any mother of a 2 1/2 year old would concur!). Celebrate making it through one year and look forward to many more, whether you are throwing a small intimate family party or a huge get-together! They are only babies for a short time so enjoy it while it lasts!

abbey on June 23rd, 2005

i am very against large parties for one-year-olds, unless the party is held in conjunction with a 4th of July celebration or something to take the attention off of the baby. when i was a nanny, my family had this insane party for their one-year-old at Chuck E. Cheese (i hate Chuck E. Cheese). He had no idea what was going on while his older sister, her friends, and numerous other obscure family members continuously doted on him. he went pretty much the whole day without a nap, which threw our careful schedule into chaos for the remainder of the week.

similar ordeals happened to two other familes i sat for with their one-year-olds. everyone just ends up so cranky and high on sugar in the end, it’s just not worth it. i’m all for smashing their little hands in the cake, but huge parties for one-year-olds? not my idea of a fun time.

sorry so negative. i’ve been scarred by birthday parties

~ abbey

Molly on June 23rd, 2005

I don’t have kids yet, but I don’t really feel a big party is necessary for the first birthday (or even second, lol).

However, in some cultures, first birthdays are a big deal. We just received an invitation to the birthday of my little cousin, who’s of Japanese descent, living in Hawaii. They’ve rented out a tea house for the party, and EVERYONE’s invited. The family knows there’s no chance we could get out there, but we got invited anyways, just like a wedding.

This is because so many babies used to die before turning one. By reaching the first year, they had a high (or higher) probability of living to adulthood. It was celebrating the kid’s life because you couldn’t do that at birth. I’ve heard that’s why in some cultures (i.e. Japanese, I guess), 1st birthdays are huge deals.

patti on June 23rd, 2005

My oldest had a relatively big party, but he was the youngest of 13 cousins, so it was more for the other kids, and he did enjoy putting his hand in the cake several times and waving it around until the white drapes and light tan carpet were thoroughly coated in blue and white frosting and what turned out to be chocolate cake! We ordered white, but Albertson’s grocery had the tradition of giving a little one layer round cake with every 1st birthday order, so baby could demolish one if mom and dad wouldn’t let him into the big cake. I didn’t care either way, but the free cake would be whatever they had extra of, which turned out to be chocolate. He’s 23 now, and loves looking at the pictures, and his cousins still laugh about the flying cake! And his fiance loves the photos too, and is planning similar when they have kids.
By child #2 most of the cousins had scattered, but my mother- & sister-in-law insisted on similar party, and this time I got lucky, the baby size cake was white! With white and pale pink frosting, instead of the blue and black panda bear, so it wasn’t nearly the clean up. With baby #3, it was 11 years later, and I took just my older 2 and her to a seafood/steak buffet place and had a little one layer white cake with pink frosting, and she was more interested in the mushrooms in her brother’s salad! They fascinated her, the cake was like, oh, am I supposed to do something with that? But she loves her video as much as they loved their photos (videos were just starting to be affordable when my second was in preschool) so whatever you do, capture the memory for the kid somehow, they’ll want to see it someday, or their significant other will.

She’s a darling, I just saw photos of her toddling recently. Hope the rumors that Court is having another turn out to be true!

ash on June 23rd, 2005

My parents had a pretty big blowout for my first birthday. There were around 200 people there, and it was more or less a party for the adults…but of course, everyone was there to see me . We have a huge family and come from a small area where everyone knows each other so it was natural to have a big party like that. I would love to have a huge bash for my child’s first birthday too.

Essie on June 23rd, 2005

Each to their own, I think! My parents threw my sister a big first birthday party. By the time I turned one three years later, they had emigrated to a new country, money was tight and they had few friends and family around, so a party wasn’t an option. Needless to say, it makes no difference to either of us!!
What’s great is, I think it sounds like Coco is being brought up very down to earth. I’m sure she has more toys than she could ever play with, she lives a privileged life and is surrounded by loved ones all the time. So I appreciate where David is coming from.

Rose on June 23rd, 2005

We had invited as many people as we could cram into our tiny shoebox home for my son’s 1st birthday party. The night before, his little nose started running. We thought “uh oh…his first cold, on his first birthday!” But we had no idea that the next 24 hours would be so rough. We couldn’t cancel so everyone came, but my son ended up huddled in the corner trying to get away from everyone because he was so sick . After the chaos died down and everyone left, we actually realized he was wheezing – so, first birthday, first cold, first trip to the children’s hospital ER! I agree that its memorable for the adults, I just wish it was a bit happier of a memory!

Karlye on June 23rd, 2005

I thought that she was born on the 13th~

Beth on June 23rd, 2005

I am the oldest of 2 girls – my husband is #6 our of 8. While I can’t say that I remember my first birthday, I do have pictures from it & those are memories enough. I always had parties wether it was family of friends from school. I loved it. My husband on the other hand doesn’t remember EVER having a birthday party until I threw him a surprise party when he turned 21. We have 3 children (4, 2, & 6 months). We had parties for the first 2 & sent invitations to everyone that I could think of that would enjoy being there with our baby on their special day. My youngest will be a yr old right before Christmas. I already have the invitations ready (Care Bears!!) & expect the same turn out for her. I just want to make sure my children remember having friends & family around a lot.

Jennifer on June 23rd, 2005

I had a huge party for my son when he turned one (almost 5 years ago) but when my daughter had her first birthday (in 2004) it was a much more low key affair. Just family and a few friends. I preferred my daugther’s party. The first birthday party is really for the parents and other family members anyway. Now for my son’s 5th birthday in July he’s having a pool party and has invited 30 kids, but at least he has a better chance of having memories for this one.
Speaking of birthdays, one of my son’s best birthdays was his 3rd. We just had it at a local park and had lunch for all the kids. It was cheap (reserving the pavilion at the park was free) and the kids had a great time.

Juli on June 23rd, 2005

When my cousin had her oldest’s 1st birthday in 1998, she rented out a hall and invited about 25-50 people (don’t remember). Her daughter ended up sleeping through the whole thing while in a high chair.

tink1217 on June 23rd, 2005

Most people that have large extravagant parties for their first bday are Italian or their culture dictates that is what happens. I am sure there are some who are not Italian or have a culture that dictates a large sirst bday that do it anyway though. Its a matter of choice. For both my children I had a small family get together with a special cake just for the baby and one for everyone else.

I know a woman I used to work with spent $350 on her DD first bday party dress and they flew to NY so the whole family could be together. There were over 100 people there and the party cost thousands. The baby’s uncle gave her something like 10 acres of land as a bday gift. They were Italian. VERY Italian!

Another good friend had a large first bday for both her children, but smaller than the one I mentioned above. They are also Italian. About 50 people, a huge cook out, $150 party dress for her DD and a bday suit for her DS that cost at least the same. Her inlaws are doctors(her husband’s brother and his wife) and their gift was a savings account already set up for each of the kids for college. They would pay their college entirely. Both of the kids! I like that gift more than the 10 acres of land!

Most people I know have smaller family parties. The babies don’t remember it, but it is fun for parents anyway.

If I ever have another child I will still have a smallish family get together with a few friends thrown in too.

jessamy on June 23rd, 2005

I don’t have kids, but I’m the proud aunt of 3 beautiful kids: Matteo (now 8), Bianca (4) and Noemi (2). For their first birthday my sister decided to have a small party with friends and relatives. it’s true that the kid won’t remember his first birthday but I think the party can be a great opportunity to reunite the whole family and have a special day together.
For Matteo’s first birthday we took a lot of pics and made a movie, and now that he is older he can see all the things we made for him and be happy for that.

Amy on June 23rd, 2005

We had a tiny little party for my son’s first birthday. I also agree that a first (or even second or third) party should not be overblown-it is too overwhelming for little ones. Good for David and Courteney.

Erika on June 23rd, 2005

I just had my daughter 1st Birthday this past weekend. It was a huge party. We are Nigerian and we have big parties for celebrations such as naming ceramony, baby blessing, birthdays and of course weddings. We spent over 1000 dollars but it was fun and worth it. We wanted everyone to enjoy and have lots of delicious Nigerian to eat and take home with them. I had a 3 tier wedding style cake made for the guests along with a small beautiful fondant icing fairy cake made for her. We had a DJ, moonbounce, tents, and a chef prepare the food. We went all out for my little princess.

Michele on June 23rd, 2005

I had both. A small family thing with cupcakes on her actual birthday, and a big bash in the park on the weekend. Yes, I rented a tent, yes it was a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun too! And her schedule wasn’t messed up, she didn’t have a “sugar high”, or anything. She had a great time standing at the ice bucket with her little playmate.

And to tink1217. Not only Italian people throw big parties, nor was I dictated by my “culture”.(which is american culture, btw) We have a big family, and my husband and I worked hard this year raising our daughter, so we wanted to celebrate. Just curious why you felt the need to label big parties as “Italian”?

ash on June 23rd, 2005

I agree with Michele. I posted above about the huge party my parents did for me. I may have only been a year old, but I still have pictures from it and I can assure you that I was having a great time! I don’t think parties are overwhelming for all children. In every picture, I have a huge smile on my face. My parents don’t regret having the party for one second. Some of my fondest memories growing up were from all of the parties my parents had for me, and I’m really thankful for that .

Beth on June 23rd, 2005

I work at Chuck E. Cheese and I despise the people that come in and throw huge parties for their child’s first birthday. Half the time we are really busy and don’t have the twenty minutes it takes for the kid to figure out that they are supposed to blow out the candles. And then the parents are incredibly rude to you and don’t tip at the end of the party. But in relevance, I think it should be a small get-together at home.

tink1217 on June 23rd, 2005

MIchele, I did mention that not all people who throw big parties are Italian. I just know of two that I was friendly with and they were Italian and I know its a custom in some cultures as I mentioned. Whats the big deal!

Alex on June 24th, 2005

I was born in Minnesota, and the rest of my family lived in St. Louis, so for my first birthday my grandparents and an aunt flew up. It wasn’t anything special, I guess, aside from the visiting relatives. My dad decided it would be great timing for me to eat ice cream and cake for the first time, which I promptly threw up a few minutes later. I think throwing a big party for the first birthday is more for the parents to show off their child. There’s nothing wrong with that, but a big party is really unnecessary.

lulu on July 13th, 2005

my parents had a really big birthday party for me when i was one, inviting all my family and their friends. Mum woke up early and made a ridiculous amount of food. she was so excited. nearly no one turned up cos my mum and dad were pretty young for parents and all their friends had other stuff to do (which they had forgotten to tell my parents about). Only family came. All my other brothers and sisters first bday parties were pretty small after that.