It's almost time to celebrate your baby's first birthday! It hardly seems possible, but the big day is drawing near. Be forewarned: No matter how elaborately you plan, your baby will be pretty oblivious to the whole affair.

Still, you can't deny a parent the opportunity to celebrate such a major milestone. Some ideas:

Party at home. Keep the celebration simple by hosting it in your own home or backyard. Your baby will be comfortable there, and you'll have an easier time handling the decorations, food, and supplies. Invite just a few other babies or kids.

Make it a family affair. Plan a lunch or dinner with relatives. Your baby will enjoy seeing all the happy, familiar faces, and if you take lots of pictures, he or she will have a permanent reminder of everyone who was there to share the moment.

Take it outside. If the weather's nice, choose a local park or playground and have a special picnic. Or, head to a local zoo.

Take it inside. If the weather's not great, and you don't want to party at home, consider a local baby gym, community center, church social hall, kids' museum, restaurant (you may want to go with a kids'-themed place or a fast-food restaurant with a play space), or a relative's house.

Share the birthday. Find out whether any of your friends are celebrating their baby's birthday around the same time and go in on a party together.

Mark the moment. Snap a picture of your baby in an adult-size outfit. Save the clothes and bring them out for a photo every year – and watch how your child grows!

General birthday party tips

Think safety. It's crawling, walking, and climbing time – safety gates and other childproofing devices are essential. Stow away precious ornaments and breakables and keep pets well out of the way (for their own protection!).

Also, keep a watchful eye on the party area for hazards, such as forks and small swallowable objects, and clear them away quickly.

Keep it at baby pace. Plan the party for before or after your baby's regular nap time. And if you're inviting other young guests, check out their nap times with their parents. Once one starts crying, they all might!

You may want to keep the party brief – a couple of hours is probably long enough at this age. And since babies will play alongside each other, not together, keep a variety of toys available within a large, safe floor space.

Recruit a helper. Make sure you have a willing volunteer to take plenty of photos and video. You may be too busy, and you don't want to miss those shots of your baby digging into his or her first birthday cake!

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