Get ready to party! Celebrate your little one’s first birthday with unforgettable first birthday theme ideas. From whimsical wonderlands to adorable animal adventures, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re planning a small get-together or a huge gathering, having the right first birthday party theme will make the party more fun and easier to plan.
First Birthday Themes
Your theme will guide your choices for everything else – cake and smash cake, plates and napkins, activities, and decorations. Choose a theme you love!
What’s the best first birthday theme?
Planning a first birthday party can be so exciting, but choosing the right theme makes it extra special! Whether you’re going for something trendy, timeless, or totally unique, we’ve rounded up some of our absolute favorite themes to help you plan an unforgettable celebration.
Check out these amazing ideas, organized by category, to find the perfect inspiration for your little one’s big day!
TRENDY FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES
Pick a theme that’s on-trend and it will be easy to find decor and accessories!
First Trip Around the Sun
A “First Trip Around the Sun” birthday party is a fun way to celebrate your baby’s incredible first year with a whimsical, celestial theme.
From sunny decorations to playful space-inspired details, it’s a unique and joyful way to honor all the milestones of their first orbit!
If you love the idea of a First Trip Around The Sun first birthday party, we’ve got you covered with tons of ideas in this post.
One Happy Dude
Every parent wants their child’s first birthday to be a day filled with joy and laughter, and that’s exactly what the “One Happy Dude” birthday party promises to deliver.
Related Post: Guide to Planning a One Happy Dude First Birthday Party
Wild One First Birthday Party
Roar with excitement at the “Wild One” first birthday party! This jungle-themed bash features adorable animal decorations, playful games, and a lion-shaped cake.
Celebrate your little cub’s first year with a wild and fun adventure!
Check out our post about How to Plan a Wild One First Birthday Party for so many awesome ideas!
More Trendy First Birthday Party Ideas
- One-der the Sea (Boy | Girl)
- One-der Woman
- Mr. and Miss One-derful
- Whole Llama Fun
- Let’s Have a Ball
- Only Sunshine
- Baby Shark
All of these trends make for great birthday party ideas. A birthday party theme that’s on trend will be easy to shop for because it’s what people are buying right now.
Amazon has great party kits that make decorating simple!
First Trip Around the Sun Birthday Party
- 🌞【Package Included】 12 12-inch Boho Balloons and 4 Long Balloons, Tablecloth*1 Piece, First Travel Around the Sun Banner*1 Piece, Knife and Fork*16 Pairs, Water Cup*16 Pieces, Big Sun Pan*16pcs, Small Sun Pan*16pcs, 4pcs 8 inch paper pom-poms.
Mr. One-derful Birthday Party
- First Birthday Boy Decoration – Package includes: 1st Birthday Backdrop, 3pcs 1st Birthday Balloon Boxes, Happy 1st Birthday Banner, Newborn-12Months Photo Banner, 1st Birthday Crown, High Chair Banner, One Cake Topper, 1st Birthday Milestone Posters, Number 1 Foil Balloon, 90pcs Latex Balloons, Balloon Garland Strip, 100 Dot Points Stickers, Balloon Ribbon, Instruction.
CHILDHOOD ICONS FIRST BIRTHDAY THEMES
- Dr. Suess
- Disney Birthday Party
- Nursery Rhymes
- Alice in One-derland
- Winnie the Pooh
- Peter Pan
For a unique first birthday party, let Alice in Wonderland invite your guests to fall down the rabbit hole into a fantastical tea party full of magical details.
Think mismatched tea cups, petite sandwiches, and adorable cake toppers.
BOOK FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES
Birthday party ideas inspired by your favorite book character will be fun for guests of all ages, especially if you choose a classic.
- The Little Prince
- Guess How Much I Love You
- The Giving Tree
- Where the Wild Things Are
- Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party
- Peter Rabbit
FAMILY INTERESTS AS FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES
What does your family like to do for fun?
Is your baby a future fisherman or fisherwoman? A fishing birthday party theme will grab your party-goers hook, line, and sinker!
CHARACTER TRAITS FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES
Let your baby’s personality shine on their first birthday. If your baby is always smiling, a sunny party is the theme. Or if you have a little troublemaker on your hands, a Little Rascal’s first birthday would be cheeky.
- Sunny Disposition
- Little Rascal
- Cute as a Button
- Happy as a Clam
FOOD AS PARTY THEMES
- One in a Melon
- Berry Fun to Be One
- Berry First Birthday
- Sweet One
- Milk & Cookies
- Going Bananas
- One Sweet Peach
In addition to being a delightful pun, melons create a bright color scheme for a first birthday party. Consider a full-on watermelon theme with colorful pink details and party favors to match.
Here’s another unique birthday party theme – Going Bananas! Think monkey-themed birthday cake, faux greenery, primary colors, and banana-flavored food.
✅Get all your first birthday party planning questions answered in our super-detailed planner all about planning the first birthday party you’ve been dreaming of.
SPORTS FIRST BIRTHDAY
If you’re a football fan, a “1st Down” first birthday theme will be great! Grab some faux turf, pennant flags, concession snacks, and many footballs to decorate.
- Package Include: You will receive 1 football photo banner, 12 football latex balloons in three colors and two designs, 1 ONE highchair banner, 1 cake topper, a set of 1st year down foil balloon.
ANIMALS FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY
- Farm/Barnyard (Holy Cow I’m One)
- Zoo/Exotic Animals
- Woodland Animals
- Butterflies/Ladybugs
- Birds
- So Sweet to Bee One
- Some Bunny is One
There are so many cute ideas for animal parties, but this one has to be my favorite:
Holy Cow, I’m One First Birthday Party
- Package includes: 1 pc happy birthday banner, 1 pc glitter banner, 1 pc one cake topper, 1 pc cows garland, 4 pcs mylar balloons, 30 pcs 12″ latex balloons & 24 pcs cupcake toppers.
CLASSIC FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS
- Nautical or Beach Birthday Party
- Tea Party
- You Are My Sunshine
- Wild One
- Cowboy/Cowgirl (complete with a cowboy hat, of course!)
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- Bubbles
- Hot Air Balloon
Cowboy First Birthday Theme
✅Download our super-detailed planner all about creating the first birthday party you’ve been dreaming of.
SEASONAL FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES
- Little Pumpkin
- Winter One-derland
- Lucky One (St. Patrick’s Day)
- Farmer’s Market
- Beach Party (think lots of bright colors!)
The season your baby’s first birthday party will fall in can play a big part in choosing a theme! Whether it is in the summer or winter, you can choose a party theme to coordinate.
For example, you might throw a “Little Pumpkin” party in the fall. In March, a “Lucky One” party would be absolutely adorable for a birthday around St. Patrick’s Day. You could carry the same theme to future parties from year to year.
Having a birthday party in the coldest part of winter? Embrace the snow and ice with a Winter ONEderland 1st birthday party.
Use lots of muted blues or pinks paired with pretty metallics. Or go with bright colors to contrast the season! Create a hot cocoa bar instead of a cake table to keep all your guests feeling warm and toasty.
Buy on Amazon 
Buy on AmazonHow to Pick a First Birthday Theme?
Picking a first birthday party theme can take time, considering the millions of options available, just some of which we’ve listed above.
So how do you choose? Here are some questions to answer that might inspire the perfect theme for your baby’s first birthday party:
- What’s your favorite book to read with your baby? A book you remember from your childhood that you now read to your baby can make a very creative theme!
- What color do you like to dress your baby in most? If your baby looks good in blue and you tend to dress him accordingly, an ocean or shark theme makes sense – complete with blue balloons. A princess party theme may suit you if you tend to dress your little girl in dreamy pastels.
- What season was your baby born in? Some great ideas can come from thinking about the season your baby’s first birthday will fall in. Palm trees provide a perfect backdrop for a summer party theme. Or think of hay bales and pumpkins for a fun fall birthday theme.
- What childhood characters or icons are important to you? Perhaps you were a big fan of Sesame Street as a child. Throwing a party full of primary colors and some of your favorite characters would be fun. Think back to your own childhood for first birthday party ideas.
- What are your family interests? (i.e., nature, sports, music) What does your family like to do together, or what are you looking forward to doing as your birthday boy or birthday girl grows up? These questions could spark a fabulous first birthday party theme unique to your family.
Tips for Your First Birthday Party
We have a fantastic and practical guide to throwing your baby’s first birthday party. Here are a few of our favorite tips for throwing your big bash:
- Choose the time wisely: The birthday party should only last an hour to an hour-and-a-half because babies are known for short attention spans and lose interest quickly. Host the party either late morning or late afternoon – before or after baby’s nap – never during nap time!
- Create a menu that works for everyone: Are there any food allergies to consider? Keep snacks simple and kid-friendly. Cut-up fruit and graham crackers are suitable for kids. Any sweet treats on the dessert table should follow the same guidelines.
Make sure to pick a first birthday theme that you love this year because once your baby isn’t a baby anymore, you won’t have as much of a say in future birthday party themes!
🎂Planning Your Baby’s First Birthday Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
Let’s face it—planning your little one’s first birthday can feel like a never-ending to-do list. If the thought of juggling themes, guest lists, and a cake smash photo session has your head spinning, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: having a plan can save your sanity.
You need our first birthday party planning guide – complete with guest list trackers, timeline checklists, shopping lists, menu planner and budget-friendly tips to keep you on track. It’s got everything you need to plan an amazing party.
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