Celebrating 1: SouthFlorida.com

It's hard to imagine that the little bundle of joy who just came home from the hospital will soon be turning 1, but as that day approaches, many parents fret over how to celebrate.

Why does an event for someone who will never know the difference seem to put moms and dads into a tailspin? Because, whether the celebration is big or small, a baby's first birthday party is an important milestone.

When trying to plan the perfect party, many uncertainties arise. Should the theme be Baby Einstein or Dora the Explorer? Should there even be a theme? Does the list need to include Great Aunt Edna? Or should it be mostly moms and babies from the playgroup? Will the birthday child even be awake for his own party? Should cake or cupcakes be served? Should the baby have his own "smash" cake?

These are just some of the questions parents grapple with during the planning phase of a child's first birthday party. And although the affair will not be remembered by its guest of honor, parents still seem to go to great lengths and are willing to spend top dollar to make sure it will be a memorable experience.

A big party?

Robert Guerra, owner/producer of Superstar Productions, a company that performs at birthday parties in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, is familiar with this phenomenon. After 18 years of experience, however, Guerra says he tries to discourage parents from spending the money for a first birthday party because of the uncertainty of the attention span of such a young audience.

"Sometimes you get them smiling, and those are great photo opportunities," Guerra says. "But sometimes they're napping and missing out on the whole thing. That's why we prefer to wait until they're 2."

In the last three years, Superstar Productions has performed at 452 first birthday parties. Guerra says the best audience is usually between ages 3 and 5 -- not 1.

"I think birthday cake is sufficient for a 1 year old," Guerra says. "I don't want a parent to say, 'My child cried the whole time,' because I know how much money they're spending."

Janel Williams of Davie used Superstar Productions for her son's first birthday party and was pleased with her decision. Williams invited 60 people to a local park and chose the Elmo-themed character to entertain her mostly 1-year-old crowd. "I have that philosophy that you go all out for the first birthday," said Williams, who started planning her son's party two months in advance. "But it was more for me and for the pictures and just to celebrate."

Even though her son didn't yet watch Sesame Street on television, Williams thought that the character would be a crowd-pleaser for the majority of her guests. "He was a character everyone likes. Someone for all ages," she said. "He's trendy." So, was "The Red Ticklish Monster" worth his price tag? Williams didn't even hesitate to answer. "Everyone loved him. It was worth it for the first birthday."

Miami-Dade mom Jennifer Macias agrees with Williams that having a big party for the first birthday is a rite of passage. Even though Macias' son is only 41/2 months old, she began thinking about his first birthday shortly after he was born. "I don't think it's only huge for [the baby], but it's huge for the parent," Macias said. "The first year is a major milestone. He's no longer an infant; he's a toddler, so we're celebrating a new stage."

Although Macias hasn't figured out the exact details, she already knows that she wants some form of entertainment for the children of various ages who will be attending the party.

"It's his first everything. His first Easter, his first Halloween, his first Christmas. After a year there's no more firsts," she said. "You don't get to do that again."

Or a smaller gathering?

While Williams and Macias knew they wanted celebrations on a larger scale, there are others who decide that having a big blowout is not for them. Robyn Nadler of Weston and Stephanie Buckler of Plantation were two of those moms. "I just wanted to keep it simple," said Nadler, who had a gathering of 25 people to celebrate her daughter's first birthday. Buckler, pregnant with her second child, also knew she just wanted a small party at home with family and friends. "Being pregnant, I didn't want anything elaborate," Buckler said.

While it seems that first birthday parties come in many forms, it is certain that no matter how big the celebration, most moms breathe a sigh of relief once the final present has been opened. But just remember, the next birthday is always just a mere 364 days away.

Melissa Tichauer is a freelance writer and mother of one. She lives in Pembroke Pines.