Planning an Easy Toddler Birthday Party – Minus the Tantrums.

I’ll be honest. I have always avoided toddler birthday parties. Unless it was a close friend or family member’s child and they promised wine would be available for the adults attending.

I can no longer do this anymore as my own daughter Fee is turning two and I feel as her mother, I should be there. 😉

So the planning has started. I have done my Pinterest research – you can check it out below for some ideas;

Follow Mum’s Notes’s board Toddler Birthday Party on Pinterest.

I have already sorted the guest list and sent out the invitations – so no going back now.

Surprisingly, I find that I am actually getting a little bit excited about it all. Deep down it’s as if I am planning my own Awesome 2nd Birthday Party…

So here is the plan:

I have kept the guest list relatively small. I have invited a couple of Fee’s buddies that she regularly sees (and their mums) and her cousins. Both Grandma’s are attending for back-up and Aunties are on the guest list too (I have promised wine). So far adults (9) outnumber the children (6), which I think is always a good idea.

With Fee just turning 2, I think that it is best to keep the theme simple other wise she can get a bit overwhelmed.

The theme we have gone for is: Bubbles, Balloons and Bouncy Castles! – Because these are a few of my (um – I mean Fee’s) favourite things.

Oh yes and Peppa Pig – As Fee LOVES Peppa Pig right now, good old Peppa will have to make an appearance at the party somewhere.

Peppa Pig

I have the Peppa Pig Theme elements sorted by buying the following Peppa Pig items from Amazon (I have put links to the items and their prices below):

– Paper Plates
– Paper Cups
– Personalised Cup Cake Decorations with Fee’s Name on
– Cake Topper for the birthday cake

The plan is to get Mr E involved in blowing up a load of balloons the night before. They can be put out in the garden or indoors depending on the weather.

Bubbles …because who doesn’t like Bubbles?!

I will pop mini bubble wands into the goody/party bags and have some on the tables so the kids can play with them during the party too.

Bouncy Castle

After much research and deliberation, I decided to buy a small bouncy castle for Fee’s second birthday present. Here is the one I went for:

I chose it because it is big enough to hold a few toddlers at a time, yet small enough that it can be squeezed into the house should the weather be too cold/rainy. That way I have all bases covered even if the weather is not so great (quite likely here in the UK!). I also bought it because I am sure that we will got lots of use out of it even after the party, particularly as we can use it indoors too.

I don’t want to get stressed out with food prep but I do want some healthy and fun nibbles at the party for both the adults and the wee ones. Having healthy snacks at a party is always a good idea as it prevents toddlers from getting hungry (and grumpy) and limits any sugar-related hyperactivity and meltdowns (from both parents and adults attending).

Here are the nibbles I chose:

Adults: 

• Cheeseboard –  a selection of cheese / a jar of chutney / some crackers and grapes
• Olives (stone free- in case the little ones fancy them too)

Kids:

• Celery, cucumber and carrots sticks, breadsticks and dips (tzatziki, hummus..etc)
• Cherry tomatoes
• Blueberries, strawberries and seedless grapes
• Finger Sandwiches cut into funny shapes: Soft cheese and cucumber / Ham / Cheese (vegetarians and meat eaters covered).
• Packets of raisins

I collected some great ideas on the Mum’s Notes Pinterest Board for making the food more toddlers friendly and fun (see start of post).

Adults:

• Wine (because I promised the Aunties)
• Tea / Coffee
• Juices

Kids:

• Water and juice for the littles ones.  – I will serve drinks in the Peppa Pig paper cups and have ordered some plastic lids and straws to minimise spillage (see below).

Birthday Cake

I have a great go-to recipe for an absolutely delicious chocolate cake that I found here. I will be using this recipe for Fee’s Birthday cake and covering it with chocolate icing/frosting along with the Peppa Pig Edible Cake Topper I ordered and some candles.

Note: It is the best chocolately chocolate cake I have ever tasted/made by far and always gets great compliments!

Cupcakes

I will make a quick batch of vanilla cupcakes (for a good recipe that I use click here) and I will decorate them with the Personalised Peppa Pig Cup Cake Toppers.

Job done.

Yes, I know, the dreaded party bag. Every children’s party must have. Often filled with cheap plastic toys and lots of sugar.  I need to make up 8 of these party bags with items that will appeal to 2-8 year olds. Here’s what’s going to be in ours:

• Slice of yummy birthday cake / or a cupcake
• A Duck Whistle (look like fun but may drive the parents crazy)
• A Dinosaur Glider
• A couple of Balloons
• A Flashing Bouncy Ball
• Mini Bubbles

I have ordered some plain brown paper bags online and will decorate them with multicoloured paper spots.

Here are the links to the products online.

Note: The Balloons will just be leftovers from the original 300 I bought and the flashing balls I got from Asda (4 packs for £5 – 2 balls per pack)

So thats it. I think I have everything covered and I am now looking forward to a terrific, tantrum-free toddler birthday party…

Wish me luck! I’ll keep you posted on how it turns out…