What to Buy for a First Birthday Party
A first birthday needs more than a cake and a few balloons. Plan for food that is easy to serve, child-friendly tableware, enough drinks, and a safe place for small guests to play. This shopping list covers the practical items behind the party, including serving equipment, decorations, lighting, and useful setup supplies. Check quantities against your guest list, then shop early for the cake, fresh food, drinks, and any rented or borrowed furniture.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 4
- Chairsqty 24
- High chair
- Tableclothqty 4
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 30
- Dessert platesqty 30
- Bowlsqty 12
- Drinking glassesqty 30
- Cutlery setsqty 30
- Serving plattersqty 6
- Cake serving plattersqty 2
- Cake Knife
- Serving spoonsqty 4
- Drink jugsqty 3
Equipment
- Coffee machine
- Kettle
- Coolersqty 2
- Bluetooth Speaker
- Extension cordqty 2
- Power stripqty 2
Decorations
- Balloonqty 50
- Balloon pump
- Party garlandqty 3
- Number decoration 1
- Birthday banner
- Photo backdrop
- Table decorationqty 4
- Gift Table Sign
Lighting
- String Lightsqty 2
Kitchen
- Cutting Boardsqty 2
- Kitchen knivesqty 3
- Mixing bowlsqty 3
Cleaning
- Trash binsqty 3
- Broom
- Dustpan and Brush
- Mop
- Bucketqty 2
- Cleaning clothsqty 6
- Hand brush
Catering
- Groceries
- Birthday cake - 1 piece
- Cake candles - 1 pack
- Mini rolls - 40 pieces
- Butter - 2 packs
- Mild cheese - 500 grams
- Cooked ham - 400 gram
- Hummus - 2 tubs
- Strawberry jam - 1 jar
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Paprika chips - 2 bags
- Plain chips - 2 bags
- Popcorn - 2 bags
- Pretzels - 2 bags
- Cucumbers - 3 pieces
- Carrots - 1 kilo
- Cherry tomatoes - 500 gram
- Grapes - 1.5 kilo
- Apples - 12 pieces
- Bananas - 10 pieces
- Strawberries - 1 kilo
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Lemonade - 3 bottles
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Apple juice - 3 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Oat milk - 2 liters
- Ice cubes - 4 bags
- Paper napkins - 3 packs
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
Tips
- Allow one place setting per guest, plus 10% extra if possible. For a 20-person party, that means about 22 plates, glasses, and cutlery sets, with separate dessert plates for cake.
- Plan two to three drinks per adult for the first hour, then one drink per hour afterward. Keep water available in drink jugs and chill drinks in coolers before guests arrive.
- Order the birthday cake at least 7 days ahead, especially if you need a number-one decoration or have allergy requirements. Buy or prepare fruit, sandwiches, dips, and snacks no more than 24 hours before serving.
- Set aside a safe play area before decorating the room. Move breakable items out of reach, check that cables are secured, and keep the high chair and serving tables away from the children’s play space.
- Test the Bluetooth speaker, lights, extension cord, and power strip at least 2 hours before guests arrive. Inflate balloons and assemble the photo backdrop on the day of the party so they stay tidy and usable.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a first birthday party?
- For a two- to three-hour party, plan about 4 to 6 small savoury portions per adult, plus fruit, snacks, and cake. Children under two usually eat smaller portions, so prepare 2 to 3 child-sized options per child and keep extra fruit or bread available.
- How many drinks should I buy for a first birthday?
- For adults, allow 2 to 3 drinks each for the first hour and 1 more per hour afterward. For a 20-person party lasting 3 hours, that is roughly 60 adult drinks, alongside water and child-friendly drinks.
- When should I order a first birthday cake?
- Order the cake at least 7 days before the party. Allow 10 to 14 days if you need a custom design, a number-one decoration, or confirmation of allergy-friendly ingredients.
- How many plates and glasses do I need for a first birthday party?
- Buy or borrow one set per invited guest, plus 10% spare. For 20 guests, prepare around 22 dinner plates, 22 dessert plates, 22 glasses, and 22 cutlery sets.
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