Our Birthday Contest
Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2009 by bbb-admin
Happy birthday to us! Better Baby Bums is celebrating its first birthday! It is hard to believe that what started as an idea has grown to an incredible thriving business in just one year. Corina and I thank you all for making our dream of bringing healthy, safe products to families across Canada come true!
Help us celebrate and you could win free diapers!
Give us your ideas on how to celebrate a child’s birthday on the cheap by commenting on this blog post and you could win a diaper cake made from our newest brand of eco-friendly, safe diapers, Earth’s Best (equivalent to one pack of diapers). The cake will also be stuffed with other Better Baby Bums goodies like skin care products, water bottles etc. Don’t miss this opportunity! You’ll tell us the age of your child and we will make the appropriate cake! So give us all those party ideas, we know you’re a creative bunch, and help a fellow parent plan a fun, economical brithday for their little one! Examples like craft ideas, party themes, activities etc!!! Contest ends April 30th, 2009. One entry per person and diaper cake can be transferable as a gift for a friend or relative.
Good luck and thanks for helping us celebrate our first birthday!
Jennifer and Corina
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For an economical birthday party, we love doing treasure finds! Our eldest turned 4 an it was so much fun! The kids get a map with clues on where various surprises are hidden, it was a big hit! The kids work together and have a blast. We also love decorating cardboard crowns (simple strips of carboard cut in peaks and stapled according to the child’s head) instead of party hats. The kids glue on feathers, pom-poms, fake jewelry and voila! We also had a dancing contest (kids looooove to dance!) and everyone would win. Ths party was not costly at all and everyone had so much fun.
Another idea for an economical party is to gather up a bunch of kids music instruments (or even a couple of sticks together, a yogurt container filled with popping corn etc.) and an assortment of funny hats, scarves, vests or anything else you have lying around. Have the kids form a marching band and march up and down your street to show the neighbors, or just around the house if it’s cold outside (or you don’t have neighbors!). Using iTunes, download 10-12 songs appropriate for children and burn them to CDs for all the children at the party. Then have the children decorate the outside of the CD case with stickers, or any other decorating materials you have. We used little foam pieces, stickers, glitter glue, and blank white stickers that the kids could write their names on. That was the ‘goody bag’ treat to take home from the party. It was perfect and the kids all loved listening to their very own CDs.
Chandra Vig
I’m actually planning my daughter’s first bday party and it looks like we’ll be having about 35 ppl over!!! Doing it on the cheap won’t be all that easy but we’re focusing on making it “green”. The theme is “Danica’s First Garden”. Finger foods and cupcakes instead of cake so we keep plates to a minimum (we’re getting the compostable ones). As loot bags kids are getting a tree seed kit from TreeCanada ($1.50) along with a clay pot and a few “gardening” things from the dollar store. We’ve asked that no gifts be bought, instead anything for the garden would be great (bulbs, pots, etc) or donations to Tree Canada. No fancy party hats and streemers that cost a ton and pollute! Instead kids will make their own with recycled paper. Cutting back on all the usual throw away party things will help keep costs down and allow us to splurge on organic lollis for the kids and things like that.
I’m currently planning a Dr Seuss theme party for my twins’ first birthday. One money saving tip I will be using is to avoid expensive “character-themed” decorations. Pick your theme, go to your nearest dollar store, and pick out balloons, streamers, etc. in colours that will match. For instance, instead of buying expensive Cat in the Hat themed decorations for our party, I will just get red and white decorations and then use our Dr. Seuss books as “table centres” to tie the theme together. I’m also currently taking a cake decorating class (very cheap) so that I can make our own birthday cake, rather than buying an expensive one from a bakery.
My baby isn’t even one yet, but I’m thinking of bringing an adult party idea to kid world- the book exchange! Ask each child in their invitation to bring both a book and a toy that they don’t read or play with much anymore. Make 2 piles on the floor and let each child choose a new book and toy. This way each child gets the gift of giving and receiving.
ok well mine just turned 2 and well we did not even plan what kind of party it would be be for some reason every one and every thing thay we had or some one gave was or had some thing to do with doora it was just too neet any how i love to be entered in for this i realy do love the cakes and well i love to try and win one thanks
For my son’s third birthday last year we had a backyard BBQ. I encouraged people to bring a donation to one of our local children’s charities (Y.A.N.A.). If they felt a gift was important I encouraged recycled/regifted items. As I am not a great baker and lack in the creative end of it all, I took a book out of the library on children’s birthday cakes. My mom and I set to work on making a train cake! It was an adventure! As his birthday is in May we were able to be outside so we set up a ’sports day’ theme — sack race, bubble blowing, somesaulting, etc. Instead of goodie bags we sent home plants to plant in the garden — a pumpkin seedling we had already started to grow their Halloween pumpkins and a bean plant that we planted together at the party (beans grow so fast). It was such a huge hit (everyone’s pumpkin plant produced at least 1 pumpkin) that this year we are repeating it with adding a sunflower seedling so the kids can grow their own birdseed. I am also planning to send with the ‘goodie bag’ ideas on making a jack-o-lantern.
My Child isn’t yet a year put for her 1st birthday in september. I will be using family. My mom decorates cakes and finds all her pans at second hand stores. I always have potluck themed parties for events. I ask people to make their favourites and we all share. As for presents we usually request hand made things so they are extra specail or do a toy/book/clothing exchange since my friends and i all have small babies the parties are more for us. and fopr goodie bags for adult or kids parite i usually do a food basket. For kids i do sweets and for adults i so soups/sauces/spreads/and breads.
For my nephews birthday last summer we walked the kids over to the local park to play soccer. We took a cooler with jugs of water and juice and orange slices. After they played soccer for a while we came back to the house for mini pizzas (pitas with toppings) and cupcakes to decorate and eat. The whole family is dedicated to doing their part for the environment, so his brothers and sisters made a birthday sign on their oversized white board.
Here is an idea we have had for our son's first birthday. This seems pretty economical. We'll be heading across the street to the school's new play structure. In our back yard, we'll be eating finger foods on biodegratable plates with mini cupcakes. We will be donating children's books & or money to an inner city classroom and library, instead of gifts.
Hi! We have to remember that everytime our birthday comes, it means another year on earth and a past year of good blessings !why not bring the bday child to a charity place to celebrate his bday giving away goods/clothes/items for needy children..or a simple celebration at home with close relatives/friends and mention that their gifts for the bday child will be donated to charity..im sure the bday child will remember and will always look forward to his bday every year…not only an economical way of celebrating bday but a meaningful one
hi! im not sure if my comment was sent…pls let me know. thanks
Thrifty’s does free birthday cakes for babies first birthday. I had one at a friends and it was great! You can choose either vanilla or chocolate. I will do this for my sons birthday to save money, time and stress!
Our son will be turning one this August. We’ll be taking advantage of the Summer weather and having his 1st Birthday Party in the under cover picnic area at our local park. The municipality charges $32 to reserve it and the covered area is ours for the day. This allows us the time to set up a few hours before our guests arrive and clean up afterwards.
It’s a self-planned birthday party: ducks in the pond for entertainment, playground to play on, large open field for adults’ lawn chairs. We’ll bring bubbles, a few balls, and Frisbees, sandwiches, fruits, water bottles, and cupcakes. Decorate with few balloons and we’re done!
The invitations will go out by evite. Thank you notes will be sent out in the following weeks with a picture of the birthday boy.
Cheap, fun and simple. And great back drop for excellent pictures. I’m big on the picture thing.
My daughter is turning one in May, so I’m just starting my planning now. We have a large backyard, so the plan is to have family (cousins etc…) over here. I know limiting to a set number of guests is more economical, however I have so much family that I will just invite everyone and do simple finger foods instead of a meal. I plan on making my own cakes. Both traditional from my family (teddybear cake)and my husband’s family (dutch kwaarktaart). We also are planning on using games we already own, my husband as the children’s entertainment
and electronic invitations instead of paper – which both pollute and are costly. I cannot wait!
It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child so I enlist the help of friends rather than have them bring gifts. One friend decorates beautiful cakes so she helped decorate a homeade cake. Another friend is a great artist so she did face painting at the party. Giving away inexpensive crafts in the treat bag offers an activity for a future rainy day rather than throw-away cheap toys.
For our son’s 1st Birthday last September, we decided to support a unique, local landmark called Maplewood Farm. It is a working ‘farm’ in the heart of North Vancouver, BC. We did two different parties – one for all our fitness Mamas and babies and one for family and close friends. All our guests paid their own way into the farm (very inexpensive and babies under 18 months are free!) and we supplied all the home-made food. The BBQ shelter was free to use. We brought our BBQ from home and made veggie burgers, salad and chips. We used biodegradable plates and some metal plates and cutlery from home. I made the ‘Monkey face’ cake from scratch by looking on the internet for a recipe and decorating ideas. No gifts were requested (although he did receive a couple!) We had such a good time and everyone enjoyed interacting with the lovely animals on the farm! It was a great learning experience for the kids.
For my son’s first b-day, I am planning a BBQ with the group of mothers, babies and hubbies that we met through our common midwife. I have been hunting for ideas in garage sales. I found a beautiful punch bowl and a kids pool. I’ll let my finds dictate the final product.
Since our little one’s birthday is in the summer months, we are planning some fun outdoor activities that are very economical. Each child gets a homemade paper birthday “passport” of sorts and then has to take it to various stations set up in the back yard where they complete a task. This is where the economical sets in, all the tasks are made from things in the house…for example one task is to complete an obstical course where they have to run around a bucket twice, pick up a jump rope and jump three times, hop over a broomstick handle proped up on two boxes, do a sommersault on the duck blanket and then walk 3 feet while balancing a small basket on their head. You can get really creative with the different stations and when they complete each one they get a stamp/sticker in their passport. At the end once they complete all the stamps, they show it to get their goodie bag of treats.
Our first few years of bday parties with our children, we kept parties very simple at home, with just family and one or two friends. For the first few years, we worked with the idea of “invite the # of friends that is the age of the child”. So, 1 friend at age 1, 2 friends at age 2, 3 friends at age 3, etc. It gets trickier once they are in school, but for the early years it works great – and is not overstimulating for your children. Home parties that are small are not very expensive, and you can do fun themes – like “purple party” or “silly hat party”. Since we have another babe soon on the way, we could use a diaper cake for a newborn or 6-12 months. Thanks for the fun contest!
Our daughter just turned 1, and we kept it simple since she is still young. We only invited close friends. I made the vegan cake (in the shape of a cat). And for a party gift, I printed off a favorite pic of our daughter and made it into a fridge magnet for everyone. They all loved it.
For my daughter’s 1st b-day we had a teddy bear picnic themed party. Each guest brought their favorite teddy (or other stuffed animal). We played musical bears (when the music stopped each child had to get their bear into a seat before all the seats were taken)and bear toss (used a large picnic blanket and placed everyone’s bears on it, the kids bounced the bears on the blanket and the last bear on was the winner). We used the dollar store for loot bag toys and included a juice box and bear paw cookies in each bag. It was a great party for kids and adults. We had approximately 25 people there with kids ranging from age 4 months to 11 years!
I’ll definitely be incorporating my own childhood ‘budget’ parties into my little girl’s parties. Games like ‘pass the parcel’(wrap up a small gift or treat in layers of newspaper, and hide small treats and ‘forfeits’-slightly silly/embarrassing things they must do- between some of the layers. Then have the kids sit in a circle and play music as they pass it around. When the music stops they have to unwrap the layer of paper and take the treat or forfeit). Kids love these, and they can be done in advance, whenever you have a minute.
Also, musical chairs or cushions, where they must walk around a row of chairs/cushions till the music stops, then sit down.. there’s always one less chair/cushion than child, lol.
Also, pin the tail on the donkey- can substitute body part and animal, lol.
These simple games kept me and my friends entertained for hours, and were practically free, apart from what we got for winning the game- a small toy or food treat.
For food, make small, simple sandwiches and arrange nicely on plates with tomato, cucumber and onion for garnishes. Sausages can be cut up small and put on sticks, as can cheese and pineapple. Crisps/chips in dishes and carrots with home-made hummus/dips also go well. It just depends on how much effort and expense you want to go to.. probably more if there are adults in attendance, especially if they’re prepared to lend a hand!
For dessert I make easy cookies, cupcakes and biscuits in advance, fresh or tinned fruit and icecream (of course), and a victoria sponge birthday cake (easiest cake ever) covered with chocolate and filled with whipped cream and jam. I write the birthday boy/girl’s name and age on top with smarties/small candy while the chocolate is still warm, then put it in the fridge to harden.
The aim is for the kids to all go home tired and full up, lol- emphasize the experience, not the gifts etc, and it’ll be a success
Last year for our daughters 2nd birthday we had a party at the park and had a scavenger hunt for all of the kids. Instead of goody bags we gave each of the kids a little tree to plant at home. I was shocked at how excited the kids were about having their own trees!
This year we are expecting a baby, due on our daughters 3rd birthday!
Every birthday I do is on a budget. I like to get a basket received from buying products and then make my own basket with it. I look for freebies and coupons so with my coupons I get free product and put them in the basket. Cheap present.
Birthday parties can be done a home fairly cheap by making your own cake, making or buying some decorations from the dollar store. Balloons are a must, but buy the cheap ones. aidn1@hotmail.com
We live in a national park, so I’m going to use some flower/bird/animal guide books we have (and maybe borrow a couple extra) and take the kids for a nature walk. It doesn’t have to be far for them to start identifying wildlife and plants around them. We can put some paper and watercolors or markers in the backpack and they can sketch their findings. This way they have learned something and can bring something back from the party. After the walk we have everyone back to our place for a bbq and decorate your own cookies -small batches of cookie dough where kids can add their own special flavor like raisins, smarties, nuts or something weirder like cheerios….)
The secret to any budget birthday party is planning far ahead. Have the theme picked out for your child’s party picked out months to a year ahead of time. This way there is a better chance to find products on sale or clearance. The second tip for a theme is to keep it broad such as sports, summer fun, zoo animals, vehicles or in the garden. This way it is easier to find products on sale that go with the theme. Otherwise you will be walking into a store last minute and picking out everything at full price.
A great party idea for school aged children is movie star night. The invites for this can simply be made to look like a movie ticket, gold star or a movie film. Have your child help with the invites that can be made out of paper and decated with gold star stickers. On the invites you can ask the guests to come dressed as their favorite movie star or provide the children with gold necklaces and other cheap items from a dollar store.
During the party children can watch a new release or classic movie that fits their age group. Set your living room or basement up like a movie theatre by movie around chairs, setting up a ticket booth, and having a food stand. For food popcorn and pop or koolaid are a sure hit. Before the movie children can decoate paper bags with stickers and crayons. Make tickets for the movie out of supplies you have around your home. Instead of a cake have children decate cupcakes or made ice cream sundaes with star sprinkies.
The color theme for the party is best with red, black, gold, and white. These colors can be found in great supply in January after New Years Eve and Christmas where you can get plates, cups, balloons, and napkins on clearance.
Finally children can go home with a drinking cup as a favor. Look for cups that either go with the color theme or that match the movie you are watching. A fun straw with this woudl be nice as well. The children can use the cups for their movie drink and then a parent can quickly wash the cup before the child returns home. This party is great for the winter months when you can’t get outside. Also this works out great as a sleepover party.
“Dagny” YOU ARE THE WINNER! We unfortunately do not have contact info for you as your profile is not public so please email me at info@betterbabybums.com so we can get your diaper cake made for you ASAP! You have until May 31st to respond and if not, another winner will be chosen.
Thanks,
BBB
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