So you want to throw your little one a birthday party? Managing a group of toddlers can be pretty daunting. And how can you really entertain toddlers, anyway? We’ve got the answers! No matter what the theme, our toddler party planning tips, food suggestions, decorating ideas, and toddler-themed activities will help make your birthday party a huge success.

Who Should I Invite?

You have several options when it comes to who you invite to your toddler’s party. If your child has friends from a playgroup, a daycare center, or the neighborhood, consider inviting a few of the children your toddler talks about most. The general rule is to invite one friend for every year of your child’s age, plus one. So, if your toddler is turning two, you would invite three friends. Keep in mind that at least one parent and, quite possibly, other siblings of each child will stay during the party. This can dramatically expand your guest list, so plan for it in advance by keeping the list of friends to invite short. If you would like any of the parents or older siblings to help out during the party, call them in addition to mailing them invitations. (Remember: More parents present means less kiddy chaos!)

As an alternative to inviting your toddler’s friends, you may choose to have a party with just family in attendance. At this age, your child will be just as excited to see his favorite aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents as he would have been to see his friends, and it may be less stressful for you. You can always invite one or two special friends to join the festivities with their parents, if desired.

Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

Since your guests are too young to be impressed by cute invitations, keep them simple with gender-specific colors and some balloon stickers. Or, if you'd prefer, you can purchase invitations that compliment your chosen party theme. We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, take a look at our When & Where to Have the Party page, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.

What Do I Need for the Party?

If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide. For girls, you may use a combination of pink, purple, and white, or your daughter's favorite colors. For boys, red, yellow, and blue work well, unless your son prefers other colors. If you’ve chosen a theme for your party, select colors that compliment the designs on your cups, plates, and other partyware.