196 designs
First birthday invitations
One Whole Year of Them
These first birthday invitations feature teddy bears and baby elephants, fire trucks and diggers, woodland hedgehogs, a "one in a melon" watermelon and a first trip around the sun. Parents reply online. Design free, pay when you send — from $9.99.
When should you send first birthday invitations?
Send 1st birthday invitations three to four weeks before the party, and ask for replies about a week ahead.
Print both a start and an end time. Parents of babies plan the whole day around naps, and an end time tells them when they can head home.
What should a first birthday invitation include?
Most guests will be family and other parents, often with little ones of their own. Cover:
- start and end times
- parking, and whether a stroller fits through the door
- whether older siblings are welcome
- gift wishes, such as "no gifts" or a book instead of a card
- an allergy note if you're serving a smash cake or first foods
Example lines to adapt:
- Cake smash at home: "Noah is turning one! Cake smash at our place, Sunday 10:30 to noon. Bibs provided."
- Park party: "Picnic for Isla's first birthday in Larkin Park, 11 to 1, by the playground. Strollers welcome."
- No gifts: "No gifts, please. If you'd like, bring a favorite picture book with a note inside instead of a card."
What InviteBird builds in for a first birthday
A first birthday gets its own band of games, and nothing in it asks the baby anything. The games are for the grown-ups: guesses about the cake and the nap, and a parent answers Who knows the birthday star best. The first birthday games explain each one.
A gift hints card on the invitation can share sizes, such as 18–24 months. If you add a menu, you can turn on a box where guests note allergies as they reply.
Questions about first birthday invitations
What time should a first birthday party be?
Pick a slot that fits the baby's day, often late morning or mid-afternoon. Two hours is plenty for most families. Start and end times help other parents plan their own naps.
What do you write on a first birthday invitation?
Some parents write in the baby's voice ("I'm turning one!"), others in their own. Either way, add the baby's name, the date, the times, the address and the reply date.
Can guests add their photos from the party?
Yes. Every paid event includes a shared photo album with room for 100 photos. Guests upload by link or QR code, and you approve their uploads.
For first birthday themes, food and party length, see the first birthday section of our birthday party ideas guide. For a week-by-week plan, use the birthday party planning checklist.
About these examples: the names, places and times in the sample lines are made up to show the wording.
The birthday edit
Where the magic happens.
Balloons, cake, and a room full of happy — invitations for every little celebration.
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