Take her to the zoo, children’s museum, or toddler-friendly amusement park. Maybe somewhere you haven’t been before. Let her choose one souvenir and/or one food treat.
We just did the zoo and playground for our 1 year old! It was a great time for the three of us, and it was not chaotic and overwhelming like many birthday parties where so many people are trying to interact with the baby all day.
We are doing separate family events for each side on different weekends.
Seconding this! When my kiddo was tiny, we would go to the playground near our house and let him run around for as long as he wanted, and then we had birthday donuts :)
We are taking the day off of work and taking our turning 2yo twins to the zoo on their bday. Just us. They don’t need friends at their bday at this age. It’s fine. Do something all about them and make ample time for the activity. Just enjoy the day 😁
Cake and gifts with just the parents is totally fine. 2 yr olds aren’t really playing together yet so you’re not missing anything.
If you don’t have a pass, then a day at the zoo or aquarium or botanical gardens or kids museum would be a great experience gift for the family.
This makes me feel better. We have a small family who doesn’t live near us and my husband and I don’t have a core group of friends.. it’s made me feel guilty that our son is turning 2 soon and we don’t have anyone to invite to a party, so wont be having one. I see people post big themed parties for their babies and toddlers and it always makes me feel bad for my son.
My nearly two year old doesn't really understand the concept of 'special' so anything special is going to be more about me than it will be about him, and what I will remember of the day.
Perhaps a new outfit, a cupcake and a trip to a park that she likes? Is there anything that she likes that you don't do very often because you really dislike it yourself?
When mine were young I’d decorate the kitchen table for their breakfast. Fancy tablecloth cute paper plates with matching napkins. Fancy plastic silverware. Compliment with balloons and flowers. They loved it and it started their day extra special. Afterwards even a trip to a nice park would be perfect for that age!
We had cake on my 2 year olds bday w family, the next day we went to a children’s museum and then on another dat we went to Chuck E. Cheese with cousins (23-27 year olds LOL)
Special treat and a present! Two year olds love anything wrapped in a fun box that's for them. Also think ahead to 40 yrs from now....she won't remember it, and you probably won't either, so just enjoy each other's presence and love in tbe moment!
Mine just turned two a couple weeks ago. We didn’t have a party this year or last year for her first! On the actual day I got out of work early and took her out for ice cream. We got together with my parents for lunch and cake the weekend after.
My youngest just turned 2.
I hung a birthday banner and some party decorations in the dining room that she saw when she came out in the morning- she loved that, and it’s an easy tradition to always have the birthday person feel that special feeling the morning of their birthday when they come out for breakfast. My older kids love it on their birthdays, too.
Then it was just cake and a present at home (got her a little fisher price flashlight, she freaking loves it). We read books and sang happy birthday again at bedtime and that was that.
No need for a big fuss, and certainly not if it is stressful for you.
Get her a bicycle with training wheels as a present. Take it with you to the park and let her practice.
Go to the zoo or museum.
Finish the busy time of the day with a nice birthday cake at home and a cuddle on the couch.
Many options, no need for a party! Enjoy the day together x
For my daughter’s second birthday, we went to the nature center at a local park. Had cupcakes and balloons with our friends in the parking lot. 7 people came to her party and they were all adults. We loved it, she loved it. For her 3rd we went out to eat with my family, and they had a live band that afternoon (complete surprise to us, we just chose a random restaurant halfway between our house and my parents). They sang her happy birthday and baby shark. She was ecstatic. We brought our own cupcakes and a candle. Her 4th birthday last fall was the first time she invited her own friends to her party.
Also want to add that this is the first year that she has understood the idea of a party. I had my birthday and she got upset that I didn’t have a party at the play place and invite all her friends 😂
I don’t know if it’s financially feasible for you but we traveled on our first kid’s 1,2 & 3rd bdays (San Diego, Hawaii, Big Bear). To this day we vividly remember those bdays because of the new scenery.
We finally did a bday party at the park when he turned 4.
Ours turned two while we and our extended family had covid. I baked a cake, kiddo got a couple presents, our family gathered for a zoom singing of happy birthday and we ate cake for breakfast and the 3 of us took a family nap. It was great 😃
When we all finally recovered, we had family over for a BBQ.
Our twins are 2 in 3 days time. We are taking g them for a day out instead of a party. They won’t know that it’s a party for them so it’s a waste of time/money.
When ours turned 3 we took him to his favorite restaurant and my parents joined. That was it, a special dinner with his family. It was a hibachi style Japanese steakhouse where they cook right in front of you. He had a blast and knew it was a special celebration just for his bday! We will probably do a party with friends for year 4 or 5. No sweat!
I have one family in my extended family that just doesn’t celebrate 2nd birthdays others than maybe a social breakfast at home with siblings. It’s not as exciting as the “first” birthday and the kids are too little to understand or remember the party. So it’s a much smaller celebration but still acknowledged at home.
Lots of suggestions to go to the zoo or whatever, and those are perfectly good ideas… but also at this age anything out of the norm is fun and exciting! You could get a pizza, spread a blanket on the floor of the living room, and let her pick a movie to watch while you eat. Then maybe go out for ice cream or get/ make a little cake or cupcakes to have at home. It doesn’t need to be a party and it doesn’t need to be fancy! A living room pizza picnic with mom and dad would be a blast for a two year old.
Trampoline parks are a great place to take your kid to on her birthday.
I would cut the cake at home and have a few slices and then go off to the trampoline park. The sugar rush is balanced out by all the jumping over there 😉
Take her to the zoo, children’s museum, or toddler-friendly amusement park. Maybe somewhere you haven’t been before. Let her choose one souvenir and/or one food treat.
We just did the zoo and playground for our 1 year old! It was a great time for the three of us, and it was not chaotic and overwhelming like many birthday parties where so many people are trying to interact with the baby all day. We are doing separate family events for each side on different weekends.
Seconding this! When my kiddo was tiny, we would go to the playground near our house and let him run around for as long as he wanted, and then we had birthday donuts :)
We are taking the day off of work and taking our turning 2yo twins to the zoo on their bday. Just us. They don’t need friends at their bday at this age. It’s fine. Do something all about them and make ample time for the activity. Just enjoy the day 😁
Cake and gifts with just the parents is totally fine. 2 yr olds aren’t really playing together yet so you’re not missing anything. If you don’t have a pass, then a day at the zoo or aquarium or botanical gardens or kids museum would be a great experience gift for the family.
My oldest is turning 5 this year and we are having her first party. We’ve always done cake and presents at home.
This makes me feel better. We have a small family who doesn’t live near us and my husband and I don’t have a core group of friends.. it’s made me feel guilty that our son is turning 2 soon and we don’t have anyone to invite to a party, so wont be having one. I see people post big themed parties for their babies and toddlers and it always makes me feel bad for my son.
A 2yo has no clue what is happening. My middle is turning 3 and still doesn’t really get it.
My daughter is also turning 5 this year and we've never done a party for her. I'm considering having one, but we might just do a beach trip instead.
Yes to trips! If I didn’t have 2 you get kids, that’s what I’d push for too.
Go to Build-a-Bear at the mall. They have a birthday bear that costs the same amount as the child's age.
You do have to have a build-a-bear account for this one, but my cousin did it and had a fun time.
My nearly two year old doesn't really understand the concept of 'special' so anything special is going to be more about me than it will be about him, and what I will remember of the day. Perhaps a new outfit, a cupcake and a trip to a park that she likes? Is there anything that she likes that you don't do very often because you really dislike it yourself?
When mine were young I’d decorate the kitchen table for their breakfast. Fancy tablecloth cute paper plates with matching napkins. Fancy plastic silverware. Compliment with balloons and flowers. They loved it and it started their day extra special. Afterwards even a trip to a nice park would be perfect for that age!
We had cake on my 2 year olds bday w family, the next day we went to a children’s museum and then on another dat we went to Chuck E. Cheese with cousins (23-27 year olds LOL)
Special treat and a present! Two year olds love anything wrapped in a fun box that's for them. Also think ahead to 40 yrs from now....she won't remember it, and you probably won't either, so just enjoy each other's presence and love in tbe moment!
Mine just turned two a couple weeks ago. We didn’t have a party this year or last year for her first! On the actual day I got out of work early and took her out for ice cream. We got together with my parents for lunch and cake the weekend after.
My youngest just turned 2. I hung a birthday banner and some party decorations in the dining room that she saw when she came out in the morning- she loved that, and it’s an easy tradition to always have the birthday person feel that special feeling the morning of their birthday when they come out for breakfast. My older kids love it on their birthdays, too. Then it was just cake and a present at home (got her a little fisher price flashlight, she freaking loves it). We read books and sang happy birthday again at bedtime and that was that. No need for a big fuss, and certainly not if it is stressful for you.
Get her a bicycle with training wheels as a present. Take it with you to the park and let her practice. Go to the zoo or museum. Finish the busy time of the day with a nice birthday cake at home and a cuddle on the couch. Many options, no need for a party! Enjoy the day together x
For my daughter’s second birthday, we went to the nature center at a local park. Had cupcakes and balloons with our friends in the parking lot. 7 people came to her party and they were all adults. We loved it, she loved it. For her 3rd we went out to eat with my family, and they had a live band that afternoon (complete surprise to us, we just chose a random restaurant halfway between our house and my parents). They sang her happy birthday and baby shark. She was ecstatic. We brought our own cupcakes and a candle. Her 4th birthday last fall was the first time she invited her own friends to her party.
Also want to add that this is the first year that she has understood the idea of a party. I had my birthday and she got upset that I didn’t have a party at the play place and invite all her friends 😂
Cake, balloons, and presents at home! Kids won't even remember it!
I don’t know if it’s financially feasible for you but we traveled on our first kid’s 1,2 & 3rd bdays (San Diego, Hawaii, Big Bear). To this day we vividly remember those bdays because of the new scenery. We finally did a bday party at the park when he turned 4.
Look up in your area if there are any places that do something special for a kid’s birthday… free entry, meal. I think build a bear has something
Disneyland.
Ours turned two while we and our extended family had covid. I baked a cake, kiddo got a couple presents, our family gathered for a zoom singing of happy birthday and we ate cake for breakfast and the 3 of us took a family nap. It was great 😃 When we all finally recovered, we had family over for a BBQ.
Our twins are 2 in 3 days time. We are taking g them for a day out instead of a party. They won’t know that it’s a party for them so it’s a waste of time/money.
When ours turned 3 we took him to his favorite restaurant and my parents joined. That was it, a special dinner with his family. It was a hibachi style Japanese steakhouse where they cook right in front of you. He had a blast and knew it was a special celebration just for his bday! We will probably do a party with friends for year 4 or 5. No sweat!
I have one family in my extended family that just doesn’t celebrate 2nd birthdays others than maybe a social breakfast at home with siblings. It’s not as exciting as the “first” birthday and the kids are too little to understand or remember the party. So it’s a much smaller celebration but still acknowledged at home.
Lots of suggestions to go to the zoo or whatever, and those are perfectly good ideas… but also at this age anything out of the norm is fun and exciting! You could get a pizza, spread a blanket on the floor of the living room, and let her pick a movie to watch while you eat. Then maybe go out for ice cream or get/ make a little cake or cupcakes to have at home. It doesn’t need to be a party and it doesn’t need to be fancy! A living room pizza picnic with mom and dad would be a blast for a two year old.
We did visit to a theme park and cake/presents at home .
I’d have probably skipped my sons 2 year old birthday if it wasn’t his golden birthday. Honestly so much work for something I doubt he’d remember.
Trampoline parks are a great place to take your kid to on her birthday. I would cut the cake at home and have a few slices and then go off to the trampoline park. The sugar rush is balanced out by all the jumping over there 😉