The recommendations advise no cake for children under age 2

One of the most photographed moments at a child’s first birthday party is the little cherub face covered in cake and icing. This may change now that new U.S. dietary guidelines recommend children do not eat cake or candy until they turn two years old.

Similarly, Where can I take my 1 year old for her birthday?


Places to go with a 1 year old – Indoor Activities

  • Aquarium. If you’re lucky to have one nearby, aquariums offer a lot of visual stimulation for your child. …
  • Library. Libraries are great places for little ones rain or shine. …
  • Indoor Playground. …
  • Children’s Museum. …
  • YMCA/Children’s program. …
  • Grocery Store:

Additionally, Can 1 year old eat smash cake? In case you’re unfamiliar, a smash cake is basically a tiny cake meant to be enjoyed by your kiddo on her first birthday. And since 1-year-olds are pretty much lawless, that means she’ll likely dig into that delicious cake by using her fingers, or “smashing” her face into it the second it’s placed in front of her.

Can a 1 year old have chocolate cake?

Most experts suggest not introducing sweets for the first year of your child’s life. You want them to develop a taste for other, healthier food items first. But realistically, there are no specific medical guidelines for introducing chocolate to your baby.

Can a 1 year old have sugar?

“Many long-term studies link sugar to a risk of health issues later in life, including diabetes and obesity,” says pediatric dietitian Jennifer Hyland, RD. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years of age don’t consume any added sugar at all.

Where can I take my 1 year old to have fun?


Here’s a list of my favorite outdoor places to take a 1 year old:

  • The Park Is a Great Place To Take 1 Year Olds. …
  • Take A Trip To The Zoo. …
  • Visit The Farmer’s Market With Baby. …
  • Go To The Splash Pad or Pool With Your 1 Year Old. …
  • Take Baby To The Beach.
  • Take Your 1 Year Old Baby To An Amusement Park or Carnival. …
  • Take A Nature Walk.

How can I celebrate my daughter’s first birthday?


6 Ways to Make Baby’s 1st Birthday Special

  1. Get the photos done right. Don’t rely on your phone camera for this one! …
  2. Give Baby a new first experience. …
  3. Write a letter to Baby. …
  4. Plant a tree. …
  5. Go out for dinner (without Baby!) …
  6. Keep the party simple.

What do you do with a 1 year old?


Developmental play

  1. Create a sensory station. From the moment children are born, they use their five senses to learn about the world. …
  2. Build a busy board. …
  3. Count on fingers and toes. …
  4. Write in sand or rice. …
  5. Play with blocks. …
  6. Sort toys by color. …
  7. Complete puzzles. …
  8. Make a discovery basket.

What is a 1st birthday smash cake?

So, what is a smash cake? It’s basically just a small cake that’s made specifically for a baby’s first birthday to do whatever they want with it (which usually ends up being a lot of pounding, smooshing and eating).

Can 1 year old have sprinkles?

Similar, small decorations are unsafe as baby can get them into their mouth very quickly. It’s best to limit the decoration to color and pattern of frosting, although very small decorations like sprinkles are generally safe additions.

What is smash cake made of?

When you think of cake, you usually think of chocolate or vanilla, but this healthy smash cake recipe creates more of a big healthy strawberry-banana muffin than a cake. It’s made with whole wheat flour, whole milk, and a homemade fruit puree of banana, strawberry and unsweetened applesauce.

At what age can babies eat chocolate?

When Can Babies Eat Chocolate? It is good to wait until your baby is 24 months old because the baby’s digestive system may not be developed enough to process it without an adverse reaction (1). Chocolate also contains caffeine and theobromine, which is a compound related to caffeine.

Is chocolate good for toddlers?

Although chocolate is safe in moderate amounts for older toddlers, you probably shouldn’t give chocolate or any other caffeine product to toddlers under the age of 2 years. You may want to avoid offering chocolate if your toddler has a milk allergy or is lactose intolerant.

How much sugar can 1 year old have?

Official guidelines from the American Heart Association state there should be NO added sugar in the first 2 years of life, and less than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day for children over 2.

Can 1 year old have candy?

Babies shouldn’t have candy: Hard or chewy candies are a choking hazard, and giving your baby other treats like chocolate can contribute to poor eating habits as she grows up. … “I always advise holding off on sweets for as long as possible, at least until after 2 years,” she adds.

What happens if you give a baby sugar?

Try not to give your baby foods that are high in sugar or salt . Too much sugar is bad for your baby’s emerging teeth, while too much salt is bad for their kidneys . If your baby gets a taste for sugary or salty foods, it may be harder for you to persuade them to try healthy options (BNF 2009, ITF 2014a, NHS 2016a).

Where can I take my baby for fun?


12 places to go when you and your baby are bored

  • A walk. It may be an obvious one, but even if you’ve just had a baby, a walk out in the fresh air is good for everyone. …
  • The park. Extend that walk and go to the park. …
  • Swimming. …
  • Baby classes. …
  • The library. …
  • Soft play. …
  • Farms and zoos. …
  • The woods or forest.

What activities can you do with a 12 month old?


Here is my list easy things to do with your 12 month old!

  • Play with a Ball. Whether its playing with a rubber ball or a toy that has balls or a ball pit, ball play is a fun and engaging activity all babies will love. …
  • Play with Blocks. …
  • Count. …
  • Read. …
  • Sing a Song. …
  • Cuddle. …
  • Sensory Play. …
  • Play Peekaboo.

Will a 1 year old enjoy the zoo?

I would say that your child may start to get interested in looking at animals, etc., at around 12-18 months, but it will be much longer than that before she really gets the zoo as an enjoyable outing.

How do you celebrate a baby girl’s first birthday at home?


First Birthday Activity Ideas and Games

  1. Smash Cake Video. Set out a sheet, put a little cake down, and let your birthday boy or girl have fun with their cake—smashing it and eating it however they like!
  2. Ball Pit. …
  3. Balloon Toss. …
  4. Painted Onesie. …
  5. Name Banner. …
  6. Bath Painting. …
  7. Painted Handprints. …
  8. First Birthday Crown.

How do you celebrate your first birthday in lockdown?


7 unique ways to celebrate your child’s birthday in the lockdown

  1. 01/9Does your child have a birthday in the lockdown? …
  2. 02/9Fun ways to celebrate a birthday in a lockdown. …
  3. 03/9Decorate the house. …
  4. 04/9Have a virtual birthday party. …
  5. 05/9Bake a cake together. …
  6. 06/9Grant them birthday wishes on a special day.

Why is first birthday so important?

When we celebrate a first birthday we are celebrating the miracle of birth and the unique person who was brought into the world on that day. A first birthday celebration is particularly precious because as we reflect on the previous year we think about just how tiny and new they were and how far they have come.

What do 1 year olds like to play with?


Other toys that toddlers enjoy include:

  • brightly colored balls.
  • blocks, stacking and nesting toys.
  • fat crayons or markers.
  • age-appropriate animal or people figures and dolls.
  • toy cars and trains.
  • shape sorters, peg boards.
  • simple puzzles.
  • push, pull, and riding toys.

How do you entertain a 12 month old?

I labeled this post more for 12-18 month-olds but quite a few of the activities could be done as soon as your child can sit unsupported and grasp objects.


  1. Small Toys in an Empty Wipes Container. …
  2. Ten Tiny Tadpoles Board Book. …
  3. V-Tech Musical Rhymes Book. …
  4. Bucket of Balls. …
  5. Popsicle Stick Drop. …
  6. Pom Pom Push.

What should I be teaching my 12 month old?

At this age, you can teach your child that a ‘chair’ can be a ‘big chair‘, ‘red chair’ or even a ‘big red chair’. Build your child’s talking and communication skills by listening and talking back to her. You can copy what your child says – for example, if she says ‘mama’, you say ‘Yes, I’m your mama’.