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A baby's first birthday is a memorable event filled with fun and joy for family and friends. The growth and development of a young child takes place too fast, so take special thought and planning for such a major event to make it memorable for years to come.

Here are ten tips for your baby's first birthday party to make the event a fun time for everyone and help your family cherish the event for many years:

'Plan The Big Day ' Plan the event at a time that is best for your child to avoid missing nap time as it leads to a fussy child. Remember that the little friends at the party also have a short attention span, so keep the party and games limited to an hour or two.

'Send Fun Invitations ' Do your best to make the invitations fun and interesting. Try turning a baby picture into a puzzle, each guest receiving a piece. As the guests arrive, the puzzle comes together for a complete picture. Have extra pieces in case a guest cannot make it!

'Have a Party Theme ' Decorate your home with a specific party theme. Online party stores will have plenty of decorations for just about any theme you can think of, from Winnie the Pooh to Sesame Street.

'Have a One-Year Scrapbook ' Put together a scrap-book of the 'Baby's Firsts' from the day you brought the baby home, the baby's first Christmas right up to the baby's first birthday. Everyone will have the opportunity to see how much your child has grown.

'Play Fun Games ' Have games planned so that the adults can assist the youngsters by creating 'baby artwork' or rolling a soft ball to have lots of fun.

'Provide Food ' What's a party without the food? Try to have snacks for the adults to enjoy while also having plenty of food suitable for the young birthday child and guests. Cake is a must and it is usually best to have two different cakes, one for the babies to smash and make a mess and one for the adults.

'Make Memories ' Take plenty of pictures and feel free to record every moment of your child's party. Photos can include the party's events, your baby's room and toys and even the cake remains. Just remember that you can't take too many pictures!

'Make a Post-Birthday Scrapbook ' Put everything in your child's scrapbook that will help remember the fun times at the party. Place your photos in chronological order. Even save a napkin or party invitation to make it special.

'Make a DVD ' With the wonderful world of technology at your fingertips, you can now put together a special photo parade of the day's pictures or you can even turn your videos into a DVD keepsake that will make the memories last for everyone.

'Send Thank You Notes ' When you send thank you notes to the guests, include a fun picture of the baby with cake all over his or her face or your DVD. This is a gift that everyone will cherish for years.