First Birthday Party Rentals

What to rent for a one-year-old

At one, most children are crawling, pulling up or taking first steps. A bounce house is too much for them. What works is a padded, contained space where they can climb, roll and grab at their own pace while the adults stay close.

• A small ball pit. The centrepiece and the photo spot. Safety mats come free with every ball pit.
• Soft play pieces. Climber tunnels, a balancing set and rockers give crawlers something to climb over and through.
• Animal hoppers. Cheap, cheerful and great for older toddlers and siblings.
• A celebrant chair. A special seat for the birthday child at cake time.
• A kids table and chairs for the cake smash and for older cousins at snack time.

How much space it takes

A small ball pit with a few soft play pieces fits in a living room, a garage or a corner of the yard. Bigger setups with a medium ball pit, a slide and several climbers need a larger room or a good patch of lawn.

Soft play and ball pits need no electricity, so they work indoors, under a covered patio, or in a park where inflatables are not allowed. Tell us about stairs or a tricky entrance when you book.

Keeping crawlers safe

• Choose the smallest ball pit and the lowest pieces for babies under 18 months.
• Set up on a flat surface, away from steps, pools and the grill.
• Keep older, bigger kids out while the babies are playing, or give each group a turn.
• Have an adult sitting with the play space the whole time it is in use.

Themes that suit a first birthday

Soft whites, nudes and pastels photograph beautifully and work with almost any theme. Our Hunny’s Bee-Day Bash and Woodland Fairies themes were styled with little ones in mind, and every theme in the Party Builder can be scaled down for toddlers.