The best Barbie first birthday ideas

Barbie First Birthday Party Ideas

by Eve Miller |
Updated on

C'mon Barbie, let's go party! If your little one is turning one soon, you're probably thinking of party ideas, and we couldn't recommend a Barbie-themed birthday party enough. Not only is Barbie a doll that generations of children have loved play with, her aesthetic has become truly iconic - perfect for a memorable birthday party. And luckily there are some fabulous Barbie first birthday ideas out there to inspire you.

A Barbie first birthday party is a win-win for both children, and adults - everyone knows who Barbie is after all. The classic Barbie pink will look amazing, plus it's super easy to find all types of party decorations and first birthday presents in that colour. It's just such a fun and vibrant theme that will have everyone smiling as soon as they arrive.

We tend to think of Barbie as a toy for older children, but dolls are easy to hold for babies, with many infants enjoying grabbing her hair and enjoying her companionship (who else used to take their Barbie everywhere as if she was their bestie as a kid?). Plus, first birthday parties are just as much of a celebration for parents as it is for their little one. Barbie is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.

Editor's Choice

 Best Barbie party invitations: Doll Party Invitation
 Best Barbie confetti: Personalised Barbie Inspired Theme Confetti
 Best personalised Barbie sign: Made Happy Personalised Barbie Style Namesign

Looking for some amazing Barbie first birthday ideas? We've got you covered! Take a look at some of our favourite Barbie first birthday ideas and Barbie-themed party decorations down below.

The best Barbie first birthday ideas 2023

So, what's first? Birthday invitations! Yes, you can just make a group chat, but if you want to do traditional paper invites - which can be a nice keepsake - you can either create your Barbie invites or purchase some premade ones for convenience.

Best Barbie party invitations

Doll Party Invitation
Price: $3.65 +

www.etsy.com

These fabulous Barbie-themed invitations are fun and vibrant. The Barbie font and pink glitter border is iconic - if received this invitation, we would definitely RSVP with the biggest yes. You could frame this after the party to remember your little one's first birthday party.

One reviewer said: "Just what I needed! Easy to use and came out so cute!"
Another reviewer said: "Love my daughters new birthday invites. The program to design the template was very user friendly."

Pros

  • Fun and sparkly
  • Easy to download

Cons

  • Can't personalise every element

You will then want to get decorations sorted, because they're what makes a party theme truly come to life. Obviously there are lots of Barbie-themed decorations out there, but you can also get just hot pink decorations to complete the look of your party - it's up to you!

<strong>Credit: Catch My Party on Pinterest</strong>

Best Barbie balloon garland

A party with a balloon arch is always one to remember, and this pink one is definitely on theme. We love the different pinks included, combined with some silver disco ball balloons. They're all different sizes too, adding some dimension to the arch and creating a stunning overall look for your party.

One reviewer said: "First time I have made a balloon arch! This was so easy and so beautiful, I would advise to get an a electric balloon pump."

Another reviewer said: "Balloon's quality is really good, very easy to inflate and the arch looks very beautiful. It is a wonderful product for the price. I really loved it. I definitely recommend it and would buy again."

Pros

  • Beautiful look
  • Fully biodegradable 

Cons

  • May take some time to put together

Best Barbie party banner

How cute is this Barbie-themed banner? You can personalise it with their name and age, plus you can add their photo to it for an extra special personal touch. It has next day delivery, so if you are pulling together something last minute, this Barbie birthday banner will be with you in a flash.

One reviewer said: "It came rolled in a protective tube. Once it was unfurled it was ready to hang. Good quality of both material and photo displayed. Perfect for wall or window display to add a party atmosphere. I didn't get age on it so can be used multiple times for future birthdays."

Pros

  • Printed on quality material
  • Personalised design

Cons

  • It's hard to find any!

Best Barbie confetti

Confetti is such a fun touch to any birthday party, and kids seem to love playing with it too. Not only is this confetti Barbie-themed, you can also personalise it, adding your little's age and name. This confetti really does make us feel like we're in a Barbie world and we are loving it.

One reviewer said: "I purchased some of this confetti just over a week ago and when it arrived I liked it so much, that I ordered more. The delivery was fast and the product beautiful, Can’t wait to see it on my tables at our Gender Reveal Party in June!"

Pros

  • Made from premium foil
  • Packaged in eco friendly confetti bags

Cons

  • Can't do double barrel names

Best light-up Barbie sign

A bright neon sign like this one from Urban Outfitters will look wonderful on the wall, under a balloon arch. It will create a fun photo opportunity, plus it can be reused again. We love that this is the classic Barbie logo, which obviously will go perfect with your party theme.

Pros

  • Durable design
  • Powered via USB cable

Cons

  • Minimal reviews

Best personalised Barbie sign

If you want to make your choice of Barbie sign more personal, then this is a great pick. The design is bold and looks fab on a shelf. This Made Happy Personalised Barbie Style Namesign would also make a super cute centre piece for a party table - the day is all about your little one after all.

Pros

  • Great value
  • High-quality

Cons

  • No reviews yet

Best Barbie napkins

With a magical design, these officially licensed Barbie Dreamtopia Paper Napkins are a small touch that can really make your child's first birthday special. They'll look the part on a party table, but they'll also be ideal for wrapping up slices of the birthday cake to put into the party bags.

Pros

  • 2 ply paper
  • Lovely design

Cons

  • Not fully pink

Best Barbie party decoration for photos

This one is probably more for the adults, but this is a fun photo opportunity for everyone at your party. It makes you look like you're a Barbie doll in it's box, plus it's waterproof, so you can have it outdoors if you want. We love the quality here - it's definitely something that can be easily reused.

One reviewer said: "Barbie prop is INCREDIBLE!! I used this for a stage prop and it looked amazing! The size is perfect, i got a frame made from pipes to create a 'box' and this barbie front screwed perfectly onto the front, i am extremely happy with it."

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • 7ft high

Cons

  • Might be hard to store away

If you're on a budget, you can purchase a lot of cheap pink items and add just a few key Barbie-themed items to make the theme clear. This is an easy DIY way to create a lovely Barbie first birthday party without spending too much.

Credit: <strong>☆ claire kurima ☆</strong> on Pinterest

Best pink party decorations

These pink and gold ZERODECO Party Decorations will fill your party venue, creating that pink perfection atmosphere that Barbie is known for. This pack is affordable and all the decorations are easy to put together and hang up. They'll work for inside or outside parties (unless it's too windy).

One reviewer said: "Used these to decorate our garden for my daughter’s birthday party and they looked stunning. Love the fact they’re environmentally friendly and can be reused. Would definitely recommend."

Pros

  • Reusable
  • Available in different colours

Cons

  • None!

Best age party balloon

Unique Party Giant Pink Foil Number 1 Balloon
Price: $2.99

As it's their first birthday, of course a big 1 balloon in hot pink is more than appropriate. This will fit in amongst other balloons and decorations beautifully, and you can even get the classic picture of you and the mini guest of honour with it. This also comes in a lighter pink which will work nicely too.

One reviewer said: "Great for birthday's and very large in size. It's been a few weeks now and it's still inflated. Would highly recommend due to price, size and longevity."
**
Another reviewer said:** "Lasted about 2months before we finally got sick of seeing it around and popped it. No holes no issues. Cheaper than shops. However I did use a straw to blow it up if you don't have a straw you may struggle a bit."

Pros

  • Great size
  • High-quality foil

Cons

  • Will have to inflate yourself

It's nice to have party favours at the table or to give afterwards, especially if you have children at your party. They're not essential, but it is a sweet touch to a milestone birthday party. You can put a few bits into a goodie bag with some sweets and maybe a slice of birthday cake, it doesn't have to be super extravagant.

Best Barbie party favour for kids

Something about bubbles just gets kids (and adults) excited, making these Barbie bubbles perfect on the party table for entertainment or as a cute favour in their party bags. We love the Barbie design, plus the fact they're a cheap and cheerful party favour that doesn't require lots of thought.

Pros

  • Features maze puzzle on the lid
  • Different designs

Cons

  • No reviews

Best pink party bag

These Baby Pink Polka Dot Party Food Boxes will fit the theme and come at a fab price. They'll fit in multiple goodies, plus some cake, and they'll be easy for children to carry themselves. You could also use these to present the kids food if you're doing that at your Barbie party.

Pros

  • Good size
  • Food safe quality

Cons

  • Will have to put them together yourself

Best edible Barbie party favours

The Barbie Birthday Biscuit designs are gorgeous and so detailed - this is why we love small businesses! They're handmade and hand-decorated vanilla cookies, so they're bound to go down well with all your guests. They're individually sealed too, so they'll be perfect to add to goodie bags too.

One reviewer said: "Great cookies. Tasted great and so intricately designed. Arrived on time."

Another reviewer said: "Amazing quality, great price and fast delivery. Thank you. Already placed my 2nd order!"

Pros

  • Handmade
  • Choice of designs

Cons

  • Not vegan-friendly

Speaking of sweet treats, you're probably going to want a birthday cake that fits your theme. If you're baking the cake yourself, a Barbie doll cake could be an easy bake that ends in a show-stopping Barbie birthday cake.

You simply take a Barbie doll (one that's clean and that you don't mind using) and then place her inside a cake that's designed to be shaped like the skirt part of her dress - then decorate as you please. How fun is that? If you have older children, they could help you decorate the cake too.

Credit: Julycupcake on Pinterest

Best Barbie birthday cake tin

To minimise the stress of shaping a sponge into the right shape, this PME Doll Cake Tin will make it easy for you to bake the skirt part of your your Barbie doll cake. Made from anodised aluminium, this baking tin will make baking your little one their dream birthday cake an absolute doddle.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • High-quality

Cons

  • Not essential

Best pink birthday cake mix

If you want to go even further with the theme, a pink cake sponge is the way to go. This Betty Crocker Super Moist Strawberry Cake Mix is utterly delicious and easy to make. Cutting into the cake and seeing a pink sponge will be such a nice surprise, plus this is a pack of three, which is ideal for a larger party.

One reviewer said: "I never right reviews but this cake does exactly what it says in the box. Super moist and fluffy and delicious. Definitely leave in for a few extra minutes if using non grease bake wear. You won’t regret buying this trust me."

Pros

  • Simple instructions
  • Lovely flavour

Cons

  • May not be to everyone's taste

If baking isn't your thing, or you don't have the time to bake a large birthday cake from scratch, no problem, there are lots of brilliant Barbie themed cakes that are premade and ready to buy, which will make things nice and simple.

Best Barbie birthday cake

This adorable Barbie Celebration Cake features Barbie and her friends as decoration. It's a classic sponge with a jam filling, which is always a popular choice, plus the icing is super soft, making it a great option for younger children. Just pop a candle on top and you've got yourself a winner.

One reviewer said: "My daughter picked this cake for her 4th birthday, she loved it, pretty colours, cake tastes good and had the added extra of barbie stickers!"

Another reviewer said: "Lovely birthday cake, tasted nice, even had little stickers on the ribbon around the edge, which my daughter was super impressed with."

Pros

  • Nut-free
  • Unique design

Cons

  • Not gluten free

What kind of activities can you have at a Barbie first birthday party?

Bring out the classics - Barbie-themed piñatas, Pin the the bow on the Barbie, pass the pink parcel, as long as it's pink or glittery, you can probably get away with it at a Barbie birthday party.

Play time - It's Barbie first birthday party, so why not put some Barbie toys, dolls and suitable accessories? This is a simple but effective way of keeping the kids entertained during the party.

Outdoor activities - Again, as long as it looks part of the theme, you can include any favourite outdoor activity as part of your festivities. A pink bouncy castle sounds pretty amazing to us.

A fashion show - One for the parents and kids to do together. Have the children at your party pick out a fabulous, Barbie-inspired outfit for the adult and then do a fashion show. This sure to get some laughs.

Movie fun - There are so many lovely Barbie animated movies, and they're even on certain streaming services. You can set up a projector and just have them playing for anyone that wants to watch.

Credit: chroniclesoffrivolity.com on Pinterest

What kind of music should you play at a Barbie first birthday party?

You can't have a good party without some great tunes. Of course, you will have to play Barbie Girl by Aqua at least once. There's also the Barbie movie soundtrack and the songs from the animated films that will go down well.

If not, just play some of yours and your little one's favourite songs (crack out your best party playlist). As long as everyone's singing along and having a good time, that's all that will matter.

Eve Miller is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby, working for Bauer Media for over two years. She is passionate about beauty, creative writing, and women’s healthcare.

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