The best Barbie first birthday ideas

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.