The Perfect Kids' Birthday Party

Everyone has a different tolerance for party planning, and when it comes to potential for stressful logistics, kids' parties rank second only to weddings. Still, some of us thrive on it: We love big affairs with lots of people. Others want only a handful of guests, thank you very much.

What does baby want? Many kids are adaptable and will roll with whatever celebration you put on, as long as they get parental attention and some semblance of a normal routine (don't mess with naptime, Mom!). But you know your own child -- adjust the level of hoopla to whatever you think he can handle.

And we're not going to lie: Anything you do will require some work. Just sharing cake with your 1-year-old is a mess -- but fun! And that's what it's all about, providing everyone -- but mostly you and your child -- with a good time. We've rounded up ideas to help you enjoy the day.

• Are young kids coming? Have your party take place either before 1 p.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid naptime conflict.
• For the sake of your sanity, give the party a start and end time. It's the first step in getting the "time to go!" hint across.
• With the invitations themselves, add a homemade touch by tracing your baby's hand on the outside of a blank card. Or let your toddler "decorate" with stickers.