10 '90s-Themed Birthday Party Ideas for Your 1-Year-Old

Your baby's first birthday is a huge milestone. And if you grew up with Batibot, Lisa Frank rainbows, and neon-colored everything, a ‘90s-themed birthday party lets you relive those memories while giving your 1-year-old a bright and playful celebration.

From a Barney bash to a pop music party, here are 10 fun and budget-friendly ideas to bring the '90s to life for your little one (and you!).

1. Cartoon Throwback Party 

Bring back the classic cartoons you grew up with, like Rugrats, Blue’s Clues, Princess Sarah, and Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe. Use their signature vibrant colors and oversized shapes for decor.

Set up a small play zone with soft mats and sensory play toys. This isn't just for fun; the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that play is essential for a child's brain development, helping them build social-emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

Party tip: Play the Princess Sarah theme song or the Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe intro during the cake cutting to give your parent-friends a serious case of LSS.

2. Neon Pop Party 

This theme takes inspiration from those crazy-colored sets of That's Entertainment or VILMA. Go all out with neon streamers, bright balloons, and a DIY neon photo wall. Then, dress your birthday baby in a bold print or colorful outfit.

Your baby’s vision is sharpening, so they’ll love these colors. Put together a neon sensory station with bright scarves, soft balls, and safe, reflective toys.

Party tip: For an inexpensive yet effective photo wall, use crumpled-up neon pink, green, and yellow Japanese paper as your backdrop.

3. Old-School TV Show Celebration 

Go beyond cartoons with educational shows like Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Barney, or Batibot. This theme is perfect for setting up mini stations. You can have a character-themed play zone (like a "Teletubbies Tummy Time" mat) and a coloring corner with Sesame Street printouts for older toddlers.

Party tip: A simple backdrop with iconic shapes and numbers (like from Sesame Street) is all you need to set the scene. Label areas like the gift table or play zone using familiar fonts from the shows.

4. Retro Arcade Mini-Party 

Bust out your old Nintendo 64 (N64) console and decorate with pixel-style banners of Space Invaders and Pac-Man. You can do a baby-friendly arcade and set up a soft play area with a ball pit labelled the "Pac-Man Pit". Or create a corner for stacking toys labelled "Tetris Tower Building". 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 1-year-olds are busy mastering pulling to stand and cruising, so a soft play zone is a great, safe spot for them to practice.

Party tip: Set up the old N64 with Mario Kart 64 or The Legend of Zelda for the parents to play. Hand out gold-foil-wrapped chocolate "tokens" to the adult guests as party favors.

5. '90s Pop Music Party 

If you loved the Spice Girls, NSYNC, or Eraserheads, then this theme is your jam! Decorate with colorful (and safely hung) old CDs, stars, and musical notes. Set up a "Baby Bop-Along" mini dance corner.

The AAP advises that a safe home environment is essential to prevent injuries, so use interlocking foam mats to create a soft dance floor and ensure all decor (like CD strings) is well out of reach.

Party tip: Queue up a playlist of the decade's top hits for a karaoke session. While the adults sing, let the toddlers take the stage at the "Baby Bop-Along" corner so everyone can jam together.

6. Lisa Frank Unicorn Party 

Remember those Lisa Frank school supplies? Recreate that dreamy, pastel rainbow vibe using lots of holographic décor, stars, and a unicorn cake. Make it a sensory experience for your 1-year-old with a bin filled with rainbow pom-poms, ribbons, and large plastic shapes. Just be sure to supervise your baby closely while they explore.

Party tip: Hit up Divisoria or local party stores for star-shaped foil balloons to get that sparkly sticker-book look without breaking the bank.

7. Vintage Toy Party 

Celebrate with the simple, classic toys you grew up with, from Lego to Pogs! Arrange a "Throwback Play Station" for the babies with modern, safe versions of the classics: colorful stacking rings, multi-sensory shape sorters, and soft blocks.

A 2024 study in Frontiers in Education found that toys engaging multiple senses improve learning and engagement. Researchers also noted that results vary based on each child's unique learning style, so offering a variety of textures and shapes is key.

Party tip: Let the adults join in on the fun with a game table of Pogs and Slammers or Jackstones. Winner gets a jigsaw puzzle or coloring books for their kids.

8. Retro Photo Studio Party 

This theme is all about making memories, inspired by those '90s print photos! Set up a themed photo booth corner with film-strip decor and a classic cheesy backdrop—like laser beams or clouds. Style a "Baby’s First Year" collage with Polaroid-style prints as the gift table’s centerpiece.

Party tip: Create handheld speech bubble props featuring classic Pinoy '90s slang like "Wa-poise!", "JAPORMS", or "Astig!" Instead of a guest book, have a "Party Slumbook" with colorful gel pens for guests to fill out.

9. '90s Favorites Snack and Play Stations

Arrange one cohesive, fun area with two stations. For the adults, cook up old favorites like sweet-style spaghetti, pork BBQ, and finger foods like hot dogs with marshmallows for a snack bar. Then add a tindahan corner with Iced Gem Biscuits.

Right next to it, create a parallel baby play station—a toy stall stocked with age-appropriate play items, like sensory board books, pop-up push toys, and activity cubes.

Party tip: You can use the same '90s cartoon toppers (like Zenki, Sailor Moon, or Ghost Fighter) on both stations to tie the theme together.

10. '90s Color Block Party 

Think United Colors of Benetton or even the Batibot set for your color block theme. Keep the decor simple and graphic with bold primary-colored fabric, banners, and geometric shapes.

The bright colors and various shapes are fantastic for your baby's visual development. Lay out a "Color Block Play Zone" by filling a red basket with red soft toys and a blue basket with blue ones.

Party tip: Use solid-color cartolina paper to create giant geometric shapes (circles, squares, triangles) and stick them on the walls.

'90s OOTD Ideas for Your Baby