Balloon Art
The one-year-old-proof choice: bright, bendy and fascinating to babies, while older guests line up for dogs, swords and flowers. It entertains every age at once.
First birthday party entertainment
A first birthday is really two parties: one for the baby, one for everyone else. The trick is entertainment that delights the one-year-old without overwhelming them — and keeps the older cousins happy too.
Balloon art from $160/hrStarting rates vary by entertainer.
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free cancellation to 7 days
The entertainment that makes it
What actually works at first birthdays — and why parents book it.
Face Painting
Not for the birthday baby — for the siblings, cousins and toddler guests who need something to do. A little cheek art keeps the 3-to-8 crowd delighted.
Party Characters
A gentle, story-led character visit — soft songs and waves rather than a big entrance. Ask for the calm routine; good performers know exactly how to play a room of under-twos.
Yombu-wide starting rates — each service page shows live local prices city by city.
Balloon artists parents book for first birthdays
Plan it like you’ve done this before
Field-tested advice for planning the party.
Plan around the nap, not the calendar
The single biggest first-birthday win: schedule the party for your baby's happiest window, usually mid-morning or right after the afternoon nap. A rested one-year-old makes every photo better.
Keep it short and gentle
Ninety minutes to two hours is plenty. Book the entertainer for the middle stretch, keep the volume soft, and skip anything with a big loud entrance — at this age, gentle and familiar beats spectacular.
Entertain the guests, not just the baby
Most of your guest list can walk and talk. A balloon artist or face painter gives the older kids a queue-up activity while the adults actually get to chat — and the baby just needs a lap and a view.
Guard the cake-smash moment
If you're doing a smash cake, do it before the entertainment winds down, while everyone's still gathered — and brief whoever's on camera duty. It's the one moment you can't redo.
How to book kids’ party entertainment
Tell us about your party
Share your city, date and the entertainment you have in mind, from face painting and balloon art to magic shows and party characters.
Choose your entertainer
We’ll check availability with local entertainers. Compare their profiles and prices, choose your favorite, and book securely online.
Enjoy the celebration
Your entertainer brings the fun. You enjoy the birthday moments, with your payment held until after the party.
Tell us about the party — we’ll check who’s free
One 60-second request and we’ll line up vetted balloon artists with real availability for your date — usually in about 2 hours.
Free to ask · no commitment · vetted & insured pros
First birthdays — FAQs
Is entertainment even worth it for a first birthday?
For the baby alone, no — for the party, absolutely. A first birthday usually means a house full of kids aged 2 to 10 plus their parents. One entertainer keeps the older kids happily busy so the adults can relax and the birthday baby doesn't get swarmed.
What entertainment is safe and fun for one-year-olds?
Balloon artists are the classic pick — babies are mesmerized by the colors and shapes (just keep un-inflated balloon scraps out of little hands; pros are careful about this). Gentle, story-led character visits also work beautifully. Skip loud shows and big costumed entrances at this age.
How long should I book an entertainer for?
An hour is usually right for a first birthday — arriving after the settling-in chaos and finishing before the meltdown hour. Tell us your party window and we'll confirm pros who fit it.
Are the entertainers vetted?
Yes — every performer on Yombu is vetted and insured, your money is held until after the party, and reviews come from real bookings. You'll see exactly who's coming before you pay.
What parents say
Oli the magician was amazing! So great with the kids, so funny, and he had all the adults scratching their heads in confusion trying to figure it out.
We had Maggie for face painting she was fantastic—the kids adored her, she worked beautifully and quickly, and was such a cheerful presence at the party.
We had Natalie join our party to make balloon animals for the kids and she was AMAZING. All the kids were mesmerised.
Book balloon art in your city
Ready to plan the party?
Tell us the date and the entertainment you have in mind — we’ll check real availability with vetted local entertainers and come back with confirmed options, usually within about 2 hours.
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free to ask