Make It Special in the Inland Empire: 10 Sweet First Birthday Traditions You’ll Cherish Forever

When both of my kids approached their first birthdays, I found myself unable to make it through one of our favorite bedtime books, On the Night You Were Born, without crying. I began saving every piece of artwork sent home from daycare, even the ones I knew neither they nor I would ever want. I frantically printed pictures to fill their beautiful, silk-ribbon-bound, custom-monogrammed baby books (that still aren’t completed), and I prayed that I would never, ever forget the way their chubby fingers felt wrapped around mine, or the feel of their warm, soft heads against my chest.

Then I wondered, what would I do to make their first birthday party, something neither would ever remember, extra special and meaningful? I settled on starting a new tradition of getting them birthday cards and writing letters to them about that past year and all my hopes and dreams for their future. Now I do it every year, and I look forward to the day when we read them together.

Family traditions can be old or new, but starting them early is one way to strengthen bonds, celebrate across generations, and create lasting memories to reminisce about in the future. In the Inland Empire, with its mix of mountains, desert, Route 66 heritage, citrus grove history, and vibrant communities, you’ve got extra inspiration at your fingertips. So what better time to start than baby’s first birthday? Read on for 10 adorable traditions has some classic, and some with a local Inland Empire twist to make that first birthday unforgettable.

1. Create a birthday time capsule

Choose or build a special keepsake box and fill it with items that reflect your life in the IE during baby’s first year. Add a letter to your child, snapshots of local landmarks (maybe a photo of the family at Big Bear or Joshua Tree), a small orange (a nod to the region’s citrus history), a ticket stub from a local event, that purple “UCR” sticker, or a leaf collected from Box Springs Mountain. Seal it, and plan to re-open it on a milestone birthday, such as 18 or 21.

2. Gift a personalized book

Pick a book you’ll continue gifting each year, and in the Inland Empire you might even find a local indie bookstore or author to support. Inscribe a heartfelt note, mention a few favorite memories—for example, “Your first outing to the California Theatre in San Bernardino” and tuck it away to read together when they’re older.

3. Save a special outfit

Choose or even commission a first-birthday outfit in a fabric or print that reflects your region (citrus motifs, California wildflowers, Route 66 imagery). Monogram the inside hem with your child’s name, the date, and “Inland Empire.” If you ever move away, passing along the outfit keeps a piece of your IE life alive.

4. Remember them small

Mark their height or capture their footprint every year in or near your home. Maybe on a wall in your backyard or on a growth chart you can carry with you. You could even use a canvas overlaid with a silhouette of the San Bernardino Mountains or the desert skyline as a backdrop to imprint their handprint.

5. Plant something

Let baby help you plant a small tree, shrub, or desert succulent that thrives in the Inland Empire climate. If you live near the foothills, perhaps choose a drought-tolerant native plant. Each birthday, revisit it, watch it grow, and take a photo. Let your child see how both they and this plant have grown together.

6. Write a first-birthday letter

On or before their birthday, write a letter reflecting on their first year, the milestones, the challenges, the surprises, plus your hopes for their future. Mention local places or events you visited: “Your first view from the Rim of the World drive,” or “The day we walked Route 66 in Victorville together.” Seal it and save it for them until they’re older.

7. Donate on their behalf

Instead of or in addition to gifts, invite guests to bring diapers, children’s books, or supplies to donate to a local Inland Empire charity (for example, in Riverside or San Bernardino). It teaches giving and connects your child’s celebration to community.

8. Commission a personalized illustration

Hire an artist to make a custom portrait of your child, perhaps stylized to include IE elements such as mountains, desert, or Route 66 imagery. It becomes a timeless keepsake and a reminder of where you lived then.

9. Create a Cake Smash Memory Book

Turn your baby’s cake smash photos into a keepsake book. Include portraits before the smash, the messy fun, and a few snapshots from family outings in the Inland Empire. Add short notes about your baby at one year old to capture the story of this milestone.

10. End with a Keepsake Product

Instead of letting these memories sit on your phone, turn them into printed heirlooms. An album, wall art, or a framed print ensures the joy of your baby’s cake smash lives on for years.

A First Birthday to Remember

Your child may never remember their first birthday, but these rituals will give you something beautiful to look back on, year after year. In the Inland Empire, you have a landscape full of inspiration: flowing deserts, lofty peaks, Route 66 lore, citrus groves, small-town charms, and thriving cultures. Use those backdrops in your photos, your planting, and your artwork. Root your tradition in place, and it will carry even further.

Looking for more ideas? Explore our guides on maternity photography in Inland Empire, newborn photography sessions, and family portraits in the Inland Empire. Each milestone is a chance to tell your story in a way that lasts.