What are Hilary Erickson's signature techniques for reducing stress during children's birthdays?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

For kids’ birthdays, I’ve really stripped things down so they’re special for the child but not overwhelming for me:

• Simple, kid-decorated cakes: I frost a basic cake, then the birthday kid goes to the store, picks their favorite candy, and decorates it themselves. It’s creative, fun, and they feel ownership (even if sour Skittles on chocolate is… questionable).

• Tiny “parties,” big connection: Instead of big, stressful parties, the birthday child chooses one or two friends for a special playdate or outing (like McDonald’s, a park, or a movie). They get focused attention and less social drama.

• Fewer presents, more experiences: I’ve tried to dial back the number of gifts and lean more into experiences or simple traditions, so I’m not drowning in planning and clutter.

What part of birthdays stresses you out the most—cakes, parties, or presents?