BDay Etiquette?

wildflower865

Shannon (age 4) is having her first "Friend" birthday party at the YMCA.  I planned on inviting the one girl her age at daycare (no boys are her age, one is a baby and the others are school age) plus some of her other friends, which in her world include DH's cousins DD's.  I have 10 kids on the list whose ages range from 4-6, and her close cousin who is 2.5. 

 

My question is about the siblings of the family members' kids (DH's cousins' DSs.)  Should they be invited too?

 

My thoughts are:

1.  I didn't want to have a humongous party.

2.  I don't want them to feel like they all need to come, and all need to bring presents.

3.  Of course I don't care if people end up bringing their younger kids if they want/need to.  I almost brought DS in a sling to a YMCA party, but DH ended up coming home and watching him.

 

I was thinking of maybe addressing the invitations:

 

Ella Jones (and Family)  But not listing all kids names like they are all invited or need to make the effort to come. 

 

Thanks for the input!

 

Julie

kancell724

I think your idea of putting and Family is a good one. If each childs name was on the invite it would feel like they all needed to be there. When people RSVP you can ask how many are coming or just plan that there could be a lot of kids.

Heidisean

You do not have to invite siblings.  They are not your dc friends.  Think about it your dc is having a lets say 5 year old party and you are going to invite all the kids in her kindergarten class and their siblings?  My sister is always taking her kids to a bday party (solo). Mya gets invited to girls parties from dance and school and Cade gets invited from school and soccer.  Just put the kids name on the invite. 

wildflower865

That was my original thought about all the siblings in a class.  But Dh said it's different for family, so I thought I'd put it to you ladies.  I've been known to make a decision because I thought it was normal, only to realize later it was selfish or plain crazy!