POLL re: your DC's birthday parties

CubbyMama · September 2009

Do you have separate celebrations for family and DC's little friends, or do you invite the friends and their parents, along with the grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc., to one big party?

We were planning one one big party at our house, with a bounce house and a few activities for the kids; but the more I think about it, the more I'm considering having her 5 or 6 little friends and their parents come for a 2-hour party around noon, and then telling the grandparents and other family members to come later for a BBQ or something. Mixing all of those people together seems like it might be chaos...but then again, two parties in one day would also be a little crazy!

What would/do you do?

Heidisean · September 2009

We have one big party with family and friends. For the past 2 years rented a bounce house and had it catered and had between 45-50 people. Have fun!

goodheartedmommy · September 2009

We do one big party, but I'm thinking for the older ones that we may do separate. With their birthdays less than a month apart, we may do one party for them with their friends sometime in the middle, and then one for each on or near their actual birthday for family.

AmyLuvsJoey · September 2009

We do one party. Rory is still little now so for now it is much easier this way. When she gets older and has more 'friends' I am sure we will separate them.

UGAbride · September 2009

For first birthdays, we had one big party with family and friends. Honestly, our families are very small (just my parents and brother/SIL, and sometimes his mom comes down), and we have friends without kids that like to be a part of the celebration too. For Jack's 2nd birthday, we did a big Gymboree party with about 20 kids, and my parents came too. I love the big parties, fun to see everyone!

butterbeansmama · September 2009

We have one big party with friends, grandparents and uncles/aunts. We also get together with just my parents for dinner too.

j-w · September 2009

We do one big party. But, DH's family is out of town and never comes and my family is not big. So, it is mostly friends and their parents (our friends). I am thinking that at age 5, we will just do one party, a friend party, and have my family over for cake and ice cream at a different time.

GrowingFamily · September 2009

We didn't start friend parties with DS #1 until he was old enough to want one & ask for one, which was around 2nd or 3rd grade or so. At that point, we had them at our loacl gymnastics center. I would not mix friends with family. I don't think that's fair to either group. That said, I would also never do 2 parties in one day! That is way too much - for me and for the child. We have not had any friend b-day parties for any of the other 3 kids yet. They are too young. I am not doing all that work until they can appreciate it, LOL!