Chuck E. Cheese w/4 yo and 1 yo -- crazy?

mac_249

My 4 yo was invited to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.  I thought my husband was going to be able to watch our 1 yo, but now he has to work.  Am I crazy to try to bring both to this birthday party?  I've never been to a Chuck E. Cheese before so am not sure what I am in for.  I just want to be sure I'm not headed into a disaster!!  I'm guessing there will be other parents there, but I'm not depending on any help.  Should I seriously consider options for someone to watch the 1 yo or is this doable?

Hey Jellisy

I think I could manage it, will it be a relaxing morning, no, but it should be OK.  I would probably be keeping an eye out on my older child (I am assuming he is fairly independent) and primarily caring for my younger one.  I haven't been to Chuck-E-Cheese in a really long time, so I am not certain what things there would be there for a 1 year old.  I think they have a ball pit.  My little one would just love exploring and all the lights and sounds.   

NicoNiko

I agree.  It may not be the most relaxing time, but it should be fine.  I would do it. 

amh_navyblue

You can do it, but be forewarned, Chuck E Cheese is crazy.  I'm not a fan.

mac_249

Thanks ladies.  That's just the reassurance I needed:)  I just wanted to be sure it wasn't a "are you crazy?!?!" type of situation!!

2vthokies

DH and I just did this over the weekend for a birthday party. DD1 is 41 months, DD2 is almost 16 months. The place was PACKED and it was hard to keep an eye on DD1 while keeping DD2 entertained (and there was two of us). I think if you know some of the other parents and can roam with them and their kids (and they will help you keep an eye on your older one) then its doable. I wouldn't let my four year old run around without someone watching. If it was me, I'd probably skip it... But that's mainly because CEC is my personal version of hell, lol. When we left we all felt like we had been run over by a truck (even my DH who loves that kind of stuff). My girls were extra wound up for the rest of the evening.

bh2720

no advice, but I'd seriously consider severing ties with anyone who decides to throw their kid's party at CEC, that's just torture! 

cmh06

The last 2 times DD has been to CEC she has gotten sick a day or 2 later.  My school had a function there in Nov. and I swear my class was sick as a dog as well a few days later.  We're staying away from that place for a long while.

Sofka

am I the only 1 who's never set foot inside one? I hear they serve beer but I also hear the ball pit is basically a germ pit. Bring lots of hand sanitizer!

 

rnin02

I don't think chuck e cheese is the hell on earth others seem to think it is:) and the ones i have been to do not have ball pits. I think it will depend on how independent your older child is and if your younger one will stick near you. My DS stays with us, but if he were to start running around it would be much harder. but they hand stamp you when you come in, so they can't leave without you:) its a great rainy day play place for us, and DS usually naps after, which makes it worth it. and he never gets sick after a trip there:)

Artslvr

I don't think it's hell on earth but IMO it is not ideal to go with a four year old and a 1 year old by yourself.  Doable of course, (I mean, as moms, don't we pull of the impossible on pretty much a daily basis?!), but not ideal.

I just went to one for the first time in my life with my almost-five year old DD #1 for her friend's birthday party.  It was a weekend and it was packed.  It was all I could do to keep up with her, running from game to game, machine to machine, etc spending her tokens.  It's not like it's a place that is conducive to a kid thinking "gee, I better stick right by my mother's side" - DD would see one of her friends at another machine and sprint over there, bobbing and weaving between the legs of the many other people there.  For many of the games she needed my help to show her what to do and keep track of the little tickets that come out of the machine so even though she's extremely independent, I still had to keep track of her and lend her a hand often (personally I think most of those games are really for older kids, the younger kids can only do some of them).

If I'd had a toddler with me I would have been driven nuts.  But it sounds like this is a "make it work" thing for you.

If you have this option, I'd see if another parent at the party can help you keep track of the four year old while you tend to the younger one.  At least help you keep an eye on the older one while they go from game to game.  If it's crowded you may want to stay on sort of the outskirts of the game area so your toddler doesn't get run over.  There were a bunch of older kids at the place I was at and they had no regard for the little kids.

You can do it, just ask for help if you need it.  Maybe the one you go to won't be quite as nuts as the one I went to!