Clicky Poll: Toddler Birthday Parties

kyfirewife · June 2011

For DD's 1st Bday party, we went all out - had it at a park, invited family (included extended family) on both sides, our friends, etc. Paid for all the food, ordered a cake, etc.

But... we saw that as a milestone birthday, and had planned on being low-key family-only celebrations until maybe her 5th. Which is pretty much how both of us were brought up. In fact, the only bday party I remember being allowed to invite friends to was my 18th.

So, for her 2nd, we had an immediate-family (us, grandparents, aunts & uncles only) party at our home. Served birthday cake. Got a few balloons & plates, etc.

But... I'm not sure where she's getting this, but DD is already asking if her friends will be at her next birthday party (in October). She'll even list off names of kids she wants to be there. From her old preschool, from church nursery, from the sitter, and her cousins (which is a long enough list in & of itself).

She's only been invited to one friend's birthday party, but that was after she started asking, so I'm really not sure where she's getting it.

Anyway... I don't want to disappoint her and not have any friends there. But at the same time I don't want to end up inviting the whole freakin' state to a 3 yo party.

WWYD / WAYD?

TIA![Poll]

Lucky_N_Love · June 2011

I put other because I couldn't decide between the option of stick to your guns and the option of letting her invite a few friends that you really know.

IMO in depends how serious your thoughts were about keeping parties just family and what the reasons are. If to you birthday parties are meant to be a small celebration with close family and not some crazy shin dig then stick to your guns now and set those rules up for the future. Birthdays for her will be special regardless.

If you're not really set into those rules but just thought that is how it would be, then I would consider inviting friends. I personally can't wait for DD to get older and be able to invite her little friends to parties and do all of the cheezy party stuff. Ha ha. I invited moms and kids from our LLL playgroup to her 1st Birthday even though she is too little to call them her friends.

The good news is you have some time to decide how you will plan birthdays in the future.

jerseygirl81 · June 2011

We've gone to a few 2nd and 3rd birthday parties for the kids in his class at school - one at chuck-e-cheese and two at gymboree. We had a great time at all three the whole (smallish) class was invited, but I don't know if that's the path I want to go down for our own parties. His first birthday was just a big summer party, and it was fun. Last year we had a tiny celebration, just the girl across the street and alisonada's girls, since we spend time together, anyway.

I'm still undecided about his birthday in August. I'm considering doing the class party, only because, like firegirl, he's been talking about the other birthday parties. If we do, it will be outside the house, somewhere like Graeter's or (god help me) chuck-e-cheese.

KYmama9286 · June 2011

My sister always let her boys have a mini-birthday party of sorts but the number of friends they could invite correlated with their age. So for a third birthday that means she could invite 3 friends which is definitely managable and not going to break the bank to plan an activity/celebration for 4 three year old's, kwim? Obviously the age= # of guests has its limits but it worked well and her boys really thought about who they wanted to invite instead of just inviting every "friend" they have.

adamsbabble · June 2011

I said other b/c I don't think there is a wrong answer here. Personally I went to friends' parties growing up and had them come to mine and I know that my DD's have both already been invited to quite a few children's parties, so kids going to other kid parties is the norm for me and that is how we've done it. So far, it's just the children of close friends and family, but I'm sure we'll invite classmates our children are close with in the future (this was Ava's first year of school and she has a summer b-day so we haven't been down that road with her parties yet, but likewise she did attend the party of a classmate).

cat81305 · June 2011

For Aleck's 3rd birthday we had family over the night before (grandparents mainly) and then for his party we had his friends and their parents (they are our friedns too). I think parties are about hanging with your friends and if your family is close then do immediate family. That's what we do and our family is okay with this. Good luck!

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