We've only been at our new daycare for a few weeks and already have received invitations to 2 birthday parties. Yay for being inclusive, but one is scheduled during DS's naptime so we're not likely to attend.
In this area, do you just bring a gift to the party? Or if you can't attend, do you send a gift anyway? I'm confused.
Re: Invites to kid's birthday parties and gift etiquette ?
i send gifts to weddings and showers that i cannot attend, but not birthday parties (unless it's a very good friend, in which case i must have a very good reason to not attend!).
hence, i would not send a gift to a toddler's birthday party that i can't attend.
we invite all the kids from T's DC to his parties (even though some are babies), but only because it would be rude to invite 2 and not the other 7! they don't come, but it's the gesture that counts.
I send a gift if I RSVP and then cannot attend. It has only happened once or twice. If we cannot go at all, we do not send a gift.
Be careful how much you start to spend on gifts. At our daycare, especially once she was in the 3 yr old room, we got a birthday invite every weekend it seems. It can really add up.
Another trick I learned is make sure you don't talk about the party with DS unless you can/want to go. My DD has a mind like a steel trap. I usually try to hide the invite and not talk about it until the day or two before.