Birthday Party Dilemma

Robeano · December 2013

So I go back to work on January 13th. Hannah's birthday is January 23rd. So I was looking at my schedule to see what was the best weekend for her party. And the weekend of the 18-19th I work 2-8. And hubby is gone on an ice fishing trip. The following weekend 25th-26th I work 2-10 on the Saturday and 4-10 on the Sunday. I am also off on the Friday the 24th. So here is the problem.

Option One: Is a Friday evening birthday party weird for a one year old? We could do the party from 6-8, so I would give her an afternoon nap so she'd be okay being up that late without being cranky.

Option Two: Have the party on the Sunday after church from Noon-till 3, then head off to work. (bonus cuz hubby has to clean up afterwards lol)

Lastly Option Three: Have the party the FOLLOWING weekend, but I work 9-4 so again it would be an evening party.

What would you do? And why? (especially those who have had parties for a one year old, I am looking for ideas of melt down times, how they react to so much going on etc.) Thank you!!

TJ1979 · December 2013

I agree with @mg0202. GL and I can't believe she's almost 1!!!

ccam · December 2013

I guess a Sunday party might sound best in your case, but would you have time to prep with working on Saturday and church on Sunday? That sounds like a lot!

I personally would not have had DS's party on a Friday. We had a large guest list, with lots of kids, parents who work and family out of state, so getting there at 6 would have been difficult. Plus, DS was in bed before 7, so that would have been hard. But maybe in your case, depending on who you are inviting, it could work? If you were going to do an evening, I think a Saturday would be better.

Is there anyway you could do it before you go back to work, or is that too close?

Ruthie04 · December 2013

We did a Sunday- 1-3pm party. It was perfect! Not a single tear. I fed the boys lunch and the guests started coming. We took them upstairs for naps at 3:15 and they slept hard! It was the perfect time for our boys and plenty of the guests were able to fit it in with their church schedules. The only issue was some of the older kids (and 1x/ day nappers) had to leave a bit early since it was overlapping with their nap times.

pb_bride · December 2013

One more vote for Sunday noon-3pm, UNLESS all your guests are adults and no other babies/children are invited. Also, having a Fri evening party may potentially mean people arriving late (finishing up their work week, stuck in traffic etc). IME, few people ever show up right when the party starts... usually it doesn't get going until 30 minutes later. So a 6-8p party means people arriving 6:30ish and after some mingling etc you don't start food until 7pm. It'll be difficult and stressful for you to get people eating/drinking, opening presents, cutting the cake etc AND get Hannah in bed by 8pm.

the 12noon-3pm time slot will give you more time and leeway in case people show up late.

mcgeeva · December 2013

How many people are coming and are they traveling far? We did an early party at 12 pm on a sunday for ds first bday. Then he was taking naps 10-12 so he was in the best mood for that time. Of course do what works for you I just feel like night time is always so busy with dinner etc then you don't have to worrry about providing dinner for people and instead keeping it light.

Mnerani · December 2013

mg0202 said:

I would choose the afternoon 12-3 party. First you don't want to have to rush home from work and try to get ready for an evening party. Second if there are other young kids evenings might not work so well. A 6-8 party would be difficult for J, she started s starting to wind down for the evening and goes to bed by 8. Also, other parents might not want all the excitement and sugar close to bed. And as you said bonus for not having to clean up!

This exactly.