Birthday gifts for 'at nursery' parties?

[PiecesOfCake]

Where children have 'at nursery' parties - the parents provide a cake and going home bags and the nursery 'host' a party hour - do you give the birthday child a gift? The first two passed me by as there weren't invitations given out and it was only as DD came home with a party bag that I realised it had even happened. Now we have one which has an invitation - DD would be at the nursery anyway at this time.

What's the 'done thing' where you are? Thanks!

[ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean]

Ours is much more low key than that. Parents provide a cake, happy birthday is sung during circle time & each child brings a bit of cake home. No party bags, no invitations & certainly no gifts. About 60% of those turning four and about 20% of those turning three have a proper party at a weekend to which we obviously take a gift.

[Frequentblooper]

My children have been to different nurseries but I never encountered this. Perhaps everyone got a sweet as it's someone's birthday now and again but that's the most I've heard of. I wouldn't think a present is necessary personally not unless there was an invite or you know the child ?

[PiecesOfCake]

It's quite a small class and there was an invitation. But DD'd be there anyway! I wouldn't have even thought to bring a present but a few days after the last one I saw a mum giving something to the birthday girl's mum saying "it's only a little something" and I thought uh-oh I certainly haven't got even only a little something!

[ChessieFL]

Never had this at my DDs nursery. I think the nursery provided cake for all when it was a child's birthday but never heard of an organised party during nursery hours.

[ConesOfDunshire]

This doesn't exist at DD's nursery either. They will have a cake and sing to the birthday child but there is a strict ban on parents bringing in any food or cake; the nursery kitchen bakes a cake instead.

[HSMMaCM]

Just cake and singing here too. Maybe the parent with the gift was a close friend ?

[HSMMaCM]

And the invites are weird. What if you said no, but your child was there anyway

[Floggingmolly]

Yes, invites are extremely weird. You can't leave exactly leave anyone out, can you? Re. gifts; no, it's not necessary.

[hibbleddible]

No I don't think giving a gift is necessary. This isn't a birthday party, just a cake at nursery.

The invite is also very odd, as the children either go to this session or don't. I wonder if it is fishing for gifts?

[Pico2]

I've never come across it, but I'd just ask the room leader what people do.