I don't want to do party bags

came here to say that.

That’s how much it used to cost, but my DCs grew up pre-internet so every crappy item would be about £4 for a pack of 5 so you could times that by at least 12, and then throw in sweets and a pack of balloons, plus the bags themselves. I used to spend a fortune on that shite.

You can probably buy 30 tubs of bubbles these days for £2.50 from China!

I hate party bags and the useless shite that goes in them, but they are expected and a sign that the kids should fuck off now- I do sweetie cones instead. Pack of cones with twist ties off Amazon and some big bags of Lidl sweets, job done and no whistles/ ball mazes cluttering up kitchen counters.

Am I the only person who actually quite enjoys making up the party bags?

I'm a lazy f*cker when it comes to most things, but this I find genuinely fun. 😳

We had a few where a parent bought a multi pack of books and spilt them. Worked well.

The best party bags are a piece of cake and some sweets.

we have done before 10 books for £10 and a bag of haribo rather than tat. Works out much cheaper

We went to a last min class party and the kids went home with a bit of bday cake. My child was not disappointed in fact they didn’t even mention party bags. Do what you feel best for you.

We've never done them properly. When DD had a big bash for whole class we bunged lots of tat into a box and covered it in shredded paper then told the kids to queue up and do lucky dip for their piece of tat.

When we've done bowling parties we've just given the kids two quid each for the arcade in lieu of a party bag. My friend gave out books at hers.

Another year we took the party group to McDonalds after the activity and the happy meal gift was the party bag.

We also don't do the overpriced cakes made by local mums either that look cute but taste like sugar and icing and ends up with the kids half eating it and leaving it everywhere. £7 supermarket chocolate traybake every time and the kids guzzle it.

As a kid I remember the party bag being the best bit! They’ll be crushed if you don’t have them. I’ve seen some people do books in their place but never omit a gift completely

It sounds like your child might be the problem, really weird to just immediately bin something without even taking it out of the bag and looking at it. Completely spoiled and ungrateful, why let him take one in the first place?
I’d be mortified to admit the child I raised regularly acted like that.

You definitely do not need to do party bags. We all collectively need to do more to reduce landfill and tat for the sake of it.

As previous posters have mentioned, most parties round our way the parents go to The Works and buy the 10 books for £10, lay them out next to the sliced cake when you want people to leave and start encouraging children to choose a book and take a slice of cake.

We’ve gone £1 books from the works this year - I can’t be bothered with bags. Will add a bar of chocolate

Yeah they work out as more like 2-3 quid per bag when I do them. As I say I buy it all in packs of 100 and use the same stuff year on year

I've never done plastic tat party bags, but something is expected. I used to do a piece of cake + a craft kit or mini "Lego" kit from Wilkos. We've been to many a party that did cake + a book.

Go to The Works and get 10 books for £10. Sorted!

No one is spending 50-100 pounds on party bags. 😂

We did a lucky dip instead. Filled a bucket with things like bouncy balls, small craft sets and other toys. Parents 1 stood at the door with a tray of cupcakes and parent 2 with the lucky dip. Each child leaves with something and a cake. Much easier!

My DCs used to rummage through them, take out the lollipop and throw the rest in the bin.

This genuinely surprises me because my DC aren't like this at all. They go crazy for one of those tiny bouncy balls for example. The sweets get left till the end

I'm an immigrant too op - when in Rome, do as the Romans do and give party bags.

I buy packs of 100 bubble wands, temporary tattoos, stickers, novelty pencils, mini activity books, balloons and the like. They work out very cheap per bag. No sweets because my dd has tooth problems.

Personally I appreciate it when my dc receive a party bag because it helps them wind down at home after the party. They go quiet blowing up their balloon or doing their activity book. Everyone wins

I’m English and I think it’s weird. I hate birthday cake and I think that goes back to opening that mushy mess and ending up with a mouth full of tissue.

I’m with OP on party bags. My DCs used to rummage through them, take out the lollipop and throw the rest in the bin. It’s a crying shame when some poor mother has probably spent £50-100 putting them together for 30 little ingrates.

I would do them, but they can be little other gifts, not bags of tat! We've done:

• books - 10 for £10 in the works - get a few extras so each kid can choose one they don't have, use the spares as presents for other kids' parties!
• bath bombs - buy a pack and wrap each in film with a bow
• mini trains - for a Thomas themed party
• paint your own ceramic robot - Hobbycraft kit

What are you viewing as “modern”? They were very much a thing in Ireland in the 80s and 90s. Not a new or English thing at all.

Depends what age you are I suppose, my dc are between 33 and 28 and they had party bags.