Baby's first birthday party- would the parents expext a full meal

At that time of day I wouldn't expect a full meal; I'd be please if you offered a coffee anything else would be a bonus. Given the small numbers, on the day you could just speak to people and offer them a slice of cake from the soft play or offer a couple of sharing pizzas/platters?

If I was invited to a party like that I would expect
something to be provided for my baby but not for me. I would probably message the parents and say something like ‘babies will be given a plate of snacks each and the cafe’s kitchen will be open if any adults want to buy lunch for themselves.’

Making it worth their while for the venue sure, but all they are doing is allowing OP to put up a few decorations. They're still getting the normal entrance fees plus whatever they spend on coffees anyway. Expecting them to buy 8-10 adults full meals mid afternoon on top would be way OTT.

Hope you have a lovely time OP.

I’m not from the UK, but had DS there, and we always fed accompanying adults, but this party is going to be just after lunch, so I can’t imagine anyone is going to be that starving.

I found UK children's birthday parties very weird and awkward. People stand around watching their kids while their eating, and everyone looks hungry and uncomfortable.

I'm not from the UK, and I would never host a party where guests aren't offered food. I don't mean a full meal, but at least some mini sandwiches, cakes, snacks, and drinks.
We usually rent a local community hall and bring our own food and drinks.

Since it’s mid afternoon, everyone will have likely had lunch anyway. If you want to put some nibbles out feel free but I’d say a slice of cake and coffee would be adequate.

So why would the play cafe bother with it? The owner would be allowing the paraphernalia of a party on their premises but not being paid for it.

As pps have said, the issue is with the agreement you have with the cafe owner, not the expectations of other parents. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a first birthday party that was more than a birthday cake with immediate family.

Few snacks is fine. No way are you expected to pay for a meal.

It’s not the same. This is a party for four babies at a play cafe. The OP isn’t booking a party package, because there’s so few of them. Hence why the owner wants the adults to buy a meal. A random platter “to be friendly“ isn’t going to really cut it with the owner. They need to make it worth their while to allow this little gathering at all.

I have never seen the parents included in the food for kids parties, at any age.

Kids are always fed, in every party I have seen, sometimes at awkward times 😂

For a full class party, there's usually more than enough sandwiches and snacks so host offers to parents to help themselves once the kids have eaten, same thing with cakes

In a cafe, you could have a platter of some kind to be friendly?

As a parent I wouldn’t expect to be fed at a child’s party. You could always just get a few small bits if you would like as I’m assuming the babies won’t really be eating depending on their age?

That's usually the booking cost for the party which will include play and food for the children

Most of those were went to had a cheese board and cured meats, prosecco etc, not full meals and weren’t over meal times.

The Cafe will need to make money out of your booking, so I would assume that there is some sort of minimum spend or price per head, just go with whatever that is.

For a party starting at 1.45 no. It doesn't cover a normal adult meal time. I'd be expecting a coffee and that's all.

How old are these babies? If your son is turning one, I assume that sort of age. I can’t see that nuggets and pizzas are the right sort of food for babies. What does “a full meal” mean on the adult menu? A play cafe is very different to a soft play centre, I think.

For a child's party at a soft play, I wouldn't expect the parents to be fed. We did similar for our child's second birthday and bought drinks for friends (adults) but not food. There was food available to buy but most parents will not be expecting food at that sort of venue. If it's at your house it's different. You could get some pizzas if you wanted to but no not a full meal.

Most adults wouldn't assume to be fed at a kid's party. I think what food you buy at the cafe, depends on the time of the party.

I live in a very nearby postcode! No, no parent expects a meal for the adult at a children’s party. But I always hope you’ve over-ordered on the pizzas so that the adults can have a spare slice! Sometimes there are plates of small sandwiches and/or pastries which the parents can nibble on, and I always appreciate that and have some but (especially with some competitive north London perforative under-eating mums) a lot of it winds up uneaten and in the bin at the end.

So your son will be 1 and I'm assuming that the other children are very young too.

I would suggest buying the children some food but not the adults. How much food you buy will depend on the time of day. If it's lunchtime buy each child a little meal. Most places like this will do a little sandwich, drink, biscuit etc type of meal deal. If they've already eaten you might just get some biscuits and a drink each.

I don't think the adults will expect anything for themselves. If you can afford it the offer of a tea or coffee woukd be nice but not essential. Children's parties in the UK tend to just cater for the children. The adults buy their own or eat their kid's leftovers.

I don’t think this is as much about what parents expect, and is more about what the owner expects. Why don’t you speak to her again, agree a price you are happy with, eg x amount, and ask her to provide fruit, drinks, cakes whatever to that value. Then if some don’t turn up you take it home. If they do you have covered everyone.

who are the parents? like nursery randomers or friends with similar aged kids?

I'd suggest getting something for the kids, depending on age and where they're at with eating. cover that cost, maybe a hot drink for each adult and then look at of there's any sharing platters, large pizza etc.

what time is the party?