What's the etiquette for birthday invites?

[Thistledew]

DS turns 3 next month. We are planning a small party at home for him. I'm going to invite a couple of his friends that we know from his swimming class and from our NCT group with whom we have had play dates before. When I ask DS who he wants to come to his part he always mentions a boy who goes to his nursery.

I'd like to invite him as well but have never actually seen the boy or met his parents (he is from an older class but the nursery workers confirm that they are friends and often play together).

Would it be odd at this age to just invite the boy (and obviously his parents/guardian) to the party or should I arrange for him to come to our house to play at some point before the party?

I would invite but warn there won't be any other nursery children there so if they'd prefer you could arrange for him to come over another time.

I’d invite him. At that age you often meet children and parents for the first time at a birthday party.

I'd put an invite in an envelope with a little not saying your DS talks about/plays with theirs and hope they can make the party, but if not maybe you can meet in the park on another occasion. Ask nursery to hand it over.

DD had her third birthday party last month and we invited five children from her nursery. I'd only met two of the children/parents before through randomly bumping into them at the local park/toddler group (and they both latee invited DD to their parties). It seems normal practice at her nursery for them to invite other children you haven't met before - you just hand the invites to the nursery staff who give them out.

Do it! I had a similar situation. I included a little note to say my DD talked a lot about her DD, was always more excited about going to nursery on days her DD was there & so, whilst I felt a bit odd inviting her as I'd never met her or her DD (or even seen her DD who always got dropped off later & picked up earlier - I did check with nursery that it wasn't an imaginary friend or a completely one sided friendship). The mum & DD came. Six yrs later the girls are still best friends and the mum and I often go out together too.

Yes, it's absolutely fine to do this. My DC have had invitations like this a few times.