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Original poster

Help! Birthday! Is this true???

66 replies

Vitallyli · 03/10/2021 10:10

Hi I'm planning a little Birthday party for my 1yo in a kids cafe. There will be 10 kids age 6m-4yo. I am not from the UK and just realized they might be expecting guests presents? Not a thing where I'm from! What sort of thing would be appropriate and how much money do I spend on it per child? Does everyone get the same thing?

OP posts:
Rainbowsew · 03/10/2021 10:57

Not necessary at all and shouldn't be expected anyway, especially not for a one-year old.

They're not very environmentally friendly either in their traditional sense, ie cheap plastic toys. I only did them once or twice when we're about 6 / 7 and refused to buy plastic toys, the kids had a small book from a bulk buy pack, a piece of cake and small pack of sweets.

But really don't worry about it be brave a begin the fazing out in your social circle, you can use your non English status wisely Wink many parents will thank you for it.

BillMasheen · 03/10/2021 10:58

Pleas don’t hand out balloons in party bags.

They are a choking hazard, and impossible to remove once blocking the airway.

www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/education-store/choking-hazard-safety

AntiHop · 03/10/2021 10:58

See if you have a branch of the works on your high St, and buy them each a little book.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Events & celebrations
RiverSkater · 03/10/2021 11:02

Don't stress with party bags at this age.

If you can, just never do them. Cake, ballon. Job done. It's better fir the environment.

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/10/2021 11:07

I agree with a pp, bubbles, cake and a little book if your budget stretches. You can get books more cheaply in sets and give one each out from the set. I would say shop around as prices vary. Perhaps something like the gruffalo board book set (£5.39 on Amazon for 4) for the younger ones and Paddington suitcase (£11.75 on Amazon for 8) for the older ones. Maybe you can get cheaper books if this is out of your price range. This was just a quick Google and your dd gets to keep the spares.

EdgeOfTheSky · 03/10/2021 11:19

Oh, yes, not un-inflated balloons!

LowlandLucky · 03/10/2021 11:35

A piece of cake is more than enough.

Couchbettato · 03/10/2021 11:40

Our Asda sells party supplies like little bags of cheap tat toys that you bung in a party bag.

We usually stick a party blower, unblown balloon and cake in.

MzHz · 03/10/2021 11:57

Honestly, start a new tradition- which is modern day version of seeing how things were before everything had to be a sodding industry and just give everyone a slice of cake no plastic, no waste

Original poster
Vitallyli · 03/10/2021 12:02

Oh thank you for your thoughts and ideas! My plan that all cake will be eaten by parents and kids, we're paying for parents coffees/teas and the cake isn't massive. The party is only for 2h as it's in a cafe and that's the limit they have for such parties. I might brave not having party bags or get a little balloon on a stick. So glad I asked!!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 03/10/2021 12:06

@ThePug

My eldest's first party was when he was 2 and instead of party bags I did a helium animal balloon for everyone (bought from Amazon and filled ourselves with a canister we still have and use for a couple each birthday, he's now 5!). For one year olds I think they'd love a balloon to go home with - maybe one of those small foil ones on a stick, you can get them at Card Factory. Or a book, which you can get in Poundland
Please don’t do this They are really bad for the environment
ApolloandDaphne · 03/10/2021 12:09

Kids of all ages love a little pot of bubbles and they are cheap to buy. They can't really do much with a balloon on a stick.

grey12 · 03/10/2021 12:14

Every parent I know HATES those things!!! Just trash toys

I find it ridiculous. The kid having a birthday has the presents. Full stop

Kuachui · 03/10/2021 12:26

I wouldnt do party bags for a kids party if under 5 years old, no point then past that it's just a slice of cake and something from poundland type stores like a yoyo or toy cars etc

flippertyop · 03/10/2021 13:11

Buy them each a book from the works

Whatiswrongwithmyknee · 03/10/2021 13:39

Party bags are usually awful thing which just fill a house with plastic tat which then needs to be thrown away. If you don't feel able to resist one, the least worst when my kids were little was a book and a slice of cage.

Comedycook · 03/10/2021 14:41

@MzHz

Honestly, start a new tradition- which is modern day version of seeing how things were before everything had to be a sodding industry and just give everyone a slice of cake no plastic, no waste
Well I remember party bags in the 1980s so it's not a modern thing!
MzHz · 03/10/2021 15:44

I’m older than you @Comedycook, we got a bit of cake in a napkin in the 70s, the bs plastic tat in a bag strayed in the 80s and then it’s been a game of one-up-mums-ship ever since

MzHz · 03/10/2021 15:44

Started, not strayed

gamerchick · 03/10/2021 15:48

Do people actually eat the cake? I can't bring myself to eat cake after a kid has just blown spit all over it. It's usually put in the party bag and chucked in the bin at home.

toomuchlaundry · 03/10/2021 16:00

@gamerchickisn't the cake for your child not you

Dinkydody · 03/10/2021 16:15

The Works does a wonderful choice of10 books for £10. So much better than cheap tat that you usually get in party bags 😌

luckylavender · 03/10/2021 16:23

Please not balloons and less plastic tat. A slice of cake and a book?

Changechangychange · 03/10/2021 16:33

You can also get mini tubs of playdoh, or for older kids some bubbles or a bouncy ball. Really shouldn’t cost much. But you don’t need to do anything for a one year old - I think three was the age it started at our nursery.

BEE08 · 03/10/2021 16:57

We did a Bouncy castle for my 2 year old, this year in the party bags for the younger one we did:
Paper bag
Piece of cake
4 different chalks - bought a box of 12 and split them
A plastic cup with a straw - these went down really well and people said how useful there were.
Small bag of chocolate biscuits