Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What to put in a party bag? Cost effective and not plastic crap!

132 replies

PickUpAPenguin18 · 24/09/2022 21:37

I'm looking for some party bag ideas please. My son is having a 4th birthday party next month and there should be about 12 children coming.

I've already bought some second hand, 20p Mr Men and Little Miss books which I was going to personalise by putting their names on. I also have paper bags, not plastic.

I don't want to spend a fortune on bits and don't want to buy plastic rubbish that will just end up being thrown away and going into landfill. Any lost cost, environmentally friendly ideas? Thank you.

OP posts:
Nomorefuckstogive · 24/09/2022 21:38

Sweets, lollies and chocolate.

AliBingo · 24/09/2022 21:40

Bath bombs!

ldnirish · 24/09/2022 21:41

A sheet of stickers! You can bulk buy off Amazon for about a fiver and keep for future party bags/your own kids... Win win all round

Muddledandbefuddled · 24/09/2022 21:41

Don't put their names on the books as it makes them harder for them to pass once they're done with.

Little colouring book? Some stickers?

I would say packets of seeds for them to plant out but may not be the right time of year.

Twizbe · 24/09/2022 21:42

Stickers and sweets plus a bit of cake. Job done.

EcoCustard · 24/09/2022 21:42

Book & cake sounds perfect. Or sweets, been to more parties recently that have just had a book with either or a paper bag with a variety of sweets. Pack of seeds?

BusySittingDown · 24/09/2022 21:45

Book is a great idea. Sweets and cake will do! Maybe a little notepad and nice pen? My DDs always seemed to use these - anything else was just tat and just ended up in the bin.

LubaLuca · 24/09/2022 21:46

I agree about not personalising the books, I can't see the purpose for that. The book plus some chocolate or sweets and a slice of cake is plenty. You don't need to think too hard about it, children are happy with any kind of little treat.

Harridan1981 · 24/09/2022 21:47

We will be doing one of those punch balloons, a stretchy man, some cake and sweets.

In the past we have done seeds, chalkboards, crayons etc

Harridan1981 · 24/09/2022 21:47

Oh a and a temporary tattoo, they seem so popular at the moment 🤷

Soproudoflionesses · 24/09/2022 21:49

I would just do sweetie cones

eatyourcrustspls · 24/09/2022 21:50

DS's last party we did a book & a little bag of Haribo. Plus cake. Parents were made up and did the same for theirs.

BertaHoon · 24/09/2022 21:51

A nice pencil and rubber with a little pad, or split a pack of gel pens. A balloon to blow up at home. Stickers. Sweets. Cake.

eatyourcrustspls · 24/09/2022 21:51

The kids were also chuffed, obviously!

I hate all the plastic tat, I intercept the whistles 😂

PickUpAPenguin18 · 24/09/2022 22:00

Thank you. Some great ideas. I've made a little list 😁
I want to personalise the books because I think it's a cute idea. Plus, we actually did that already for our wedding table places, personalised Mr Men/Little Miss books. The guests, young and old absolutely adored it! And I always thought it would work for a child's party.

OP posts:
PickUpAPenguin18 · 24/09/2022 22:02

EcoCustard · 24/09/2022 21:42

Book & cake sounds perfect. Or sweets, been to more parties recently that have just had a book with either or a paper bag with a variety of sweets. Pack of seeds?

@EcoCustard I really like the idea of seeds. It's eco friendly and a bit different.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 24/09/2022 22:04

We got some seeds from one of DS party bags. A complete and utter waste of time. They are sat there unused. It seems like such a lovely idea but my DS much preferred the party bag where he got a tiny pot of play doh.

Jules912 · 24/09/2022 22:05

DD's last party I didn't have much time to think about party bags so got a huge bag of sweets and shoved a handful in each bag ( actually DS counted out the same number for each cause he's like that). The kids loved them, the parents loved that they got eaten and were then not cluttering up the house.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 24/09/2022 22:05

A piece of birthday cake is fine, no child ever needed a party bag of shit plastic bought by a stressed parent, the kids don’t care.

BeBesideTheSea · 24/09/2022 22:06

You only need one gift - so stick to the books. Add sweets/chocolate (Freddo Frogs are good for this age) and you are done.
We always did biscuits in the shape of the birthday child’s age too.

Keep the seeds idea for next year.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 24/09/2022 22:06

I do sweet cone and piece of cake nothing goes to waste and no plastic tat

NerrSnerr · 24/09/2022 22:06

The seeds need to be in the right season. If they need to planted in the spring they'll be forgotten about and wasted.

Although the book thing may seem cute it'll just add to waste, they won't be able to pass it on when done so they'll end up in the bin one day instead of back in the charity shop.

Bumblebeefriend · 24/09/2022 22:09

An apple to go with the book? Have noticed people starting to give out fruit as a party favour.

CatchMeIfYouCanCan · 24/09/2022 22:15

My DD5 just loves all the plastic crap (seriously!), however for her own birthday party I bought massive packs of craft supplies and made up little craft packs for each kid. It took a fucking age but I was very proud 😂. Next time I am buying the plastic crap to save my sanity and my time.

Wickerbaskethandle · 24/09/2022 22:28

Not sure that 4 year olds are really into Mr Men, I wouldn't personalise or they will just get binned rather than passed to charity shop which can be done if not personalised.