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Original poster

Would you/your child be happy with a cupcake but no party bag?

87 replies

CookieCrumbles23 · 28/11/2024 12:29

4th birthday party, I was thinking of just giving a Christmas themed cupcake at the end in a little box. I’ve always done party bags and I know the kids look forward to them (although parents do not lol), but I’m trying to make things simpler.

Have you been to a party where this is done? Did it go down well? I’m ordering from a local cake maker and her cupcakes are delicious. My boy will have his own cupcake to blow out a candle and the kids will leave with theirs.

OP posts:
isthesolution · 28/11/2024 12:30

Hate party bags. They just feel like a waste and usually are plastic and contain plastic.

In the past I have given out a colouring book/sticker book instead. I think a cupcake is a nice idea.

Also I don't think there is any need to do a party bag at all.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 28/11/2024 12:32

In theory they should just be grateful for the party, but in reality (round here at least) there would be disappointed children! We normally get cake/cupcake inside the bag.

Maybe just buy a bunch of 10 for £10 books from The Works to pair with the cakes?

AutumnLeaves1990 · 28/11/2024 12:32

Happy or not,I'd be teaching my child to appreciate whatever they're given 👍

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BaronessBomburst · 28/11/2024 12:32

To be honest, I think 4 year olds would prefer plastic tat to a good quality cupcake.
You can still keep it simple though. I remember the biggest hits being a bendy pen, and a note pad that looked like 100 euro notes. You don't need a whole bag of stuff.

EvilsElsasPetSnowman · 28/11/2024 12:32

DD once got a fancy cookie in the shape of a unicorn with multicoloured icing instead of a party bag. another child had a birthday round Easter and they all got Easter eggs instead of party bags. I think I speak for every parent to say anything is better than plastic wasteful tat. Go for it OP

Flev · 28/11/2024 12:32

I'd be OK with it but DD(6) would be a bit disappointed as she dislikes icing so rarely eats any birthday cake she's given. She's had a small sweetie cone before in place of a party bag and been very happy with that, so I think most kids (who do eat the cake) would be fine with your plan.

Original poster
CookieCrumbles23 · 28/11/2024 12:50

Thanks guys, really helpful. I’ll do the cupcake and maybe a little book or similar to go along with it. I just don’t have the bandwidth to sit there, surrounded by party bags putting things in them lol.

OP posts:
doodleschnoodle · 28/11/2024 13:48

I'd love to say DD1 wouldn't be disappointed and I think (hope) she wouldn't say anything about it, but party bags are really popular among her and her friends and almost every party we've been to has had them so I think she probably would be a bit disappointed. I did mostly plastic-free ones last year, bag and all, and they went down really well.

I don't think it's a big deal to not do them but I'd prepare for a few whispers and embarrassed parents shushing Grin

LufthName · 28/11/2024 13:50

I'd be thrilled with no party bag of tat and choking hazards. DC would be grateful for whatever they got. Just a cake would be perfect.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 28/11/2024 13:50

Yeah, please avoid plastic tat. I can't believe so many parents still put it into party bags - crap message to pass on to kids.

Comedycook · 28/11/2024 13:51

Truthfully my dd would have been bitterly disappointed at that age with no party bag

nicky2512 · 28/11/2024 13:52

Sounds lovely. Mine are well past this stage but would have loved this.
Ds was a Christmas Day baby. Selection boxes instead of party bags every time for his parties! Never heard any complaints.

PinkArt · 28/11/2024 13:55

Not a mum, but as a Christmas period baby, please don't do Christmas themed cakes if you go down that route. It's not a Christmas party, it's his birthday party.
December and January birthdays can so easily get swallowed up by Christmas and I really appreciated everything my parents did to separate the two.

Singleandproud · 28/11/2024 13:57

You could do 'Make your own' which has gone down well

I've been to parties where there have been a penny sweet section with little stripy bag and an adult puts the sweets the children want into their bag and pop a stick on to seal it during the party and then they get that at the end.

I've been to parties where sweet cones have been handed out, you could do Rudolph hot chocolate ones instead

I've been to parties where the children have had a craft table to decorate their paper party bag with stickers and pens and then filled their own from a table that had highlighters, pencils, stickers, Heroes tubs etc

I've been to parties where children have had a selection of books wrapped in brown paper with some keywords to help the child decide which they want "wizard, adventure", "dragons, exciting". Or just where there has been a box full for them to pick from from TheBookPeople or similar that do 10 books for £10.

Parker231 · 28/11/2024 13:57

CookieCrumbles23 · 28/11/2024 12:50

Thanks guys, really helpful. I’ll do the cupcake and maybe a little book or similar to go along with it. I just don’t have the bandwidth to sit there, surrounded by party bags putting things in them lol.

Anything to get rid of the party bags is a good idea. The guests should be taught to say thank you for any item given to take home. I’d be embarrassed if my DC’s were disappointed by the taking home gift.

BarnacleBeasley · 28/11/2024 13:57

My DS (3) loves a party bag full of plastic shit, but the best thing he has ever got is a hideous beanie ball toy which he instantly named Mrs Fluffy Ears and has slept with every night for the three months since he got it. The party mum just handed them to departing kids out of a big cardboard box, so that was a win for her.

Pineapplewaves · 28/11/2024 13:57

I would be thrilled for DS not to get a party bag full of plastic tat that breaks five minutes in and then I have DS in tears over it. DS would be very disappointed not to get a party bag on the way out though.

DS did go to one party where everyone came away with a sweetie cone. If the party is around Christmas how about a hot chocolate cone, lots of people selling them on my local FB, and my local charity shop is selling them too.

Parker231 · 28/11/2024 13:58

nicky2512 · 28/11/2024 13:52

Sounds lovely. Mine are well past this stage but would have loved this.
Ds was a Christmas Day baby. Selection boxes instead of party bags every time for his parties! Never heard any complaints.

What a good idea - easy to buy and perfect for the time of year.

pjani · 28/11/2024 14:03

The downside to not having party bags are that i) you tell everyone to leave by getting them out and ii) kids are much easier to get to leave when they have something exciting to look through in their sticky paws!

Honestly it doesn't have to be much - the last one we got had three in it - and it doesn't have to be plastic. But I think they are a sweet part of parties that kids enjoy. And I do think they are the only way I've managed to get my kids to leave without tears a number of times.

pizzaHeart · 28/11/2024 14:06

PinkArt · 28/11/2024 13:55

Not a mum, but as a Christmas period baby, please don't do Christmas themed cakes if you go down that route. It's not a Christmas party, it's his birthday party.
December and January birthdays can so easily get swallowed up by Christmas and I really appreciated everything my parents did to separate the two.

I agree with this^
Christmas theme cupcakes would be a bit confusing in the circumstances.

Latevictorianpleasureseeker · 28/11/2024 14:08

One party we attended had a cupcake, 1 pencil with a fun eraser topper and a small bag of harbour. Dcs were happy with that!

SatinHeart · 28/11/2024 14:15

PinkArt · 28/11/2024 13:55

Not a mum, but as a Christmas period baby, please don't do Christmas themed cakes if you go down that route. It's not a Christmas party, it's his birthday party.
December and January birthdays can so easily get swallowed up by Christmas and I really appreciated everything my parents did to separate the two.

Agree with this - it's a birthday party, make it a birthday cupcake not a Christmas cupcake.

Parker231 · 28/11/2024 14:38

pjani · 28/11/2024 14:03

The downside to not having party bags are that i) you tell everyone to leave by getting them out and ii) kids are much easier to get to leave when they have something exciting to look through in their sticky paws!

Honestly it doesn't have to be much - the last one we got had three in it - and it doesn't have to be plastic. But I think they are a sweet part of parties that kids enjoy. And I do think they are the only way I've managed to get my kids to leave without tears a number of times.

They would be getting a cupcake to take home . The Op is looking for ways of avoiding party bags. Surely no child goes to a party expecting a party bag - we didn’t always do them.

BarbadosItsCloserThanYouThink · 28/11/2024 14:40

My child would ask me why there was no party bag, yes its normally full of tat, but kids love tat! She wasn't happy to receive a book in lieu of a bag of tat recently.

sprigatito · 28/11/2024 14:42

@Parker231 of course children go to parties expecting a party bag. Doesn't mean you have to give them one if you don't want to, but they will absolutely expect it. It's become the norm.