If I said 'siblings welcome' do they need a party bag?

[INeedaDietcoke]

My son's bday party is coming up. A lot of DS's friends have younger siblings the same age as my youngest, so on the invites I said siblings welcome. It's a bouncy castle in our back garden vibe so not difficult to accommodate them, we get on well with the parents too.

I have however only done party bags (so far!) for the children who are my son's actual friends, not their siblings.

DH thinks I should do party bags for all. I'm not fussed one way or the other, happy to do them. But just wondered what other people thought? Is 'siblings welcome' as firm of an invite as 'you're invited to my party' and therefore do they need a party bag?

It’s about time we returned to the parties of the 60/70s where you had a couple of friends around played games and went home with a balloon and a piece of cake squashed in a paper napkin.

Party bags are such a waste of money (Col crisis evidently but they’re not going away), terrible for the environment too and most stuff gets thrown. Ok a book is a good idea if a gift must be given.

I wouldn’t have invited siblings, it just causes chaos and you never know who’s bringing who. Then there’s the entitlement if the parent up thread who thinks the party should be changed to suit their child with needs, ridiculous and so selfish. A party is about the birthday child having a bit of fun and good/cake with their friends.

I think the “problem” here is that if the younger siblings are toddlers they don’t understand the concept of being a hanger on rather than an actual guest and are also at an age where a party bag is VERY exciting. So it’s easier to just give them one than have the awkwardness of various younger siblings having a tantrum, crying or performance parenting from those whose children aren’t doing those. Then there’s also the issue that some parents will just assume that the younger sibling is also getting a party bag and, if they’re some of the first to leave and so take one for the actual party guest and one for the hanger on, you already don’t have enough party bags for the actual guests which then causes problems!
I always used to do a few extra party bags as you can never have too many bubble wands and my reward to myself for surviving my child’s birthday party was to collapse on the sofa with a glass of wine and the random sweets from the remaining party bags.

Yes, and the vast majority of the children who came did seem to enjoy the pass the parcel, old fashioned party games and fun. We had a very basic buffet we made ourselves, had checked with food allergies etc with those who RSVP, most of the parents and children had a ball and had lots of thank yous afterwards.

The party bags were mostly bits they could use again, hair bobbles, pencils etc and a bit of cake rather than plastic tat. It was just a shame that a handful of effectively teenagers and this one family spoilt a party for 4 years old with thier behaviour. I really wasn't expecting it.