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Birthday party on EDD - WWYD?

7 replies

TopSop · 01/03/2010 14:01

Need some advice. DS's 4th birthday is 2 days after my EDD with baby no. 2, so the nearest Saturday to his birthday is my EDD. I would like DS to have a nice party with some of his little friends from preschool - I don't want his birthday to get sucked under into the build-up to the baby's arrival, if we can avoid it - and I'd really rather not hold it at the local soft play centre simply because it's what everyone else does, I'd rather have it at home, but should I just be thinking that I don't need umpteen small boys hurtling round the house and garden when I could be going into labour at any moment and take the easier way out by hosting it somewhere else? DS does love the soft play centre, it's just ... I don't know. I object to the "party food" provided, for a start! Someone give me some good advice... how hard is it going to be to cater at home for a birthday tea for half a dozen little lads when I'm full term?! it can't be that hard, surely! The local village hall doesn't have an outdoor space for them to run around in., so that's not really an option. The nearest leisure centre is a good 15 minute drive away, although the soft play is further. We've got more than enough toys to keep a small herd of children entertained in the garden if the weather is nice. If we invited them from 1 till 4 or 2 till 5 (with parents in attendance), it can't be that tough! - can it? help, I'm going nuts here! All DS's previous birthday parties have been held at home, with just family and close friends, so this is the first time I've done a "school friends" party.

So WWYD? admit defeat and go for the soft play option, or hope that no. 2 is a week late like DS was and hold the party at home on my EDD?

Thanks! I know it's a small problem in the greater scheme of things, but it is occupying my thoughts a lot at the moment... and I'll have to send out invitations this month to ensure that people have enough advance notice.

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 01/03/2010 14:04

do it at home - as you can easily reschedule if the baby comes early. if needs be you can get ready made sandwich platers from M &S etc if you really aren't feeling up to much.

Trifle · 01/03/2010 14:04

I think the 6 friends home for lunch is the best option but your times are way too long. How about cutting it down to 1.5 - 2 hours. If the weather is good it will make all the difference but if it's raining, 3 hours cooped up inside will seem like forever.

rubyslippers · 01/03/2010 14:04

hold the party a week or two earlier - your DS won't care

buy all the food (or as much as you can afford) it and have it at home

Actually, DS went to a 4th birthday party and there wasn't sandwiches or anything like that - bowls of fruit, crisps, crudite etc and cake - it worked really well

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notnowbernard · 01/03/2010 14:05

I am going to have DC3 arrive very near to DC2 birthday (will avoid same date though, luckily!)

Am going for pre-booked, don't-have-to-do-anything-even-food-because-staff-will, soft-play option

Cannot be arsed preparing a party with a baby that could possibly be days old. No thanks

Like you, I want DC2's birthday to still be an 'event' not overshadowed by arrival of The New Baby

BertieBotts · 01/03/2010 14:07

Draft in other parents/friends/family to help! As you are heavily pregnant I am sure they will deal with the overexcited children for you and let you do the easier jobs like setting the food out, doing the music for pass the parcel etc.

How about hiring a cleaner as a one off after the party as well so you are not stressing about tidying up. Or get the helpers to help you tidy up as well.

spitandpolish · 01/03/2010 14:12

I was in the same situation last year and we went for the soft play option. I took extra food and a proper cake to make it seem more like a birthday party to me (ds didn't care). If you do it at home then I would cut it down to 1.5-2 hours and get an entertainer. 3 hours is a very long time. They will open all the presents and scatter all the fiddly pieces everywhere and get generally overexcited in a tears before bedtime way. You need to contain them with an activity, feed them, contain with another activity then send them home.

FiveOrangePips · 01/03/2010 14:22

I was at a 4yr old's at home birthday party recently, ten children - it was amazingly calm, but it was mixed, so not all boys.

There was a face painter there, a lot of the children lined up quietly and waited to get their faces painted for the first 30 mins or so. Then they played, ate, had a couple of games and it was home time. I was amazed how quiet it was really.

So I would go for the at home option, keep the numbers to a limit that suits you, and only 2hrs long. Might be worth having the party early, sort of 11-1 p.m, covers lunch time, gets the party over asap.

Good luck with your new baby!

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