Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not do partybags?

131 replies

BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:01

DS is having a swimming party on Saturday and I have decided not to do party bags.

It's in the evening so no party food as such, but the kids will have a drink and an ice cream at the pool, and some bday cake to take home.

I normally have the courage of my convictions, but have had a few of these >>Hmm when I've mentioned the no party bag thing to other mums.

So, AIBU?

OP posts:
MMQC · 18/10/2011 13:04

I think there is a bit of a move away from party bags, at least at the parties my children have been to recently. They've come home with either a bit of cake and one larger present (for example, they went to a Star Wars party at the weekend and came home with a light sabre each, which was delightful, obviously!) or just a bit of cake.

I'm all for it. Party bags are normally just full of mindless tat which serves no useful purpose.

dramatrauma · 18/10/2011 13:06

How old is your DS? How many children invited?

Happymm · 18/10/2011 13:07

No food?Shock My DC would eat their own arms off after swimming if I didn't have food for them! Hope you've made it clear to the other parents you're not doing food.
DD recently went to a build a crappy bear party. Eating provided were birthday cake and haribo! Not funny after.
As for party bags, I'd be delighted not to have plastic tat TBH, though would miss my freddie frog :o

shemademedoit · 18/10/2011 13:08

Here in France they don't do party bags... It's great! I still don't like them leaving empty handed, so last party I gave everyone a Kinder Egg. Everyone seemed happy enough.

valiumredhead · 18/10/2011 13:08

I didn't do party bags - I had a big bowl of sweets and the kids could grab a handful out of it as they were leaving.

RalphGhoul · 18/10/2011 13:09

No, I don't think YABU. Filling up those party bags can be ridiculously expensive, especially on top of all the other costs of a party. You may even set a trend among the parents of the children at the party who in all honesty would probably then feel relieved that they didn't have to do them too!

Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:10

Drama DS is 5 and there are about 40 kids coming.

Happy we're not doing food as the party is 6.30-7.30, although they will have an ice cream.

OP posts:
ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 18/10/2011 13:11

I wouldn't worry about the party bag - but I would do food afterwards. They'll be ravenous!

valiumredhead · 18/10/2011 13:12

I do think you will have to be prepared for lots of little faces looking up at you asking you where their party bags are Grin

dramatrauma · 18/10/2011 13:12

40 kids - yup, you'd be crazed to do party bags. Normally I'd say you're being miserable, but that's too many bags to even consider.

Just make sure the parents know there's no food! Hungry, cranky children are awful, especially in large quantities.

ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 18/10/2011 13:12

x-post

Oh OK. That's late for 5 yo's isn't it. I guess they'll have eaten before they come and can eat when they get home.

cryhavoc · 18/10/2011 13:15

I went to a party on the weekend where the children (it was a third birthday, so aged 2-4 ish) decorated a small paper bag with glitter, stickers and stuff as part of the party, and then had a piece of cake in it to take home.

I thought this was genius, and will be stealing the idea for DD's next party. OP, YANBU. I hate all the rubbish you get in bags.

spottypancake · 18/10/2011 13:15

I think that you should buy the party bags themselves (these will not cost much). Get a couple of multipacks of mini haribo packs and put each child a packet of haribo and a slice of cake in their party bag. Then you will have done party bags, the kids will leave without too much fuss and nobody will be complaining.

As a side issue - a swimming party for 40 5yos O.M.F.G.

Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:16

Do you really think the parents will be expecting food? Sandwiches and stuff?

I just thought everyone would feed the kids beforehand because it starts late.

OP posts:
Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:17

Grin @spotty!

I know it seems mad, but they have to bring a parent with them so it's not too awful Grin

OP posts:
NotJustClassic · 18/10/2011 13:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:21

They have to swim too NJC, there is a 1 adult to 2 under 8s rule at our pool.

OP posts:
whoneedssleepanyway · 18/10/2011 13:21

Even if you did really cheap party bags it would probably be £40....

I have just done the party bags for the nursery halloween party and they ended up being about £1 per child and I was buying in bulk. And this was just for a bag with a bag of haribo, halloween choclate, halloween badge and bubbles....

If you are really worried about any disappointment what about just a big bag of sweets that they can do a lucky dip with as they leave so they take away a lolly or a bag of haribo...that would be v cheap to do, I got the multi bag of halloween haribos for £2.99 and there are about 40 little bags in there.

Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:23

I am trying to keep the cost down (it's cost enough for the pool!) but I suppose I could get a multipack of haribos or something.

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 18/10/2011 13:23

I would be offering some kind of snack for after, even if it's just a bag of hulahoops or a penguin biscuit to munch on the way home.
I have to say, 40 x 5yos in a pool in the evening sounds crazy but I'm sure you'll have fun!

ragged · 18/10/2011 13:23

I would provide some snacks, OP.
DS is doing a party which will easily cost us 30 quid/person, we're not doing party bags either!
(It's Combat games with pizza afterwards, 12th birthday, I dare a bunch of 11-12yos to get stroppy about lack of plastic bag full of tat).

ChippyMinton · 18/10/2011 13:25

If you don't provide anything, the kids will be whingeing at their parents to buy sweets from the vending machine at 80p a go, and your name will be mud!

Original poster
BillBrysonsHauntedRucksack · 18/10/2011 13:27

They will be getting an ice cream (FIL makes ice cream for a living ) and a drink afterwards, ragged

OP posts:
porcamiseria · 18/10/2011 13:27

you MUST do food, fuck the bags but people will be hungry after swimming

do some ham sarnies, sausage rool, whatever!

FOOD FOOD FOOD

porcamiseria · 18/10/2011 13:27

ice cream is not food OP