Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that 6-8pm is a bit of an odd time for a 4 year old's birthday party ??

78 replies

Tillyscoutsmum · 15/01/2012 19:56

That's it really ......

Its not the end of the world and we shall probably go but my dc's (2 and 4) are generally in bed at 7ish.

It just seemed a bit of an odd choice to me. AIBU (or more likely, a bit uptight ?)

OP posts:
knackeredmother · 15/01/2012 20:27

I would love this but my dc are abnormal and never get tired until at least 9pm. Surely for normal children this would be ok as it is a friday?

MollieO · 15/01/2012 20:27

Sounds like a late booking so only slot available. We used to get a lot of 5pm to 7pm party invites as that was the time when the soft play place was available for sole hire (and cheaper to do it on a weekday than weekend). I wouldn't be letting a 4 yr old go to a party finishing at 8pm unless it was a Saturday and the party of a close friend.

Zipitydooda · 15/01/2012 20:27

I wouldn't go, it's not worth rearranging naps and routines all for a kids party that they will probably not enjoy due to tiredness.

NoWayNoHow · 15/01/2012 20:28

YANBU - DS is 4 and is in bed at 7, and most kids I know that age are the same. Even working on the assumption that some 4yo have later bed time, if it finishes at 8pm, that's going to be a 9pm bed time at the best!

Very unusual time for such a young child's b-day party.

bigeyes · 15/01/2012 20:28

Yanbu very odd, I wouldn't go

Firawla · 15/01/2012 20:30

it is late but i wouldn't be that bothered its just a one off, would still go. my dc 2&3 yrs normally go to bed really early but if we are out and they are doing something fun will still manage to stay awake and be fine, and its a friday so they can sleep bit longer in the morning if they need it, no school or anything to rush for in the morning

smogwod · 15/01/2012 20:38

I'm guessing the child knows that discos are at night and parents indulging their wishes to have a 'grown-up disco'. I probably wouldn't have taken mine at that age though, a roomful of overtired toddlers - last thing I'd want on a Friday night!

molly3478 · 15/01/2012 20:42

What on earth do you lot do when you go on holiday Confused

squeakytoy · 15/01/2012 20:42

I think it is too late for a 4 year old, but am surprised people think this would also be too late for an older child of 8 or 10. At that age I was going to brownies or swimming and getting home at 9pm, and bed by 9.30-10pm.

Sidge · 15/01/2012 20:50

We wouldn't be going as

  1. My children are exhausted by Friday.
  1. I think an end time of 2000 for a 4 year old is odd - by the time you get them home, wash/bath/teeth etc and calm down enough to go to bed it would be 2100. Mine would be hideously overtired monsters by then, especially having been up since 0700.
  1. I think having a disco party for 4 year olds is pretty odd too really. I think most preschoolers/reception aged children prefer party games, soft play, a magician, stuff like that.
Sidge · 15/01/2012 20:51

Molly3478 when we're on holiday they're not at school or preschool so go to bed later and sleep in later.

Not comparable to a weekday termtime late night.

skybluepearl · 15/01/2012 20:52

mine wouldn't be able to cope - it's too late in the day

SecretMinceRinser · 15/01/2012 20:52

I don't think it's too late for a 4 yo. DD is 4 and usually in bed really early - 6 - 6:30ish in the week and still needs waking for nursery. But on holiday she will happily be up til gone 11. She also stayed up a bit late and sleeps in ath the weekend. If it was a school day the next day I would just make sure they were pretty much straight in bed when they got home. Won't do them any harm as a one off. And if it doesn't suit you can always decline the invitation.

Proudnscary · 15/01/2012 20:53

Ridiculous.

I am positively Victorian when it comes to bedtime. This is way too late for a four year old.

molly3478 · 15/01/2012 20:53

I thought we were talking about a weekend night? Sorry if mistaken

SecretMinceRinser · 15/01/2012 20:55

Just noticed there is a 2 yo sibling as well. My 2 yo wouldn't stay up that late or sleep at a party. Are you planning on taking them too op?

DoMeDon · 15/01/2012 20:55

Its a bit of an odd time for a 4yo party (mostly due to the kind of reactions seen on the thread)

I would end parties by 7 until about the age of 6

miaowmix · 15/01/2012 20:58

It's fine at a weekend I think, but we're not rigid about bedtimes (plus I have a late riser, yay!). Dies the 2 year old have to come though?

Lilyloo · 15/01/2012 20:58

when you are on holiday you get into a more relaxed routine. These children will likely have been up early for school / nursery etc

miaowmix · 15/01/2012 20:58

Does

Original poster
Tillyscoutsmum · 15/01/2012 21:03

GreyGardens - The 2 year old is invited as well and I'm not sure whether DH will be in home in time for look after him if I don't take him. I suppose he could come and take him home early but I suspect DS isn't going to be too keen on that idea !!

Molly - on hols, they can sleep later, nap later and there's no school etc. so they do stay up a bit later. Having said that, we still tend to get them down for 8.30 ish

OP posts:
molly3478 · 15/01/2012 21:07

I think I have it wuite lucky DD gets up at 6 to 6.30 every morning for pre school whilst I go work and then at night she goes down easily at 6pm no hassle. However if I fancy going to something or there is a party etc then she will just go along with it and then sleep in the next day and it has never made her act up or get overtired. Just nice knowing that I have a guarnteed lie in the next day!

DoingHouseworkHonest · 15/01/2012 21:07

As a mum to a 4 year old, no you're not being 'uptight'. By 8pm mine is fast asleep and snoring his little head off.
He's tired and grumpy/extremely whingy by 7pm if he's not in bed, and would certainly not be in the mood for partying.
So no, as well as thinking it's a ridiculous time, I'm not sure I'd be letting him go. Weekend maybe as a one off, but definitely not if there was school the next morning.
As for putting him down for a nap in the afternoon, pfft yeah right, like he'd be up for that. Not.Grin
There'd be outright war if I suggested him going to sleep in the middle of the afternoon lol!

miaowmix · 15/01/2012 21:08

Fair enough Tilly, you're not being uptight at all btw, I do think it's a less than ideal time.

Meglet · 15/01/2012 21:13

yes, it's too late. Friday evenings are when we crash out and slow down.

All the party food in the world wouldn't keep my DC's happy at that time,

Swipe left for the next trending thread