or would I be completely stingy...

[noobydoo]

for not giving children party bags at DS part?

Firstly, when I get one the first thing I do is throw it in the bin.
Secondly, they are so expensive if they are filled and too much of a faff if they aren't (especially considering there will be approx 30 kids coming).
Lastly, they will be coming to the party, enjoying the food (hopefully) the play and the cake - which now I have costed it works out at £7 a head.

Your thoughts please on whether I am a stingy so and so.

If birthday children are age 6+:
I suggest you hand out a nice (large) chocolate bar instead. It's "something" and almost everyone will very much appreciate it.

Stockings cost money every Christmas lets stop doing those. And tooth fairy money goodness me. And ice creams on hot days...sorry but YABU. Wouldn't bother with the under 3s or over 8s but ages in between party bags seem quite important to them. But then I never invite more than 12 kids to a party so wouldn't be stuck with 30 bag horror. Also your reasoning about having stumped up for food and entertainment won't make any sense to a 5 year old.

YABU, its part of a party. Children love them and they dont have to be filled with plastic. Bubbles, sweets, pencils etc are all cheap and easy to pop in.

YANBU
They are expected, but I think it is hideous parenting that a child would ask for one or help his/herself to one. Surely you go and say 'thank you for having me' and if you're given one then lovely, but I would tear strips of my children if they were 'disappointed' when they've just been to a party fgs! Talk about an overblown sense of entitlement!

YANBU. They are a load of crap. I don't mind the ones with sweets, or being given a book or something, but not the 100s of plastic tat that the children are interested in for all of 10 seconds.

As for children remembering for the rest of their lives at which parties party bags weren't handed out, oh deary me, how spoilt that sounds. I thought children just remembered the fun and games they had, not keep a mental list of what was given by whom.

Funnily enough though I do find the "no cakes or sweets" thing unnecessarily austere though. If not at a party then when? I hate eating fruit after a meal. It gives me indigestion! Still, to each their own!

YABU. Children love them and it brings closure to the party. Plus I like getting all the stuff for the party bags and putting them together.

No cake!!!! That's DS' favourite bit - and not the eating of it but the different ways they are decorated!!

You don't have to do crappy party bags. I normally get one thing (a ball last party) and give them that with a slice of cake. next year they are getting dynamo torches

Last party dd went to gave out spongebob beakers ( 49p from the cheapy shop ) filled with sweets. I thought it was a fab idea.

Kids love party bags though. They'll be lamenting the fact they haven't got their party bag. I reckon you could throw the best party ever but with no party bags the whole experience is forgotten and the kids walk away whinging. I never had party bags in my day, but for kids these days it's the thing they are waiting for before they leave. You'll never get the little buggers to go if they don't get a party bag. But don't spend that much on them. Dd had 30 or so kids at her last party. I bought packs of books from the book people really really cheaply and wrapped them up in shiny paper. That with a balloon clutched in their other sweaty paw should send them merrily on their way

How old are they?

When my son was younger we got one of the special edition shiny Mr Men books for each of the boys and a Little miss one for the girls. Wrapped them in 2 different coloured papers so we knew which were which and that was their party bag with a piece of cake. Buying half a dozen or so of them we got them 3 for the price of 2 and they worked out probably at less than £2 each.

DS came home with a book with stories for 5 years olds from a 5th birthday party which was very sweet and apt.

Lucky dips go down well too and just give them cake in a bag to be on their way with.

Another book people book and a slice of cake here too - kids (and mums!!) love that!!

I keep all the plastic tat and put it (along with sweets) in my big inflatable pumpkin bowl for trick and treaters at Halloween.