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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not to want to buy cheap tat for party bags when DD is only 2?!

50 replies

WestYorkshireGirl · 05/01/2013 20:37

DD is 2 next week and having 3 friends over for play and pass the parcel. Will do some cupcakes etc. Wasn't going to do party bags as felt they were too young for most of the stuff in them and we're a bit strapped for cash after Christmas, but went to another child's party yesterday (same age) and we had 'all singing all dancing ones', with sweets and toys (all too old for her). Have looked on Amazon and seen you can bulk buy a lot of these things, but they still add up and ultimately they are fairly cheap and inappropriate age wise. But ashamed to say that I don't know one of the Mums that well (who's party we recently went to) and am a bit worried about what she will think if I don't so something!

OP posts:
Bingdweller · 05/01/2013 20:39

How about a book and milky bar? You can buy a multi-pack of books and split?

JeezyOrangePips · 05/01/2013 20:39

Give them a bit of cake and a balloon. They'll be happy! And don't worry about what other people do. That's how all this competitive party malarky started, and it's a piece of nonsense!

Santasapunkatheart · 05/01/2013 20:39

I had the usual mummy obsession when my little girl was this age.

Go to a charity shop and they often have really amazing things - very cheap.

You also only have three children to do.

I also wrote a little children's story to roll up with ribbon in the bag - they loved that...

LynetteScavo · 05/01/2013 20:40

YANBU.

If you start worrying about what people will think if you don't hand out party bags, you will never finish worrying about things.

In a few years, kids will refuse to go home until they get their party bags. Wait until you really have to before handing out random plastic tat at the end of a party.

If you have a cake, it might be nice to give everyone a piece to take home too, and if you have balloons, you could maybe give each child one to take home?

DoItToJulia · 05/01/2013 20:40

Yes, yabu. It's a kids rite of passage! They love tat!

fluffywhitekittens · 05/01/2013 20:42

I had more children at ds 2nd party but got a box set of Hairy Mclary and Peppa Pig books from the book people, ten books for £10. Had lots of comments on what a good idea it was and how much the children liked them. If you're only bing a few guests how about a cheap colouring book and pack of crayons each? Or just give them a bit of cake and a balloon :)

usualsuspect · 05/01/2013 20:43

bubbles.cake balloon.job done

cantspel · 05/01/2013 20:43

a 4 pack of bubbles is a pound in wilkinsons. One each in a party bag with a bit of cake as they leave and you are sorted.

3birthdaybunnies · 05/01/2013 20:43

If you want some v cheap party bag stuff, go to your local 99p shop or poundland and buy 4 little toys - they often have books, dvds, seed sets, or even better - poundland usually have children's cutlery sets, which look good. Much better than a bag full of tat, at that age if you want to give something then a box of mini raisins was always appropriate. You don't have to do party bags anyway, but I agree a bag full of inappropriate tat annoys me, though the children love it.

SminkoPinko · 05/01/2013 20:44

Could you buy someting like this and give a couple of pots to each child with a slice of cake?

LaCiccolina · 05/01/2013 20:44

Emma bridgewater was doing melamine red tea mugs for 99p each, I filled them with dolly mixtures and have them out. Small cups and looked proper dear!

Dunno if still doing?

3birthdaybunnies · 05/01/2013 20:46

Sorry meant raisins instead of sweets, then you look more MNetty!

ceebie · 05/01/2013 20:46

Don't feel pressured to get anything. But if you are going to get something, don't get expensive tat!!! I got Mr Men books for 99p each from The Works. Or a choc bar or bubbles or cake all fine.

Libramum · 05/01/2013 22:19

I agree that 2 year olds don't really need party bags and when I had a small party for my DS's 2nd birthday I didn't bother with party bags. But then at the end of the party an older sister started saying she wanted a party bag. I felt awful and really wished I'd made some!

PoppyWearer · 05/01/2013 22:23

YANBU, but the peer pressure is there, kids will expect something, sadly.

A piece of cake and a cheap book is sufficient - for future reference The Book People do fab book bundles (Peppa Pig recent deal was less than £1 a book) and I stock up when I see a good deal.

Or a piece of cake and a bottle of bubbles/bubble wand - this was actually my DD's favourite ever party gift.

I also saw a good one which was a cheap football for each party-goer. You can't go wrong with a book, bubbles or a ball for either gender.

DeWe · 05/01/2013 23:05

I've never done "cheap tat" for party bags.
I do one small packet of sweets, a cake, and a bigger present, paid roughly £1 for. Go to Wilkinsons/pound shop/ebay/book people. You can get a set of books for £1 each often, or a little craft set, or something little.

If you want to make it more fun then have the present wrapped up, and a lucky dip as they're leaving the party (to put in the bag until they're home).

I also often make the party bags (sewn), so they have a little bag to take home too.

3smellysocks · 05/01/2013 23:42

seriously the less crap you offload onto kids the better. I always end up charity shopping the tat.

3smellysocks · 05/01/2013 23:44

hes only 2, don't bother seriously. No 2 year old will expect a party bag.

DazR · 05/01/2013 23:50

What about a colourful plastic beaker with a packet of white chocolate drops inside? Should be able to pick up something fairly cheap - especially if you have a 99p shop or similar locally. You could possibly put a cup cake in the top and wrap in a plastic bag or cellaphane with a bow.

hammyimo · 05/01/2013 23:54

Yes cake and chocolate buttons or a balloon is absolutely fine. Or nothing for that matter. They aren't quite old enough to notice.

Parrish · 05/01/2013 23:55

2years old? Cake and balloon. Do a photo of the birthday guests and make it into your thank you notes.
If you feel you must do more, get to ikea for a packet of their finger puppets.

PandaG · 05/01/2013 23:58

pack of wax crayons each, and some colouring pages printed off the internet.

or bubbles, box of raisins and cake

job done!

emsyj · 06/01/2013 00:00

DD loves party bags (2y 7mo) but if you don't want to do them/can't afford it/can't be arsed, it's entirely your business and nobody who is nice will think any less of you.

I took DD to a party a few weeks ago and the mum didn't provide any food for the adults, so we all had to stand by as the kids ate their sausage rolls, cheese 'n' pineapple, crisps etc and I was so hungry I could have cried - I was gutted, but I am still her friend . Grin Serves me right for skipping lunch with the intention of gorging on party food.

Little sheets of stickers are good, the book idea is nice too, but you can just put a piece of cake and some sweets in, you don't have to put presents etc in there.

threesocksmorgan · 06/01/2013 00:02

cake and a packet of buttons(sweets lol)
no biggie

Cutiecat · 06/01/2013 00:03

Don't get sucked into it. Just give them a cake and balloon. Party bags have gone a crazy I think. Children do not like the tat, they expect it and then discard it within 10 minuets. It is so wasteful. When they are older a little book and a box of smarties but I hate the mini pots of bubbles and small packets of pencils. I sound very grumpy, sorry.

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