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

[WestYorkshireGirl]

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!

[Mia4]

It's up to you, you aren't BU at all. My friend just gave each child a cupcake sh'd made with their initial on the top in silver balls- the mum's all commented how great and different it was and the last one followed the trend with gingerbreads they'd decorated.

[pointedlynoresolutions]

Personally I like doing party bags and always try to do something a bit different, but it does depend on budgets.

At 2 I'd go for one of those book deals off the Book People - something the parents can read to their children. If you're only having 3 children you can keep the other books for your DC, they have some really good deals. Book, cake, balloon - done.

My DDs will be 10 and 12 this year - they want light-up balloons again. We had them last year, they went down a storm and honestly, they last for ages. We did light-up balloon, seriously posh decorated cupcake, general sweets. Everyone happy.

One year we had a craft party at home - I had a load of Indian glass beads I was never going to use (too heavy for earrings) so I bought some wire, some hanging crystals and the girls made hanging window ornaments. We added cake and sweets, job done.

It can be fun, but I agree with not buying into the plastic tat thing.

[FryOneFatManic]

At this age, the kids aren't really that interested.

Perhaps a piece of cake to take home and a blown up balloon with it's string tied around something like a tube of Smarties. Tis what I did for my DCs at that age.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

seriously, I would not bother at this age, plenty of time in later years, especially when its just a few friends not a full blown party. A cake to take home is fine.

[MrsMelons]

Noooooo to play-doh!!

[Monty27]

[usualsuspect]

What a load of miserys on this thread.

[MrsMelons]

Cake and sweets. You can buy individiual cupcake boxes for them to take cupcakes home in - I buy them from ebay and you can put laser labels on them saying thank you for coming to x's party.

I have also bought ready made cones of sweets with labels on from ebay before and given these with cakes. I had more comments about those than the usual party bag crap. I know what I would prefer.

[breatheslowly]

YANBU - even bubbles are a pain as 2 yo tend to accidentally pour the contents everywhere.

[WestYorkshireGirl]

Thanks everyone for your innovative ideas and thoughts! Still feel a bit of a novice at this Mummy thing so end up thinking about things too much and not knowing what to do for the best or how to conjure up good ideas!

[duke]

Yanbu! I hate the party bag thing, I know the kids love it though.I made a jelly with plastic animals in at the end off the party the kids had a bit of jelly and kept the animal. Totally against all health and safety but good fun and the kids loved it. They were about 4 tho. Also done wrapped books and bowl of sweets at the end.

[Mrsrudolphduvall]

Cake.
When they get older a book.
I used to bin all party bag crap. hated it.

[DrRanj]

Well I am having a party for 2 year d dd today and I am not doing party bags, because frankly, the kids are too you g to even notice or care! You shouldn't do things just for appearances. In a couple if years your dd will demand party bags and various other things, so worry about it then. A bit of cake and pass the parcel will be more than enough for them at this age!

[girlsyearapart]

The play dough is a good idea.
That age love it.
You can make your own for next to nothing & put glitter and colouring in it.

[SanityClause]

I hate all that plastic tat that people put in party bags, and have always tried to give something that is "something" like a book, a small cup filled with sweets, or a pot of play-do.

[pictish]

Party bags are a crap idea. I hate them. I can see no other purpose to them other than as a total waste of money.

Yanbu. Slice of cake and a balloon. End of.

[Morloth]

I have never done party bags.

No one has ever commented. They may well care, who knows, but nothing bad has ever happened to me/DS without them.

Just forget about it, they are stupid and annoying and a waste of money.

[girlsyearapart]

The party we had recently for dds 1&2 who were 4&5 I stood at the door with a bag of those mini packs of sweets and let them choose one.

Fed up of giving (and receiving) the bags of tat!

I thought id have loads of complaining but not one child even mentioned it.

[Coralanne]

Then don't

[peggyblackett]

I HATE party bags. The whole concept is shit. Your dc go to a party to celebrate another child's birthday and then they expect to be given a present for attending, and being fed good food and given a fun afternoon. It is madness!

YANBU. A piece of cake should be enough.

[Tragedies]

I dipped out of the tat-filled pb early on. A book for e.g. is much better. Also, when Mothering Sunday co-incided I gave a heart-shaped chocolate to each mother. Over 50% of them said that was the only acknowledgement of the day they received! (Sorry, went off-piste there)

[sashh]

Go to tesco and get the light up balloons - they go down a storm with all kids including teenagers.

[LovesBeingAtHomeForChristmas]

I put cake, some choc and some cheapo supermarket crayons in at 2. But if you don't want to do them don't.

[fuzzypicklehead]

balloons on sticks (cost around £2 for a pack of 10 at Tesco) are always a hit. Also those squeaky blowout things or some bubbles. I wouldn't go too much further than that at 2 years old, as a lot of party bag stuff would be too "old" for them.

[Monty27]

No biggie, don't even go there. Oh and I automatically thought of balloons but then, swallowing etc.....

grumpy old git