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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have December born ds's birthday party when he is 2.5 years old rather than 2 years old?

54 replies

ikeaismylocal · 20/08/2014 13:27

Ds is born in the same week as Christmas day, dp has a huge family so we need to have seperate family and friends birthday parties as dp's family is 20ish people.

I am thinking a mid June "friends" party would be lovely, hopefully the weather would be nice and we could be outside and ds will get some birthday celebratioons and presents in the middle of the year rather than having his birthday a little overshadowed by christmas.

This year I will also have a newborn baby and I don't really want a houseful of sneezing coughing toddlers (precious 2nd born?).

I have never been to a half birthday party, have you been to one? Do you do this yourself?

OP posts:
scarletforya · 20/08/2014 13:30

Yanbu.

My birthday is Christmas week too and it's always a complete non event, which is fine for an adult but sad for a little child.

Do it!

SaucyJack · 20/08/2014 13:31

My middle daughter's birthday is in the second half of December, and we won't and wouldn't do what you're suggesting. Far too far away from their birthday to be worthwhile.

cherrybombxo · 20/08/2014 13:33

My DP always laughs at me for mentioning when it's my half-birthday haha. I say go for it, I have two cousins born at Christmas (one Christmas eve, the other Boxing Day) and nobody took notice of their birthdays when we were growing up xo

StoneFoxMama · 20/08/2014 13:34

Yanbu my 10 year old is in between Christmas and New year and we do family then and a friends party sometime in the spring. We're all away around Christmas so it's never possible.

mausmaus · 20/08/2014 13:35

yanbu
we have a similar situation so dc get presents in summer and only a token gift for christmas.

katienana · 20/08/2014 13:39

I think 2 parties is overkill, he is only 2 and won't remember either one. Just have 1 party, when it's his actual birthday. I bet June would soon get clogged up with parties if all the December kids have parties then!
My birthday is in December.

thatstoast · 20/08/2014 13:40

Would you expect other people to 'play along'? I don't think there's anything wrong with having a party in the summer for him and his friends but I doubt people would pretend it's his birthday when it's not.

ToAvoidConversation · 20/08/2014 13:42

YABU his birthday isn't in summer!!

A 2 year old doesn't need a birthday party anyway.

Sootgremlin · 20/08/2014 13:43

Hmm, not sure about this. I have a dc born Christmas week too and this will be the first birthday, summer seems too far off, but I share your concern about the birthday getting swept up in the Christmas kerfuffle and being somewhat forgotten.

We were thinking of family occasion on the day, and in future when she has school friends maybe planning something for the first week or so back when the fuss has died down, but still close enough to feel like a birthday celebration. Have no idea how this will be in practise!

So Yanbu if you think you can make it work.

callmewhatever · 20/08/2014 13:43

I wouldn't go as far as saying YABU, but I do think it is a bit strange. Your child's birthday is what you make of it. Granted people tend to be busier over the holidays but if you plan ahead then you can ask people to save a date for a gathering.

My DD1 was born the same week as Christmas and we are aware that we need to differentiate between her birthday and Christmas so she feels she can celebrate both.

Idontseeanyicegiants · 20/08/2014 13:44

YABU I think, my DS's birthday is round the same time and we always celebrate it at that time, just making sure it's celebrated separately to Christmas (thanks to certain relatives trying to combine both).
Does it have to be an actual party for friends? Maybe a cinema or bowling trip would be better this year and have family drop in on the actual day?

goshdarnit · 20/08/2014 13:45

Dds friend is a Christmas day baby, she has a celebration on the weekend nearest to the summer solstice every year.
It makes perfect sense to me. Grin

diddl · 20/08/2014 13:46

i have a just before Christmas bday & love it!

I would just do one party for his bday with friends on/near the day tbh.

Christmas bdays are fab!

Idontseeanyicegiants · 20/08/2014 13:46

I'm a tit and didn't twig he's only a toddler sorry Blush
Leave out the bowling and cinema, substitute a birthday tea with just a few friends.

JoandMax · 20/08/2014 13:47

i do think it's a bit odd. We went to a joint 4th birthday party in March, bought presents etc. It transpired at the party that one of the childrens birthday was in June, the other in August but they wanted to do a party while the weather was nice (not UK), I felt a bit short changed to be honest! Especially as there were 4 other children in their pre-school class who actually had a birthday in March so parties every weekend.

So if you do it, please tell everyone.......

Namechangedforthisohyesidid · 20/08/2014 13:48

YABU. Your birthday is when it is. Went to a lovely party for a one year old on the 23rd dec last year and I remembered to wish him a happy birthday AND buy a present and wrap it up in non Christmas wrapping paper.

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 20/08/2014 13:51

We get invited to lots of parties so it would seem odd not to have a friends party at all for ds, we would have the family party on his actual birthday but we just don't have the space for dp's family and ds's friends+their parents. Another issue is that many of ds's friends also turn 2 in December so we will be pretty busy with other parties, actually finding a free day in December will be a challenge!

I don't think I'd actually tell ds it was his birthday in June, we would just have a fun party for him and do birthday games and eat party food. We would buy him his birthday present from us in June.

We had his 1st birthday party in late January as ds had a vomiting bug on the day we planned to have his party.

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 20/08/2014 13:52

My DNephew was born end of January and I always make sure I get him two presents: one in Christmas paper, one in birthday (they're 5,000 miles away, so it all goes in one parcel) to give some distinction.

DS born first week of December, many people buy one gift - we are happy they buy anything! He is turning 3 next birthday, so hasn't noticed yet.

We will wait until after his birthday to put up Christmas decs so WE make it special for him, but I wouldn't do something in June.

One of life's little 'tough shit' things Shock Grin can't help that, I got pregnant when I got pregnant!

Sootgremlin · 20/08/2014 13:53

Actually thinking more about it, it would be a little odd, and just looking at his age, no I certainly wouldn't bother with a big separate thing in the summer at 2. My 2 year old just had a tea and cake thing on the day and maybe a day out to a farm etc on the nearest weekend.

Leeds2 · 20/08/2014 13:56

My birthday is 5 days before Christmas, and I always had my party/celebration on the day/nearest weekend. Never bothered me, although I somehow think it is easier if your birthday is before Christmas, rather than between Christmas and New Year.

My friend's DD was born on Christmas Day. They always celebrated as a family (parents, sibling, grandparents, aunties and uncles if they were around) on Christmas Day morning, and switched to celebrate Christmas in the afternoon! Her parties for friends, at primary school were in June i.e. they had a party for the half birthday. As she got older, she just went out with friends after Christmas.

walde · 20/08/2014 13:57

My DS is a Christmas baby so I'm watching with interest! We had planned on having a family party in the summer, so DD and DS could have friends and family over. And we thought DS might get a big present then, as opposed to getting birthday and Christmas presents at about the same time. But as he's only a baby this is way in the future.

Thurlow · 20/08/2014 13:59

I know a few people who do this. They just stress that they won't want presents as it's not about that, it's just an excuse to have a BBQ or something. I don't mind it, but I think it works better when they are little and they don't understand what a birthday really is. It could get a bit more complicated when they are older.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 20/08/2014 14:01

I'd have a designated birthday in June. The Queen has 2 birthdays so why shouldn't he.

Or make it some time in early May so it doesn't clash with May half term or exams.

googoodolly · 20/08/2014 14:20

YANBU.

My friend's little brother was born on Boxing Day - he now officially celebrates his birthday on June 26th instead! He has a party and all the presents from his family/friends in June now, and his birthday isn't even acknowledged apart from a "Happy birthday x" in the morning - he loves it!

IndridCold · 20/08/2014 14:36

YANBU

DS's birthday is on the 23rd, and we always had a small celebration on the day, but we also had bigger parties in the summer.