To only ask the older children of friends to ds's party?

[Wideeyedcarrrot]

Ds will be 6 in a few weeks.
Three of my close friends have children the same age as ds who he is very friendly with. However they've all gone on to have second children who are now all 2 or 3 years old. Ds doesn't really play with the younger children and will only talk about the older ones as his friends. I'm fond of all of them of course.

Ds can only invite 15 to his party so if we invite all six of my friend's children that's nearly half the places gone when you include ds in the numbers too. Ds also has people he wants to invite from school and football club. A further note is we are paying £14 a head.

Wibu to only invite the older children of my friends? The ones who are the same age or thereabouts as ds? It seems really mean. Last year when we had a party in a hall I asked everyone but this year I didn't want a huge huge party but this means our numbers are rather more contained.

No you are not mean.

The siblings will get invited to lots of parties with their own friends in their own time.

Just say to them that it is child x only as spaces are limited so no siblings will be invited.

Not mean at all - perfectly sensible and normal.

Not in the least. Your ds's party is supposed to be for his friends, not the children of your friends. It's different when they're toddlers, but at 6, let him choose.

Of course it is not mean!

Just say that, due to space considerations, siblings unfortunately can't come

Then send them home with a choccy bar or a piece of cake to take home to little brother/sister

Only unreasonable people would be upset by this

Yanbu. Just explain that there are number restrictions. I presume they can drop and run, so there won't be childcare issues. If they are reasonable people they will understand.

Perfectly normal for 5/6 year olds where the parents can drop and run.

Yanbu. Just make sure you explain it to them...some of the threads on here about siblings at parties make my toes curl and it could mostly be avoided if you explain and/or stick to your guns!

YANBU but make sure you're explicit, my friend had issues with friends assuming everyone was invited and it was really awkward.