Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think half birthdays are lame

35 replies

Blablabla1984 · 14/07/2016 11:27

My little one has a birthday on 18th of Dec and a friend of mine suggested doing a half birthday in summer so he doesn't have to deal with joint presents and the whole Christmas malarkey.

AIBU to disagree? I don't feel the whole summer birthday vibe as he popped out on the 18th on December and not in June. Plus last year people did a really great job about separating his bday from Christmas and he did get two lots of presents. Her 2 boys are born in January and she throws them summer bday parties.

What do you think?

OP posts:
georgiatraher · 14/07/2016 11:30

My friends do this. We're older and tend to want to be outside at a picnic or what ever for people's birthdays. also attendance goes up for summer birthdays. (although in the UK the rain is all year)

I actually think it's a great idea for Christmas birthdays. or even just winter birthdays.

we do small celebration on their actual birthday, lil gift, card, small dinner with friends, cake and loved ones.

But actual organised party would be around now.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 14/07/2016 11:32

Yes, it's weird. Bit Mad Hatter.

I'd do half Christmas instead.

KateLivesInEngland · 14/07/2016 11:33

I'm a December birthday and I just deal with it. No half birthdays, my mother just insisted that if anyone dared only give me one present that they would be banished Grin
There are actually a lot of Dec bdays in my family and friends and not one operates any sort of half birthday and never has.

WorraLiberty · 14/07/2016 11:33

I agree there's no point.

A week before Christmas isn't too bad anyway.

My DS's birthday is in early January and we never felt the need to throw him a Summer party.

WordGetsAround · 14/07/2016 11:34

I would only consider it if it was a Christmas Day birthday.

TyrionLannistersShadow · 14/07/2016 11:36

Yes I agree, it's ridiculous. My ds has a Christmas birthday and loves it. Your birthday is the day you're born and that's that.

NewNameNotTheSame · 14/07/2016 11:37

It's weird. My birthday is a few days before Christmas, my son's is Christmas eve. I wouldn't ever consider a summer party because well.... it's not our birthdays then Confused

If people can only be arsed celebrating our birthdays when it is sunny outside then quite frankly they can fuck off. Never ever been an issue. People have all year to plan for it.

Excited101 · 14/07/2016 11:42

I think they're really good actually. Otherwise the child gets one big load of presents and new things that have to last and be suitable for the entire year.

Interests and development changes through the year, as do seasons. There's no point buying fun new garden and summer toys in the middle of winter, a half birthday just makes it clearer and easier to accommodate that.

peppersaunt · 14/07/2016 11:44

I have a December birthday very close to Christmas, DB born in June. Parents and grandparents would have a small half-birthday celebration for each of us (cake, small gift, no party It meant a lot to me as I did Feel "cheated" when young

WhenTheDragonsCame · 14/07/2016 11:44

My DDs birthday is Christmas Eve and it has never crossed my mind to do a half year party. She gets seperate presents and things just all in one go. I have asked her before if it bothers her and she said it didn't. Actually she did used to get annoyed that when she was at primary school all of the other children got to sit in the birthday chair even when their birthday fell on a weekend but because hers was always during the holiday she didn't Grin

Original poster
Blablabla1984 · 14/07/2016 11:49

I'd say everyone decides for themselves.

We didn't put the Christmas decorations up until after his birthday so apart from having a few Christmas cards in the kitchen it didn't feel like the birthday was swallowed by Christmas.

OP posts:
Ticklethosetoes · 14/07/2016 11:53

Ive thought about doing a summer party for my eldest as her birthday is the beginning of January and it makes parties really really difficult to arrange, its also hugely limiting because of the weather. I would say no presents and have it as a non birthday party.

But the one thing that put me off is i know a mum who does this but with presents, cake and everything. Im talking play station type presents and he's an autumn (and 6 month spring!) birthday so theres no real reason.

Celticlassie · 14/07/2016 11:54

I think it's pretty greedy. As most people have said 'we have a small celebration with ...' So basically it's just two birthdays. Maybe if one was totally ignored and not acknowledged at all it'd be fair enough but that's not going to happen. Before you know it there'll be 'half birthday' cards and everyone will be expected to turn out for both. Anything commercial in this country grows arms and legs rapidly. (Valentine's Day, Halloween, etc). This will be the next thing.

Birdsgottafly · 14/07/2016 11:54

My children are all 'Christmas season' Birthdays, because of that, we tended to make a big deal out of Easter.

I used to have my house full of other people's childrens, so I'd sometimes organise a summer party.

I was widowed and money was tight, so days out in the following year, would be given as Birthday presents and we'd treat it as a celebration day.

MollyTwo · 14/07/2016 12:02

Yanbu, it's not their birthday at the 'half' date so sounds so stupid to celebrate something that doesn't exist.

diddl · 14/07/2016 12:07

I have bday near Christmas it's never been an issue & I love it!

If you want to throw a party for your kids in Summer, just do it, but don't attach it so an even 6months hence!

NayaDeles · 14/07/2016 12:10

Maybe there's an untapped market here for greeting cards. Along with the usual 'Happy 5th Birthday' and 'Today You're 7!' we could have 'Happy 5th and a half Birthday' and 'Today You're 7 1/2!'

I'm already surprised not to see many 'Happy Birthday during this Christmas Season' cards and I'd like to find a 'Happy Birthday on Fathers Day' card for my dad. But I suppose the personalised greeting card market takes care of the combined occasion dilemma.

Where I live greeting cards can be oddly specific. I've seen a Valentine's Day card emblazoned 'To The One I Live With'.

DramaAlpaca · 14/07/2016 12:19

DS's best friend's birthday is on Christmas Day.

He's grown up now, but as a child he used to have a half birthday party at the end of June. He loved it & his friends really enjoyed the daftness of celebrating his half birthday too.

It was a bit of fun, no harm in it.

WilLiAmHerschel · 14/07/2016 12:55

Yanbu. I know people who did this for their first child when she was six months old. It seemed like a waste of time to me. Fair enough if the child's older and wants a party but not before they're at school.

UmbongoUnchained · 14/07/2016 13:01

Me and my brothers used to have a birthday party in the summer as we were born very end of November and my parents couldn't afford to buy three lots of presents 2 months in a row.

Crunchymum · 14/07/2016 13:15

I know one person with an Xmas eve birthday and 2 people with a 28th Dec birthday. None of whom celebrate half birthdays as an adult but one did have a birthday party between ages 5-11 on 28th of June and said they felt stupid about it and stopped it as soon as they were old enough for their mum to listen!!

NavyandWhite · 14/07/2016 13:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gingersdohavesouls · 14/07/2016 13:22

I was born on Xmas day and the only person who ever did the half birthday think for me what my Gran, who would take me out shopping on 25th June, and I really loved it but I just saw it as a day out with my Gran.

I agree with maybe doing it when your child is young, maybe up to 6/7 but after that no.

Anyway, having a December birthday and dealing with double presents is just all part of it lol
Life isn't always fair and I learned that lesson early on bcoz of being a Christmas baby x

carrotcakecupcake · 14/07/2016 13:32

My DS is nearly a Christmas baby and to date we have simply marked his birthday by doing something special with him as a family - totally unrelated to Christmas. I think once he starts school a half-birthday party might be an easier way for him to get his friends together to celebrate, but we'll probably play it by ear as and when he gets to that age. If we do throw a half-Birthday party we'll probably still stick to doing something (like a day out) on his actually Birthday to mark the day, but no more presents. Due to various family visits/visiting last Christmas he received presents on a daily basis for about a week - all very confusing for a toddler (who obviously loved it).

Susieqt · 14/07/2016 13:35

I Celebrate them but not in a big way, it's just us and we go out for a treat or buy cakes, or sow thing a bit extraordinary. A few of my friends know I do this and have offer half birthday wishes or made little cards, but I'd feel weird about doing anything more public, but that's because we celebrate on her birthday, if it was explained as a later birthday party because of xmas/winter I'd understand it and wouldn't think it's odd