AIBU not to do party bags?

[isitginoclock]

We have 20 kids coming over for my daughters birthday party tomorrow afternoon - she's 2 but has an older sister so kids attending are between 1-6 years. I've totally forgotten party bags. The party's at 2 tomorrow... I could feasibly go out and get all the bits but I've got so much else on... But WIBU not to?
Opinions please :-) x

I hate party bags & all the tat that comes in them which then lies around my house for weeks. My 7 year old loves them. So depends if you want to please the parents or the children

OP just to make you feel a REALLY rotten mummy, a friend of mine back in the 80s had a child at a very posh school in Central London, where his classmate was the son of a vvv rich Middle Eastern Royal. Friend's son was invited to boy's birthday party 5th/ 6th?
The party was at Claridges, the entertainment was by Roy Castle and Lulu, the food was canapés and the party bag contained.....
A remote control car, a box of chocolates, a Sony Walkman and a £10 note!! I'd go for cake and a balloon if I were you.

Parents may hate them but it's not an adult party is it. Kids love party bags and as others have said they really don't care what's in it. Quick trip will have it sorted.

I had a patent text me a complaint yesterday about the party bags I did for my dds party on Saturday.

I did an age appropriate bag for her ds and mum didn't agree it was appropriate.

They took me ages to to get the right items for the bags. I won't be doing them again.

you had a text complaint about a fucking party bag?

Please don't ever invite that persons child to a single thing ever again, no matter what or who that parent iS!

Jesus Christ, where the bloody hell did this party bag nonsense creep in anyway? When we were kids it was cake in a napkin and that was it!!

I suggest we should blanket stop doing this crap and go back to the main focus which is the kid enjoying the party and not fishing for a bag full of tat!

As for party bag related upset? (With the usual disclaimer of NT and no SN at play) REALLY?

Yep her ds is 15 months old and the youngest at the party so I put him a bag aside containing a board book (baby Einstein one to help boost his vocab) bubbles, Ella's kitchen flap jack thing, some stickers and some raisins.

Mom text to say he would have preferred the bag containing the chocolates, key ring and stationary.

Ah so she was pissed off that she didn't get some nice stuff to munch. Cheeky mare.

She shouldn't have been there were petit fours and hot drinks for parents whilst party was going on - she stuffed her face and didn't move a muscle for 2 hours

Thanks for this thread! Perfect timing for me as DD is having her first party next month. She'll be 5 so the kids will definitely be hoping for party bags. I've stolen the play doh idea and ordered a huge multipack and loads of cheap cutters.

I have 3 children, youngest is now 8. I'd say yes do party bags, but I didn't put tat in them... Tho kids do love tat!

I'd buy packs of lotsa lollies and bag of mini packs of moams & 10 pack of bright coloured kiddie pencils from pound land. I used to buy £1 sunglasses from Home Bargains once kids older, or a big book pack from Book people, or masks (4 for a £1 from poundland or asdas) add a couple those sweeties , cake and all done. You can order big packs of bouncy balls (25 for £3! Cheaper than asdas) or for 8+ y.o. kids fun snaps (10 packs for £3 & kids LOVE them!) from Amazon- but tell parents as fun snaps n!! As kids got older they preferred the one £1-2 selected and birthday paper wrapped up gift (poundland nail varnish, lip gloss, stationary set or pretty pad, try The Works) that I selected carefully or we did parties such a crockery ones that you got the thing you made 5 days later (once fired). We did decopatching parties (buy the stuff from craft place) so they made their take home gift.

OP will have her party started now so... Birthday Cake wrapped up and a sweetie will have to do. I wouldn't sweat it, 2 year olds won't mind, the 4-6 year olds might have a lip wobble but I'd say to anyone that asks " oh s/he's only 2..I'm just learning party rules for kids as they get bigger like you, thankyou so much for tellnng me, next time I'll be sure to do super party bags..". Good friend parents will understand

Sorry, I missed last part of sentence... As fun snaps need adult supervision and really are for older children.

If you want a change from Book People books, I found that the £1 footballs (sometimes have faces or other non-footballish patterns on but same basic ball) went down well with boys and girls of all ages. Also gets a good gasp as you bring out a giant bag Instead of the usual sized box or bag of party bags.

Only thing I would say is to take a sharpie with you to label them as you hand them out so there can't be any arguments about which ball belongs to which child - either at the party or beyond if they're allowed to take them into school or a park!

Nicpem - Gobsmacked at the mum who thought a key ring and stationery suitable for her 15 month old son. After your thoughtfulness that is so rude, I agree she was just after the chocolates!
Brentlicious - Wow, ultimate party bag! Wondering what the parents holding the next few parties provided! Few could compete!
We've had a science party where the 'scientist' turned up half an hour late. Compensation was a free (different!) 'scientist' booking
for the school, which resulted in many more bookings for the firm! A one seater hovercraft included at both events!
Older kids love Namco Station under County Hall, a dark noisy den with slot machines, bowling and dodgems. The plates they have their burgers/nuggets and fries on are frisbees (advertising NS) to take home and ice cream is in little cups with animal heads on which some also took home along with the helium balloons included in the party package. Very simple to organise, squashy sofas and Costa coffee available for parents who stay.

We normally go to the pound shop.

Last year we got them a ball each and handed them out with party bags containing a freddo bar, a balloon and a piece of cake. This year we got inflatable animals ( quite big) and handed each child one of those with same party bag. They seemed happy

2 year olds wont notice - but older children do. My 4 year old was scandalised and very sad for her little brother when he didnt get one once. I'd just pop out and get a multipack of haribo or other sweets and give them one each, cake and any spare balloons.

I would also do the pinata idea and then give them all cake in a napkin, job done.

Or cake, balloon, haribo

I once did a pirate themed party and bought all the kids a foam sword from the pound shop as there party bag. I got weird looks as I carried every foam sword in the shop to the till. They went down well :)

If you get a pinata, I'd also get some spare sweets as there's bound to be one child who grabs them all and one who doesn't get any.