To ask about birthday party etiquette?

[itsascottishbaby]

Hi,

It's DS's first party and I grew up abroad - I'm always worried I'll make a faux pas at events in this country!

We're having a party at home with friends and family. I've sorted the obvious (cake, food, decs). MIL says I should do party bags. I believe 1 year olds could probably do without them, but there will be a few older children aged 2-5. Any suggestions on what I should do for them would be great!

You don't have to donoarty bags. Everyone hates them. If you're desperate to give stuff out books are at least not annoying.

I went to one recently that you collected bubbles and a mickey mouse headband on your way out (theme of the party). Worked fine, kids were happy and it would've been pretty cheap to do too.

Bubbles
Sweets - a few different ones, e.g. Mini boxes of smarties, harribo
A couple of cheap toys - Tesco to a party section where you can get party bag stuff

Or go somewhere like Poundland and get them all 1 big thing each - like a giant bubble wand - they'll go down well with ages 1-5.

Have fun 😊

If there are older children they do like party bags.

Keep them simple. Balloon, cheap book one sweety though this isn't that necassary. Bubbles are good too...then wrap up a slice of cake and put that in too.

I'd do something simple such as a book or sticker book that you can get cheaply from places like the works, a couple of small sweetie packs such as haribo and chocolate buttons, a balloon and maybe a small bottle of bubbles.

Everyone hates them.

Lies lies and more dam lies!

All children love them. Fact.

You don't have to do party bags, but the older kids may be expecting them. At our 1st birthday we just gave out bubbles I think.

parents hate them, children love them for 3 seconds. Eat all the sweets and the forget about the rest.

Good chance to prove that you are a good parent to the other parents tho - virtue signal via buying books rather than tat or something actually useful/educational.

We had a few older children at DS's first birthday party. I bought some boxes of Smarties for them to take away with them but no party bags.

Party bags are useful for sending home cake if you have a huge one to get rid of!
Bubbles are good. If there are lots of littlies maybe do something to get lovely photos? Photos of babies in party hats smiling at bubbles are nice!

I think party bags are useful as a clear sign that it's time for everyone to go home! Everyone knows when they see the box of party bags it's time to start rounding up the kids. Also, children will hover hopefully at the end of the party looking at you with big eyes if you don't have them!

Children do love them.

Don't buy anything that makes a noise.

Ohh, thanks for the tips. I love the idea of giving out books - it's perfect.

Older children expect party bags IMO and it is easier to give them out. But they can be really simple; bag of haribo, slice of cake, balloon, etc.

Party bag says "party has ended, off you go". Contents largely irrelevant because it's a cipher.

That said, better and worse things exist. Slice of cake wrapped squashily in a paper napkin is standard (though I'd recommend foil then napkin); something to do which can be worthy and must be age-appropriate; some sweets but could be yogurt-covered raisins or fruit roll ups for the youngest children.

When they're a bit older (3+) I highly recommend glow sticks. You can usually get a pack of 15 in the pound shop which you then split so they each get two or three. Other things you could split would include book packs, tubs of toy animals or dinosaurs, small toy cars, etc.