To think this is too late to eat at a 4yo birthday party?

[TrainsandDiggers]

So my 2 and 4yo DC have been invited to DNs 4th birthday party. SIL has announced the timings are 11 - 3 at a child’s theme park then another big family party at their home 3:30 - 8:30. Meal times are scheduled for 2:30 and 6. AIBU to think these are odd timings?! Personally I think a whole day event is going to be a bit much for their age, but not even eating till 2:30?? I think my kids will be going wild by that point if I don’t sneak other food in!

Go armed with snacks. Give them brunch before going.

She's having a nine hour party?!

My two year old would be comatose by 5!

I think she's going to be up for a bit of a shock!

Just feed them a light breakfast and then a brunch before you go and pack some snacks if they get peckish!

I'd take a packed lunch and then bail out at 3:30pm before everybody heads over for the house party. Is she expecting everyone to attend both events? Maybe she's doing two events to give people a choice to attend one depending on their personal circumstances.

I think it’s fine, but I’d take plenty snacks. They’re going to be exhausted whenever mealtimes happen anyway.

Yes, the earlier part is for friends (although our DC are invited) and the evening part is the family party - it won’t go down well at all if we don’t go to both but I am genuinely anxious that the length of time, the over stimulation, the late food and the quality of food (simply owing to it being party food and cake all day) is going to send mine over the edge! Then they will act up and it will end in tears. Maybe I just need to chill out, but I just think it’s going to be an unnecessarily stressful day. Surely a couple of hours is enough?

I'm doing something similar in that I'm having DSs party for his friends 10.30 until 12.30 then family all afternoon but obviously eating times will be earlier than you mention and it will finish earlier

Chill.

Why don't you just go to the first part? See how they are and if they're ok go to the meal. You can always go home if they're tired. Take snacks and a buggy and go with the flow.

The obvious thing to do is feed them before you go, I'm sure they won't starve in 3 hours.
6pm is normal dinner time here, mine with have a mid-afternoon snack.

Just give them a snack before you gonad chill out!

It’s a party, they don’t neeed to eat nutritionally balanced food at scheduled intervals all the time. Mine never bloody seem to.

Give them a normal lunch at your usual time, then let them have the kids party food as a snack. It doesn't matter if they don't eat much, and you might be able to save some sandwiches or whatever to snack on as they wait for their late dinner.

It's only one day, it will just be a very full on day. If the second half is at home the dc could have a film on or something for some chill out time.

With children those ages I would only got to the theme park bit and take a packed lunch.

I suspect others will do the same. She will have to figure out for herself it was a silly idea.

6pm would be on the early side for my daughters tea, at nearly 2. We went to a birthday party today for my god daughter, she's 1 and her brother's 2.5. They had tea at around 4 and they start bedtime at 6. Doesn't suit us, DF's just had a second dinner, but it suits them - and that's what people do on birthdays. Presumably this is what suits your sister and nephew? I agree give them an early lunch/brunch before hand and take snacks

YANBU.

It’s one day. Give them food before you go and take it from there

A 4 hour party for 4 year olds? Poor children, the max we normally had were 2-2 1/2 hours and that is plenty.

If a party starts at 11 as a mum I would expect food around 12-12.30 ish, so your SIL better puts the time on the invite otherwise she has a group of small children crying.

How is 2.30pm an odd time to have food at a kids party? Most 4 year olds parties are in and around that time. Bring some food with you for the between party times if you want but honestly it all sounds fine food wise. The two party scenario sounds a bit busy but it's her child I'm sure she knows what she's doing.

It’s a theme park though not 4 hours in soft play so i’m sure you could give them a bit of food if they needed it!

How is 2.30pm an odd time to have food at a kids party?

It isn't that odd on its own, but would usually be in the context of a 1-3pm party, so you'd have given them a sandwich or something at maybe 11.30, but this party starts at 11am so it's more difficult to fit in a meal first. And then normally if they hadn't eaten much at the party you could have tea at maybe 5pm without drama. But they'll have to wait until 6pm and if that's a family party then it won't be quick either. A bit like a wedding, with an 11am ceremony and not so much as a canape until nearly 3. MNers always advise a sly sandwich an route and a chocolate bar or six in your handbag!

I was going to suggest just going to one party or the other, but you say that would be unacceptable to the family. That's nuts and it's a real shame you don't feel able to decline the "friends" party.

I also can't understand how they'll have the energy to host family for five hours immediately after four hours of theme park shrieking. Is it the first time DN has had a party?

• en route, twatphone

Trains, when they DO (inevitably) gonover the edge, at least you’ll have a great excuse to go home again :)

Thanks for your advice ladies. I will definitely be sneaking in snacks. I don’t think she’s told most of DN’s friends parents the timings, so at least we have the heads up to prepare.

It’s not the first time she’s done this. Last year was 3 hours in soft play and a big family do. DN hated it and was beside himself by the end 😢

Give them breakfast then a muffin or fruit about 10:30 mine usually needed a mid morning snack because they were up early. Then party food hopefully a nap between venues even if in the car( tempting to drive a bit longer if it is nearby or park up somewhere with a magazine if they drop off and have a break yourself. Take a flask.
Then family party. Next year suggest she does it over two days.
Just go with the flow. If they get ratty take them home.

We were at two fourth birthday parties yesterday, one 10-11.45am and one 2.30-4.30pm, so neither particularly “normal” mealtimes. The morning party served nuggets, pizza, chips etc at 11.15am! The afternoon party served sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls etc at 4pm. Just have to go with the flow at kids’ parties really. As others have said, take portable snacks but DC may be so engaged with all the party fun that they forget normal mealtimes anyway.

My DS's nursery gives them meals at 11:30 and 3:30, and we have a family meal at 6. So this would suit us perfectly. I expect there may be others whose DCs are on that schedule. You could try it for a day!

Packed lunch in the car on the way there- the 2:30 food can then be afternoon snack which will be a big snack. Might not be hungry til 6. My toddler would love it and very possibly still by partying much later. Next day would be a telly day!