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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not do party bags

90 replies

IAmADancer · 19/07/2018 09:57

Just that really. Hosting a whole class party in our back garden for 50 kids plus friends and family kids. There is a bouncy castle, inflatable slide, soft play area plus cakes, food and drinks.

When my two get party bags it’s just more plastic crap we don’t need and stickers that get stuck all over the walls and floor!

AIBU to just do a few sweets, some cake and a little book?

OP posts:
MissEliza · 19/07/2018 09:58

YADNBU! Smile

15star · 19/07/2018 09:59

That's fine! Every party my yr1 child has been to for the past 2 years has either done sweet cones or sweeties in a little paper bag and a bit of cake.

blackbirdbluebottle · 19/07/2018 10:00

YANBU 50 kids! Of course you don’t need party bags for that lot! It just ends up being useless tat that goes in the bin anyways. I wouldn’t do party bags

Shoxfordian · 19/07/2018 10:01

50!
Absolutely fine not to do party bags.

Ki0612 · 19/07/2018 10:01

What age are the kids because my four year olds highlight of a party is the party bag! If they are 3 or 4 they might not understand why they are not getting one...

Original poster
IAmADancer · 19/07/2018 10:02

Yeah I didn’t realise how many kids there were until the nursery worker gave me the list. I’m going to need a lot of gin to get through the day! Grin

OP posts:
Peachsploosh · 19/07/2018 10:02

I bought a few bags of mixed sweets, gave everyone a paper bag & did a pick & mix type thing. My bin is full of plastic crap from party bags!
Otherwise, there are sometimes some good deals from the book people & you can give everyone a book for about £1.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 19/07/2018 10:03

Oh god, they’re going to be three. I’m going to have to do them aren’t I.

OP posts:
blackbirdbluebottle · 19/07/2018 10:03

@Ki0612 surely if the kid doesn't understand why they aren’t getting a party bag you just explain to them that they aren’t giving out party bags?

blackbirdbluebottle · 19/07/2018 10:04

@IAmADancer no! Why should you have to do party bags for all of them, you are already doing lots for them! Don’t do it OP!

LagunaBubbles · 19/07/2018 10:05

Put the cake and sweets in a bag... bingo, party bags!

Notthatwomanagain · 19/07/2018 10:05

Use paper bags
Add a slice of cake and a treat bag sized sweets or choc and a balloon
Job done

Trampire · 19/07/2018 10:06

Cake and a balloon. Done.

I used to love doing party bags, but for 50 that would def be it!

Bumdishcloths · 19/07/2018 10:06

The Works do 10 books for £10. I'd just get a load of those and stick them in a basket and they each get one at the end.

LeighaJ · 19/07/2018 10:07

Sounds like a great party, no need for party bags full of plastic tat.

blackbirdbluebottle · 19/07/2018 10:07

Where can you get 50 paper bags from quickly? I don’t think I have ever seen them for sale anywhere. OP you are doing more than enough for these kids and they get cake so you don’t need to do party bags!

blackbirdbluebottle · 19/07/2018 10:08

@Bumdishcloths geesh that's still an extra £50 for OP to fork out! Just stick to the cake OP

PhilODox · 19/07/2018 10:09

Fifty 3yos? Shock
You'll need a week to recover!

MorrisIsClose · 19/07/2018 10:10

As the parent of a child who receives plastic crap party bags at just about every party he attends, YANBU. It always ends up being some cheap tat that ends up broken or discarded within 24hrs. It's pointless rubbish.

At the last party they all got a book instead of a party bag. My DS loves it and it's been read at bedtime numerous times. Much better idea.

PenelopeFlintstone · 19/07/2018 10:12

I wouldn't bother with the 50 books. Birthday cake and sweets in a paper bag does the job. YANBU.

Yokatsu · 19/07/2018 10:18

Parents may hate them but kids love party bags.

I personally hate the sugar cone party bags... ive no problem with kids sugaring up at the party especially if its an active one.but after when theyre tired? Yuck

Books in lucky packets are totally overly potentious. My kids have an awful lot of books, party bag books are just tat in a alternative shape.

Balloon, cake, bubbles, toy glider. Perfect.

I once put fortune fish in a lucky packet. Omg how the kids loved them and i was amazed most had never seen one.

Montsti · 19/07/2018 10:18

Yanbu...I haven’t given party bags for years. I give a gift to each child - small party-themed book, hula hoop, party-themed biscuit etc...but I usually only have 30 kids max...

Tentothree · 19/07/2018 10:21

Here we do a piece of cake maybe a pencil/notebook etc. Sometimes if we've done some sort of craft they take that home instead. Sometimes we haven't done anything if there's been an expensive activity. No plastic toys or balloons anymore.

Bellabutterfly2016 · 19/07/2018 10:21

My friend did those long bubble wands, you can get 3/4 for £1 and did some tags tied on them just saying

Thankyou for coming to my party love from xxxxxx

The kids loved them!

Primark, Poundland etc all sell them

NoKnit · 19/07/2018 10:23

50 kids for a 3 year old? Does the child even know everyone's name? How many when the child turns 5? 100?

Totally gobsmacked at the number of kids, unless it's a wind up. That is really not what a 3 year old wants none of them will even remember it.

Personally I'd scale it down to child's 3 friends and give them all a decent party bag.

Surely a child that age will be totally overwhelmed by 50 kids in their garden?