Half birthday parties?

[causeimunderyourspell]

Is this a thing? Both of my DDs are winter babies, youngest was born on Christmas Day and eldest was born on 11th Jan.

There is just shy of 1 year age gap between them. I am contemplating perhaps having a joint half birthday in the summer time as we have moved to a house with a large, flat lawn which would be perfect for garden birthday parties, bouncy castle, BBQ, that kind of thing.

Would it seem odd to you if you received an invite for you DC to attend a half birthday party? If it were you, would you even mention that on the invite or just say it's a summer party?

December and all through January just isn't a great time to host a party and definitely not utilising the space we have as it's so cold! So thinking of doing something half way if it wouldn't seem too strange?

I would think it was odd and would also be a bit miffed at buying a present etc. It gets overwhelming as it is buying presents for all the actual birthday parties with school friends, family etc. Just have a summer party - you really don’t need an excuse!

Yup agree with muddling, half birthdays are ridiculous notions and I'd be thinking cheeky fecker if someone expected me to buy a card and present for one

TBH, do something small on their actual birthdays and then just do a party in the summer, but not dressed as a birthday party. So just a fun time with all their friends and do all the things you would have done for a birthday minus the cake and gifts.

This would only be any good though for school age children. It would be a bit pointless if they are still toddlers.

Just have a party. Doesnt need to be a birthday party.

We were vaguely planning to do this for twin daughters, born in January. In the end we just went the 'hall' or 'laserquest' or 'sleepover' route. However a lot of this was because our garden is very small so there would have been no benefit in having the party in summer.

I have friends with a child born within a couple of days of Christmas and they used to celebrate the child's birthday in June. I never got used to that because we always sent a birthday card and a separate birthday present as well as Christmas present and I always remembered the actual birthday.

My parents did this for my sister as she was a Xmas baby. They didn’t do a party in December but did it in the summer. Most parents knew why and actually appreciated it as Xmas is busy and money is tight so a summer party took some pressure off of everyone. There was no expectation for presents but just a celebration of her birthday. Don’t think it was called a half birthday just a birthday party. They did this until she started secondary school and sleepovers became the birthday celebration which was easier to fit in.

Yes, very odd. I’d assume you were also holding one on their actual birthday and were expecting two gifts per child.
Have a party if you want, but ditch the half birthday nonsense; it’s meaningless tripe.

My friends little girl is also a christmas day birthday. She has a big bbq and summer party on 25th June annually. She says its her summer party. Calling it a half birthday sounds a bit naff.

My birthday is in January and I've had to wait until this week for my present from my family. As I was told by my mother "We'll go another time as it's always cold in January" .

Just have a summer party for them with no emphasis on it being for a birthday.

It’s ok as long as you don’t also have a party for them at Christmas.

Otherwise just have a summer party.

I wouldn't think it was weird if you explained why and didn't expect people to get them another gift or attend anything on their actual birthday. If people are attending a party and getting them a gift anyway, what difference does it make to do so in summer rather than winter? I think winter babies do miss out on the fun to be had at summer birthday parties, I have friends who even as adults complain that they missed out.

No there definitely wouldn't be another party in the winter. We would just do something the 4 of us, like a trampoline place or something like we did this year.

I wouldn't want anyone to buy gifts, could I write something on the invitation to that effect and if so, how to word it?

Just put no gifts please. About a third of rookie will bring one anyway.

Rookie?? People

I would definitely have the party but maybe not make it associated with their birthdays (end of term party? Beginning of summer party?) then celebrate their birthdays in December with a modest party or none at all.

I have cousins who all have their birthdays around christmas (twins on Boxing day and younger sister 23rd December) and they did do a celebration in summer. Family would give pressies but friends just came.

My friend used to do this for her Christmas Day born daughter. Invites were labelled as, say, 6 1/2 birthday party, and guests took birthday presents, sang Happy Birthday etc. They had nothing to mark the birthday in December, apart from presents from immediate family. Don't think anyone had an issue with it, certainly none that I ever heard.

My cousins are one Christmas Day birthday and the other is end of August usually on/around the bank holiday weekend. So when they were smaller DAunt used to throw a joint start of summer garden party in lieu of birthday parties about a week before school ended and invite both of their classes (it was a big garden!). Worked very well for them but I don’t think they ever called it a birthday party and they didn’t ask for gifts.

My youngest has his birthday on New Year's Day. No one is interested in his birthday. All done in! So we have a family day.

I think celebrating with his friends in the. Summer is perfectly acceptable.

Just be clear about what you are doing.

Dear everyone we are going to stray a tradition of celebrating x and y birthday in the summer.

My uncle has always celebrated his birthday in a August because he was born in Boxing Day and the family were too poor to buy presents for all the kids for Christmas and his birthday.
My brother always had a half way part as we weren’t sure how long he was going to live.

I am a December born and would have felt very weird to not have a party around my actual birthday.

I would think it is ok for a couple of years but it may get silly when they are 5-6 and a) they may get teased at school and b) may ask for one at their birthday.

DD has a couple of friends with birthdays end of December/in January and they just go to places/hire a hall for a party until the children got old enough to just invite 2-3 friends for a sleepover/movie afternoon.

My son has a birthday in the summer holidays and to alleviate fears of people forgetting or being away, I have his party a month earlier near the end of term.

With your dd, I'd do a January or November party.

Call it their "official" birthdays
make the point that you are not asking for gifts and cards in the winter
then go for it

I have lots of adult friends who celebrate when the weather is nice

My sister was born 1st Jan and used to have a half birthday party around 1st July! She said "if its good enough for the Queen then its good enough for her " .

Go for it OP!!