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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you don't need lots in a party bag?

110 replies

Yahyahs22 · 15/04/2023 17:14

So when I was a kid it was a couple cheapy 'toys' and a slice of the birthday cake. Now I've been told you need toys, sweets, party hats, bubbles and you have to cater for both boys and girls?? Someone even suggested a GIFT CARD in each party bag. Surely that's not the norm?? I'm doing my son's first big party so if anyone has been to one recently (ages 3-5) could you tell me what kind of things was in the bags?

OP posts:
whatkatydid2013 · 15/04/2023 19:20

Hardbackwriter · 15/04/2023 19:18

So many of these comments saying what they prefer their kids to get in party bags - they're not for you?! I get the aversion to plastic waste and I think the origami kit suggested upthread is a good one. Realistically, kids do not want one of a remaindered multipack of books.

Mine are always quite excited when the party favour is a book. It’s one of the things they are always after buying and they are all very clued up on what’s environmentally friendly (encouraged by school)

Fighterofthenightman1 · 15/04/2023 19:22

Give them foam planes

Honestly it keeps kids and adults preoccupied for hours 😄

To think you don't need lots in a party bag?
PeapodBurgundy · 15/04/2023 19:22

The books always go down well at our parties as well. They're not multi packs, so not like you're walking away with part of a series, and I always have about 50% more than needed, so there's lots of choice even if you choose last.

SmallandSpanish · 15/04/2023 19:27

Skip the tat and get a cheap book bulk deal from the works or something, or a few times I've got woollen friendship bracelets and chocolates or something. There is often 3 for 2 on boxes of quality street etc.

sweetdreamstenasee · 15/04/2023 19:33

hmm I’m 30 and thinking back, aside from the gift cards, what you outlined was a standard party bag for us. I don’t think they were seperate ones for boys and girls, that sounds like extra work. Keep it simple and don’t overthink it :) Cake, cheap sweets, stickers, small toy.

CC1991 · 15/04/2023 19:34

The main thing I remember from the bag my first school friend's party was a sheet of stick-on earrings.

Oblomov23 · 15/04/2023 19:39

I don't like measly party bags. I like them full. A bit of cake, bubbles, a bouncy ball, a climbing wall man, a couple of glow sticks, some stickers, at least 2 or 3 sweets.

89redballoons · 15/04/2023 19:39

I went to a 4th birthday party a few weeks ago and the party bag had a packet of haribo, a packet of chocolate buttons, some stickers, a bouncy ball and one of those wall walker toys.

Yes, it was all sugar and tat but to be fair my 3 year old is still playing with the ball, he loved the wall walker thing until it got too fluffy to work, and he used the stickers on some drawing he did.

Probably cost less than a couple of quid all in. No boy/girl distinction and my son wanted a pink party bag anyway as that is his favourite colour.

HaveSomeIntrospect · 15/04/2023 19:40

Ive read that the party is the gift. Recently, when we have had parties at home (probably pre covid tbh) I have a sweetie cone type gift at the end of parties, and a lunch box type takeaway gift when we had a party at a local stable.

Plastic tatt is bad for the environment and a waste of money

NancyJoan · 15/04/2023 19:44

I prefer to serve the cake at the party. For a going home gift, successful ones have been a bag of Percy Pigs; a lidded cup with straw from Home Bargains containing some sweets; few bits from Tiger in a cellophane bag.

TortolaParadise · 15/04/2023 19:46

BucketList101 · 15/04/2023 17:19

I've got a pencil, rubber, bouncy ball and birthday cake. I may put a glow stick or two in there.

This.

Justalittlebitduckling · 15/04/2023 19:53

Crayons, mini colouring book, bouncy ball (the 20p kind) chocolate buttons, balloon.

wannadisc0 · 15/04/2023 19:58

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marypoppinsreturns · 15/04/2023 20:21

My dc has a December birthday so I always do a selection box and cake. Maybe a bit lazy of me but easy and no complaints! Sometimes the party venues have provided a party bag with sweets as well for each child.

twoboots1 · 15/04/2023 20:26

Our most successful party favour was a load of colourful baseball caps off ebay. I think we did it twice.

NancyJoan · 15/04/2023 20:28

twoboots1 · 15/04/2023 20:26

Our most successful party favour was a load of colourful baseball caps off ebay. I think we did it twice.

We did Primark sunglasses for a couple of years for pre-teens. £1 each, job done.

rampila · 15/04/2023 20:29

We did the books and a slice of cake.

Melodybogwot · 15/04/2023 20:47

Sorry if anyone already mentioned the thread, but one of my favourite ama's, was a lady that was a nanny for a wealthy family. I think she said all the children had to sit at their special place settings for the food, and inside the goodie bags were ipads! 😂 not sure if anyone remembers?

I assume the children that were invited already had loads of expensive tech and jewellery, etc,like an Oscars goodie bad lol. So some really gross sweets they're not allowed would go down massively their 😂

My god daughter loves a brain licker 😂

I just did a sweet cone. Icing bags and sweets from poundland. What's anyone really going to say?! You give shit party bags! "Ok, we won't invite ya next time"

Finchgold · 15/04/2023 21:12

I once did small notebook and a spy pen. Bought in multipacks so fairly cheap and kids loved them.

whatkatydid2013 · 15/04/2023 21:34

If you want something cheap and fun you could make multi coloured crayons in a silicone mould out of all the kids old broken ones. We sent those in instead of sweets for the class when my kids were teeny and they were pretty popular. You’ll never use the mould for anything else after mind but given you can buy one for less than £5 if you have loads of broken crayons lying about it’s a cheap, fun, reuse option.

teddybearsbear · 15/04/2023 21:36

Last one I did we gave a kinder egg and a slice of cake
Went down a treat!

Tigresswoods · 15/04/2023 21:38

Among other things I put hair gel in my 8y olds party bag. Huge talking point for ages after. We are nothing if not memorable.

Original poster
Yahyahs22 · 16/04/2023 00:24

So many good suggestions here! Wrapping the books as a lucky tip - love that!
Also, using the party bags as a way to move out the hyped children is a good point.

I'm thinking, a pack of sweets and a sheet of stickers (my little one loves stickers so I'm assuming it's an age thing) and a book each. Someone also said a cupcake which sounds easier than slicing a piece of birthday cake for each child.

Thanks everyone! I feel more relaxed about it now reading that barely anyone gives a crap about these things!

Regarding the gift card suggestion. They're invited, so perhaps they suggested that as that's what they want rather than it being a norm as she put it...hmmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Yahyahs22 · 16/04/2023 00:27

CC1991 · 15/04/2023 19:34

The main thing I remember from the bag my first school friend's party was a sheet of stick-on earrings.

Stick-on earrings took me back!!

OP posts:
Hoppingmad231 · 16/04/2023 00:32

I made up some sweet cones cost half the price off buying them pre done then ordered personalised stickers from ebay saying thanks for coming to bobs birthday it cost £1.30 per child, give them that and slice of cake.