What is a good time of day for a 3 year old birthday party?

[hottchocolate]

If options are 10 or 1 or 2 what would you go for?

Last year a lot of the 2 year old parties we went to were in the morning (as was our DC party) and that made sense because of nap times but now they are 3 is that still the best time or is it a pain to get out somewhere by 10 am? For most people it would be at least a half hour drive.

I think 10 is good as people can then do what they want with the rest of their day but also 2 pm means we can have a leisurely morning, open and play with gifts, and then go to the party. I know some people are not morning people but 10 is not so early when you have a toddler!

I'd probably say 2pm.... Just more relaxed

I have a 3yo and I'd prefer 2pm.

2pm; assuming it’s a weekend so people have time to get stuff done in the morning

I’d do 10

I like 11-1 not too early and still have the whole afternoon to do something else (presuming there will be food)

I have a 3 year old and parties for his group of friends have tended to have either a 12 or 2pm start. Generally we prefer a 12 midday start as it's over a mealtime and so DS will actually eat something other than sweet things! 2pm start also fine but the kids are usually not hungry so just want cake and also with a 4pm finish it can be getting a bit late in the day by the time we're home. Agree 10am is probably a bit early to start especially if people are having to travel. We do love a party though so will go whenever it is really 🙃

@SgtJuneAckland Those are not options at the place we plan to book.

10 or 2

1 on some days

Should have said would be a Sunday or Saturday

I assume if it was a 2 o'clock start they would have food closer to 3:30 or 4 but I would have to ask.

10 am would be the preference here for all preschool parties. It's still a much later start than a working day and then you can get home and sleep if you have smaller DC. Or do something fun with your older DC.

10am. My heart sinks when we get an afternoon invitation as we end up trying to occupy an excited child for hours whilst the whole house clock watches

I always liked 10am parties. Dd (early riser) would have been up for about 5 hours by then and bored ready to get out and do something. Afternoons she would be ready for a nap by about 1.30pm so a party in the middle of the afternoon meant battling for an earlier nap or a tired mardy child.

10am is much preferred here! It's hardly early, at least a couple of hrs after most people need to be up for nursery/school/work.
I'm another one who absolutely hates afternoon parties, it means that's our whole day gone and we end up just sitting around waiting to go.

My DC would most likely nap in the car on the way there if it is an afternoon.

It seems you can't please everyone! I think we need to just pick a time. DH would prefer afternoon. I was leaning to morning but I don't mind.

It is one of those places where you can stay and play before or after the party as well if that makes any difference.

Same it used to put me in a bad mood when we got invites for the afternoon 😬 life flashing before my eyes as it is only for 1 of my 104 free days off work a year to be wasted hanging around for a party 😩 cant do anything before, too late to do anything after, all for 2 hours. Proper bummer 🤣

I had a few pals who just refused invites after 11.30am (which seemed extreme but I was secretly jealous).

Same. These days I decline afternoon invites as the hassle isn’t worth it

@Megifer @Pinklanternspiral

I think @PeloMom has it right - fine to have a preference but you sound slightly dramatic - surely just say no if the time is not convenient

10am would be my first choice

I’ve booked my soon to be 4 year olds party for 10am. He will be up by no later than 6 as I imagine most kids that age will be, and he will be bouncing off the walls waiting for party time!

Food will be around 11.30 which is when he has lunch at home, waiting til 1.30 would probably mean the kids filling up on snacks beforehand and wasting the food we’ve paid for.

I like covering a mealtime at parties as it’s one less thing for parents to do and if the kids go home and need a nap after it, hopefully its early enough that it won’t disturb their bedtimes.

That was my thinking on it anyway x

Absolutely a dramatic post, that was my intention anyway.

Time not convenient, couldnt say no cos its not about me, so I was 100% internally dramatic about it whilst turning up with a huge smile on my face 😆

I like a party as early as possible - otherwise I spend hours with an overexcited child. She’s been known to wake up at 5am shouting “IT’S PARTY DAY” and it then feels a long wait for everyone if the party isn’t until 2….

I did think 10 am might be better so people when the rest of their days but was surprised to see the first few responses were for afternoon and DH much prefers the afternoon option so now I'm not sure!

2 is a bad time as if food tends to be 330. Too early for tea and kids hungry later

So 10/12 and 1130 lunch. Tad early but kids more likely to eat and not waste food

Just pick the time that works for you.

I also have a child who gets extremely wound up due to excitement and it would be a draining morning, then by 2pm he would be totally exhausted and liable to become hyperactive or easily triggered into meltdown, but arguably this isn't a huge issue if your party is at soft play. It would be a problem if it was a party at home and there was a structured activity they were supposed to follow. Also at 3, parents will probably stay, I guess. So 10am would work better for us in that scenario. But we didn't have naps any more by age 3.

I've just asked 20 mums in a what's app group and it's almost 50/50 so basically do what suits you!

I like a 3pmer myself. We get a day to ourselves and then I bring them home give them dinner and then bed