To think that you don't need entertainment at all infant party?

[BrendaTheBlendeer]

Have done entertainment for the last few parties I've hosted, mainly because I was a bit scarred by going to a 4 year old's birthday a few years back, where they just hired a bouncy castle and let the kids have the run of the (large, lovely, well equipped with big wooden play frame etc) garden. Despite parents all being there, it just seemed to go totally feral, loads of fighting over toys, kids just going crazy.

Since then, I've favoured a much more structured approach. Usually do first half hour of free play (bouncy castle, other toys, craft option), then 30-40 mins of some hired entertainment (music and games, juggler etc - just one of these but gives you the sort of idea), then food, then bit of play before cake and home.

However, in the last year I've been to a few parties where they have just hired a bouncy castle (some in halls, some in gardens) and left the kids to it, and it hasn't gone wild like the original one that put me off this approach.

So, AIBU to save the cost of entertainment for DC's 6th birthday party and just have a bouncy castle and not do anything extra?

If so, any tips for stopping it descending into chaos? Parties still seem to be parents staying round here, so assume they mostly will although some might drop and go.

Can't edit title, should be 'at an infant age party'.

For infants I thought you meant under 1s!

How many kids are you planning to invite? For how long? Just a bouncy castle for 2 hours might be too much but if there some other physical activities eg little cars and maybe some quieter options eg colouring, with a break for food in the middle it should be ok.

What about party games? Nothing fancy, pass the parcel, Musucal statues, musical bumps etc, maybe a pinata?

This is what we did. All the things listed here plus bouncy castle

As long as there are a couple of you to wrangle them, and you have a rough outline of activities and times, I think it's very doable.

Only problem is possibly rain so you have to move them inside

I did bouncy castle with 3-4 of their little friends every year from age 1 through 7. Worked fine.

Depends a great deal on how many dc will be there.

Then also depends on how many adults you have willing to stand and supervise the castle.

To some extent it depends on the personalities of the dc.

YANBU to not spend money on expensive entertainers.
YABU to think you can release a group of 6 yr olds on to a bouncy castle unsupervised for 2 hours and expect everything to be okay.
Put some structure into the party as suggested above with some games.

I did bouncy castles for 4/5/6th birthday parties. I got a package with a bouncy castle,an inflatable slide plus ball pit, and I had a craft table with some Baker Ross kits. No entertainer, and I don't think it was necessary (I considered it but it wouldn't have left enough free play time, with pizza and cake too).
Usually had about 20ish kids, almost all girls. If it is just a bouncy castle with no other equipment I think kids might get bored, does the inflatables company offer anything else?