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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To do a child’s 5th birthday party from 4pm to 6pm on a Sunday?

152 replies

Definitelynotagladiator · 17/01/2026 11:06

Hi, really struggling to find a venue to host in Winter. And have been offered 4pm to 6pm on a Sunday - is this too late?
My gut is saying it is but I’m running out of options.

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 17/01/2026 20:37

I think it’s too late personally. I would swerve that.

Cappie73 · 17/01/2026 20:38

laserme · 17/01/2026 11:29

Personally I find 4-6 Sunday pm parties annoying - kids don’t eat a proper “dinner” so invariably start pestering for food right about bed time - it’s the night before school on Monday morning so bedtime in my house would be 730 ish so by the time you’ve rounded the kids up to leave the party and got home it’s 630 at the earliest and you’ve got an hour to calm them down and get ready for bed

Give them dinner at lunchtime 🤷🏻‍♀️

EnglishRain · 17/01/2026 20:41

It’d be a no for us. We’ve got a 3-5 party on a Saturday which is fine, but not 4-6 Sunday.

snoopyfanaccountant · 17/01/2026 20:45

The church we went to when ours were small had a once a month service specifically aimed at children which started at 6pm on a Sunday. Lots of families came with younger children.
A Sunday 4-6 party for a 5 year old wouldn't have been an issue for us.

EnglishRain · 17/01/2026 20:47

Icecreamandcoffee · 17/01/2026 17:15

For most 5 year olds that's fine, back home by 6.30 and bath, story and bed by 7.30/ 8pm really easily. You might get the odd parent that declines (due to it been too late or overstimulating) but the majority will be fine. It is also a great filler of that 4pm - 7pm dead space where most DC are watching TV or screens because I am getting tea on/ ready for the week ahead.

Are you planning on having any toddlers, IME it would be the toddlers that struggle with that as they are the ones who have the danger naps not the 4 and 5 year olds.

I only know of 1 person who insists on their 7 and 5 year olds go to bed at 6pm (so she can have an evening) and complains relentlessly that they get up at 3.30am and 4am. Everyone else's 5 year olds I know have 7.30- 8.30 bedtimes during term time. As a one off people won't worry too much.

You sound judgemental. My DD goes to bed about 6.30pm. Doesn’t get up until 7.00am. She is in reception and needs to go to bed then to not be a grump in the morning.

youalright · 17/01/2026 20:49

Does nobody on here work we are rarely home before 6 so it would make no difference

SouthLondonMum22 · 17/01/2026 20:50

Would be a no from me. Too late, especially with school the next day.

DameOfThrones · 17/01/2026 20:51

Sounds fine to me OP.

You'll never please everybody so it's pointless trying.

Some parents are absolutely unbending when it comes to routine, but on the whole I think most are a bit easier going.

CatchTheWind1920 · 17/01/2026 20:57

I'd take my 5.5 year old. He's usually running around mad at that time anyway 😅 our wind down starts around 630.

GanninHyem · 17/01/2026 21:05

Ooh yeah perfect for us. As PPs have said, give you the day to actually do something, not too late so it interferes with bedtime or bathtime. As long as they get a decent feed.

I've yet to go to a kid's birthday where they're "funneled with sugar" it's usually a savoury buffet and a slice of cake in the bag / possibly a bag of haribo in the party bag too.

BlackCrowKing · 17/01/2026 21:13

It would be a no from me, but that’s only because I ferociously protect my Sundays and resent having to leave the house. It’s the only day we don’t have school/work/activities, and consequently the only day we can legitimately stay in our PJs and have a proper chill out.

Travellingatthespeedoflight · 17/01/2026 21:24

I have two 5 year olds and would let them go. It’s a bit of an odd time but assuming its local and a meal is included rather than just crisps and sweets, I think it’s fine. We have a party coming up that is 5-6.45pm (on a Saturday).

popcornandpotatoes · 17/01/2026 21:25

youalright · 17/01/2026 20:49

Does nobody on here work we are rarely home before 6 so it would make no difference

On a Sunday?

2chocolateoranges · 17/01/2026 21:28

Too late in the weekend for us. By 4pm on a Sunday when our children were that age we were on wind down time.

we had visited who we needed to , bought our food shop and would be prepping dinner before bed and bath ready for our week ahead.

Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 17/01/2026 21:37

I would not take my child to a birthday party that late on a Sunday, sorry.

RampantIvy · 17/01/2026 21:51

I'm amazed at how rigid some of the responses are. What happened to spontaneity?

canuckup · 17/01/2026 21:52

Of course it's too late

Most little ones are ready for bed at that time

DameOfThrones · 17/01/2026 21:56

canuckup · 17/01/2026 21:52

Of course it's too late

Most little ones are ready for bed at that time

This is utter drivel.

If my 3 kids were ready for bed at 6pm when they were 5 years old, they never would've spent any time at all with me or their dad.

A lot of working parents aren't picking their kids up from childcare until 5.30 - 6pm midweek.

So they would be perfectly capable of getting them to a party on a Sunday that ends at 6pm.

Bitzee · 17/01/2026 21:57

canuckup · 17/01/2026 21:52

Of course it's too late

Most little ones are ready for bed at that time

I have a 4YO and because we both work most days we don’t even pick him up from wrap around until 5.30pm so being out a party until 6 would be no big deal. That’s more normal I think than putting a reception age child to bed at 6pm….

TheCurious0range · 17/01/2026 22:04

I would've declined for a Sunday, Friday or Saturday fine, but mine needs to be in bed by 7 or he's a gremlin and there would be no way he'd be calm enough. He is now under assessment for ADHD at seven so that won't be the case for all.

RampantIvy · 17/01/2026 22:20

canuckup · 17/01/2026 21:52

Of course it's too late

Most little ones are ready for bed at that time

No they aren't.

DameOfThrones · 17/01/2026 22:23

No wonder so many parents of other cultures think we Brits are batshit when it comes to being so rigid about bedtimes.

A party is once in a blue moon and 6pm is hardly midnight.

Cornflakes44 · 17/01/2026 22:30

We did this and people loved it as it wore all the kids out and they went off to bed early. Also Sunday afternoon can be really boring as everywhere is shut.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 17/01/2026 22:31

RampantIvy · 17/01/2026 21:51

I'm amazed at how rigid some of the responses are. What happened to spontaneity?

I know, its unreal to me. So controlling

What about their bath??? We can't possibly change the bath time! Our child will miss a fun event and feel left out at school but that's fine as long as they didn't miss a bath.

No wonder some kids have no resilience and can't cope with change. Parents obviously can't cope with change of routine either.

DameOfThrones · 17/01/2026 22:34

I also wonder what happens in the Summer.

Are the kids really not allowed to run around and play in the garden for a few hours after school?

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