Did I make a faux pas at child’s party by not bringing a present ?

[Sleepingworries]

My child was invited to a birthday party for the first time last weekend and it didn’t even cross my mind to bring along a present… it was only when I saw a pile of presents in the courner that it made me wonder if that is the done thing.

I’d totally forgotton about the party, and only remembered when one of the other mums text me asking where I was so I also didn’t have a card either and got there halfway through.

Have I made a faux pas here ?! I did apologies for not remebering the card but it’s a bit late now.

Yes you bring a present to a child’s birthday party!

When you saw the pile of presents and it suddenly clicked, why not tell the host that you had left the present at home on the kitchen table as you were rushing out and that you’d drop it round tomorrow?

Now that you’ve said you left just the card at home, stick a £10 Waterstones or WH Smith or Toy Shop gift voucher in it or something for the birthday child and that can be the present.

Oh dear
Forgot the party, arrived halfway through and didn't bring a gift? Are you British? Because I'd be surprised if anyone who grew up here didn't know that's not good etiquette. If you're not British, you have committed a faux Pas and you can fix it by taking a gift to the child asap.

You needed to make a thread to ask this question? Are you so socially inept/unaware that you don’t already know the answer to this?? Unbelievable! 🤯🤦‍♀️

Yes, you take a present. Have you never been to a birthday before, ever?

It’s also really really bad form to forget about the party. If you RSVP yes then you show up or let them know with a reasonable amount of time. Parents will be paying for a space for your child, or for food for your child. If you don’t show up, you are costing other people money. Whole class parties in a rented hall aren’t so bad but as your child gets older, they’ll be invited to things like soft play parties and trampoline park parties and your child will have cost the parents at least £30 to attend. You cannot just fail to turn up.

Do better.

Hmm….

Yes you have - it’s expected

OP - this cannot be a serious post.

Did you never attend birthday parties as a kid yourself? Of course you take a present.

Yes of course you take a birthday present to a birthday party.

You were also late and didn’t bring a card.

So that’s 3 faux pas.

Yes you take a present to a party. Have you never attended one before or had one?

Reverse? No one is this unself-aware, surely?!

I was just thinking that. For the same reason.

Yes very rude. Drop one round to them.

Yes you have. When you got the invite did it not occur to you that you had to sort out a present

Oh come on!

This is a bizarre post. Surely it’s blatantly obvious that you being a present of some description to a child’s party, and you actually make note of it when invited and actually show up on time?!

eta I sound very harsh. That’s not to say I’ve never been 10 minutes or so late or that I’ve always remembered to bring the present with me (I’ve done a couple of handovers elsewhere!) but come on 😅

Take a belated present, or better still a gift card inside the birthday card.
Hand it over with a smile and a quick apology for its lateness.
Don't leave it on the doorstep; that's just weird.

Have a card and a £5-10, in it on you to give to the mother/child the next time you see them.

I think this post is a chomp. Complete bait.

I mean i have one DC and im new to kids parties as a parent but I wouldnt ever have assumed I wouldnt bring a present!

Didnt you go to them as a kid OP?

Not having a go its just wild to me you would assume you wouldnt bring a present

Did you just land on planet earth today? Yes, you should bring a present to a children’s party. Grab one today and drop it off. On the bright side, the kid will probably be buzzing because it will feel like an extra present after they thought they’d had them all.

I’ve stopped saying yes to all class parties as I’m sick of buying presents for kids my child barely knows . Costs a fortune.

This can’t be real

£5 or £10! Are people time travellers??!!! At least £20 I should think. Either that or a copy of Das Kapital.

Put a fiver in a card and give to the child at school tomorrow with a bag of sweets. Then it looks like you genuinely did forget the card and the gift was in it.
Otherwise it will be the first and last party she ever goes to.