should I invite older child's friends to younger child's bday party??

[piggypeppa]

My dd turns 2 in June and we are having quite a low-key little tea party for her with 4 of her (same age) friends. However, I'm a bit stuck as to whether or not to invite their older siblings all of who are my 7 yo ds friends. We have a quite small house but it could, at a push, hold that many, my concern was that it would turn in to a bit of a scrum with 4 older ones leaping around! Don't want to actually say no older ones as that seems a bit rude, they're nice kids and I see them everyday at school. Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about it or a way that I could happily have them all while making sure it was dd's special day!

No, don't invite them.

Would you invite the 2 yr old's friends to your 7 yr old's party?

No, don't invite them. It's the little one's birthday, not a party for a 7yo - and four older ones will dominate/change the character of the event (even if they are lovely).

No.

If they were 3 (or 4 at an absolute push) and she liked them too, then maybe.

I probably won't actually put their name on the invite but I think they may come anyway as this seems to happen at other parties we've gone to. Don't know whether to actually say no older ones or just hope they don't turn up!

I wouldn't invite. If it were a big party in a hall, you'd maybe invite one older friend for company, but otherwise, no.

I think it would be rude for parents to bring the older friends - when this has happened before, has it been at larger parties?

Depends... As the children are v. young, I'm assuming the mums would stay too? If so, would not inviting the older sibs be a problem? If not, maybe you could let your older child choose one special friend to keep your him company.

If not a problem, I meant.

we informally let ds1 (8yo) invite a friend and dd invite a 3yo companion when ds2 had a bunch of raving mad 5yo's to a party at home our garden. They didn't get invites as ds2's lot did, I just asked their parents and told them what was going on. Kept all out of mischief fortunately

I don't think they should have names on the invitations or whatever, and only attend in a 'babyminding' capacity

The problem with inviting one special friend is that they are all equally good mates at school so it would be hard to choose (and cause problems!) I was surprised so many older ones come along to lo's parties we've been to but it has happened screamingadab and it wasn't in a hall but a house! Good to get opinions. My dh has much more of a free for all open house kinda attitude but he's not having to arrange/cater for it!

I wouldn't as the older ones would dominate-I think it should be purely for the younger ones.

i would have it on a weekday so that older siblings would be at school.

otherwise I suspect they may turn up anyway

No, don't invite them!
I am having a party for ds2 in two weeks time at the soft play place as the house is really small.

I don't invite all ds2's mates to ds1's party, and most people don't invite both of my two. I wouldn't dream of taking a child to a party they've not been invited to! Having it at soft play if anyone brings another child its easy to tell the mother they will have to pay for the other child to play but they won't be at the party tea bit.

But then I'm assertive like that