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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

A question about birthday parties.

17 replies

mrdaykerry · 26/04/2014 14:54

Hello, first time poster so please bear with me.

My DD was born on January 1st and therefore we've not been able to get enough playmates around to celebrate her birthday. Ultimately we've not had a birthday for her yet (she's now two) and I'm concerned that this will harm her in terms of lack of interaction with other children.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Perhaps your LO was born on Christmas Day or New Years? Is it common to have an unofficial birthday party at a different time? Perhaps in the summer?

She does get invited to other children's birthday parties but I'm conscious that other the invites will dry up if not reciprocated.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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AlpacaLypse · 26/04/2014 15:00

Hi mrday.

It's definitely important to celebrate birthdays, and the social life of Reception does rather revolve around them!

I'd celebrate her birthday with family on the day, and arrange parties with her little friends as early in the new year as practical.

I don't think it matters that she's missed the first two, they're far more important to us, the parents, than to the children at that age.

As a matter of fact, most children have their birthday party at the nearest or most convenient weekend rather than on the day.

domesticslattern · 26/04/2014 15:03

I think you are over thinking this. It is very common to have a party a week or two later, so in your case, in mid-January. No one will bat an eyelid.

nicename · 26/04/2014 15:04

Not an issue. We have a mid summer child and always have a party for the kids before the end of term (most people here go away for the summer) and a family one on the Big Day.

Roseformeplease · 26/04/2014 15:06

My DD is 5/1 and we usually go for the first weekend back after a week at school to allow for invites etc to get to others.

Lilaclily · 26/04/2014 15:08

My dcs didn't have a party until reception
The nearest Saturday in January will be fine
Chill out !!

Bunbaker · 26/04/2014 15:18

She's only two. Plenty of time before you need to worry about parties. DD had her first party when she was three, but didn't get invited to any until she was in reception at primary school.

Original poster

mrdaykerry · 26/04/2014 15:24

Wow! Thank you everyone for your feedback.

It is easy to over think these things, a quick search on here sorts out most niggles.

OP posts:

Ohnonotagen · 26/04/2014 20:47

my ds will be 4 next month and is having his first birthday party and has invited all his nursery friends. we didn't bother previously. i think when people have parties in the first couple of years it is more for the parents than the children, the children don't really have a clue what is going on (altho did still enjoy themselves at ones i went to)

SweepTheHalls · 27/04/2014 11:38

I have a new years day boy, we have had some parties on the first Saturday of Jan, and some on New Years day! They were surprisingly well received as none of the parents were out getting drunk the night before as they have kids and it gave them something to do on New Years Day!

olivo · 27/04/2014 11:40

Both my Dds have their birthdays in hey he summer holidays, so ewe do one party towards the end of summer term, and one at the beginning of Autumn term. We just do a cake and family or a friend on their actual birthdays. Nobody bats an eyelid.

stargirl1701 · 27/04/2014 11:40

We are not having a 'party' for DD until primary school. For her first, we had an afternoon tea for us, the grandparents and godparents. Prob do the same this year. It was not on the date of her birthday.

This will also help reduce the piles of plastic crap!

tobysmum77 · 27/04/2014 11:41

the invites won't dry up believe me. no one has the time to construct a party last around who invited who!

I wouldn't have a party before 3. Then just have it a week or so later. In fact you could then have a joint one with my dd .

If you are feeling you should do something just invite a few friends over for a barbie or something.

VeryStressedMum · 27/04/2014 11:51

When she's at school just have it on the first (or second if you want to give more notice) Saturday after they go back after the Christmas holidays. Not many people have a party on the exact date unless it happens to fall on a Saturday. My ds this year is having his party nearly 3 weeks after his birthday because of the Easter holidays and other children in his class having parties, it doesn't matter as long as they get one. We obviously celebrate birthdays on the actual day at home with family.

MiaSparrow · 27/04/2014 12:18

I wouldn't worry! DD's is Valentine's Day. It means everyone remembers. She'll never get a table in later life though... As a Christmas baby myself, I've just had to adapt to the fact that my birthday is more about family time than friends, but I'm sure I still had little parties when I was primary school age - even if they were a bit early.

KildaTiffany · 27/04/2014 12:29

Children don't notice the presence of absence of a party age 1 or 2. From age 3 they will. with a January 1st Birthday I'd either throw a party on or after 15th Jan when everyone has had a chance to recover a bit from Christmas, or have a half-way birthday on 1st June each year to celebrate being 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 etc. Probably the former would be better.

Mutley77 · 27/04/2014 14:28

My DD is a Christmas day baby! For first birthday we did a family party in early Jan, second birthday didn't bother, and from then on she had a party for friends in mid Jan which has been fine. I tend to make it the second saturday in Jan, just after school goes back and send the invites before Chrsitmas, (maybe a week or so before end term to make sure invites don't get lost). To be honest no-one has anything to do at that time of year and we have rarely had anyone decline an invite! That's partly why I don't do the party before Christmas - we are really busy at that time of year and assume most others are too.

We are currently living in Australia and the school holidays go all through Jan so many people are away on holiday therefore our first year here (last year) DD had a party mid December, which I sent invites out for nearly a month before and only had about 2 declines.

No problem.

SavoyCabbage · 27/04/2014 14:33

When she's older, like seven I mean not 21, you could do a New Years Eve party in the early evening. It would be the talk of the town.

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