party for twins

[daisy1999]

What has anyone else done re party invites for a twins party? Has anyone ever suggested that the guests only buy a present for one or other of the children? It seems a bit much to expect them to buy for both but is it rude to suggest otherwise as it may seem like you are requesting a present?

Gone through the same thing myself, some buy two presents some buy a 'to share present' ie board games etc their only bug bear was the cards saying happy birthday twins..especially as one was a girl and one was a boy...think most will go for giving two presents though..good luck.

Up until now we have had a joint party for my girls. The first year as school the invites were from both girls, and we ended up with thousands as each classmate gave 2 small presents. Last year each twin sent their own invites (ie with only one name) and that seemed to work. We only had a very few who decided to buy both girls something.

If they shared a birthday but weren't twins - a couple of years apart for instance - wouldn't you expect to buy a present each. It can be really embarassing when everyone turns up with two presents but twin mums have to buy two presents each time their kids go to a party. Mothernature, I do so agree with you. I think birthday cards to 'the twins' should be banned. My DH, stepf to my twins, commentated on them having a cake each for birthdays. I asked him if he had been made to share a cake with his brother - he understood!

they should buy a pressie for each if the friends are friends of both children. however if the friends are friends of one of the twins then would expect only one pressie. best to send out seperate invites.

my twins have had parties where they havent recieved any pressies from friends - cos we lived in a skint area - and thats fine. they each have their own friends and it wouldnt bother me if the friends only bought for one. as it happens they buy for both i have found - and i think thats only good manners. you wouldnt offer a sweetie to one child without the other so why be different on birthdays. as long as your not snobby about the pressies they get - like something from poundland each - is fine - its the thought. i hate those mums - and you know who you are - who look at the pressies as a bit of tat and give you a disgusted look.

i dont do birthday parties - i do tea parties with 2 friends each and family. then i tell them to sod off out after they have eaten - cos i dont like other peoples children!

Custardo, you sound like my kind of person... I have enough sometimes with my own never mind someone else's, thats why I gave up childminding, don't get me wrong I loved them and enjoyed looking after them, but mine were at school so that made a big difference. Mine now have a family party with auntie/uncle and grandparents only..

My friend has two girls close in age. On their birthdays i buy them a pressie each. At xmas i buy a game for them to play together.

You could do that for twins birthdays.

Sorry to hijack the thread but we're looking to do a twins story for the discovery health series - (the one where me and Justine go in and pass on your wisdom ie the wisdom gleaned from threads just like these - to other parents). We were just talking about the many issues that surround having twins and would particularly love to film at a twins' birthday party. They need to be under 4 and based in or around North London. If anyone thinks they can help - or knows someone who can please email us at [email protected]

Thanks and sorry again to interrupt the flow of conversation!

This is a difficult one as it can be expensive for some parents. Having three mine rarely get a present each and very often have had one card between them which I think is mean, you can pick up cheapie cards anywhere. Simply because they are twins or triplets means they have so much sharing to do anyway, far more than a singleton. I tend to just bring all the pressies home, count them up and then divide them by three and give them a pile each! They so need to have their own things don1t they?

gosh! it's a difficult one! i always make sure my two take a present each when they get invited to parties - whether they go or not. last year they had a joint party (their choice) for their class plus our not inconsiderable family. needless to say they ended up with loads of presents which my dh felt very uncomfortable with. i didn't, because i felt that for one year only it wouldn't hurt for them to be thoroughly over-indulged. interestingly one of the mums asked what the children would like for their presents and i asked her to ask her daughter to make a special card for each of them but not buy a pressie. this went down extremely well with my two who at the age of 5 were able to appreciate the effort that had gone into producing it.
their sixth birthday is looming and i'm dreading it! they have everything they need (although possibly not what they want!) and truckloads of presents isn't on their agenda when they discuss arranging their party.
i would like to suggest people make a donation to a childrens charity instead of buying presents (except family) but i understand why this might go down badly with other mums. it's a shame as my little ones give half their weekly pocket to oxfam after seeing the ads on the telly - i discussed the whys and wherefores with them before commiting them to it and they remain keen three months later.
has anyone succesfully diverted superflous presents to a good cause or should i give up now?
i'm not trying to deprive the children of that lovely feeling of receiving gifts - i'm just trying to get a level of balance.

do you think i could just put "home-made card only - no presents please" on invitations? the children will still get loads of presents from family and good friends who will ignore the message anyway. it's the whole class giving double presents i'm trying to avoid.

tweeny you could ask for cinema vouchers/play centre vouchers/bowling and then donate them for a raffle prize

Hadn't really thought of this even though my twins are 5.5yo, they have only had family parties and we have gone away somewhere for their birthday.
I really wanted to give them a party this year but they had only been in reception class a couple of weeks, and we didn't really know anyone, but we will do one for their 6th Birthday.
I don't think I'd expect a present for each, but when they both go to a party, I always buy two presents, two cards etc., so it would be nice if they did get one each in return.

hi my name is tanya was wondering if anyone who has been through a twin pregnancy before could give me some advice please i have an awfull backache that will not go have tried everything i can think of would be grateful for any advice please anyone

hi momma2 - congrats! twins are the bizz!
can't offer any advice about back-ache but hope someone else can help.

Hi,

congrats on the pregnancy. Can't comment on back problems - I didn't have much of that when I had my twins. Try asking on www.twinsclub.co.uk - masses of twins mums there - someone is bound to have something useful to say.

momma2 - sorry about the backache, I had awful indegestion at the end of my twin preganacy. I guess it might be one of the babes pushing against your spine. How many weeks ? Have you had look round the archive threads - cos I'm sure its a common problem.Hope it gets better - by the way there's quite a few twin mums and triplets has got guesd what ....

when dd starts to have proper parties I have every intention of putting 'no presents please' on the invitations - she gets so much from family and our close friends, and I've seen it just gets out of hand. Some friends with older children do this and it's never been a problem.
anyone do this or thinking of doing this?