Planning Birthday party, is it ok to ask that only 1 parent per child come on the invite?

[mummyeme]

Hi all,
I'm planning a birthday party for my dd who'll be 4. I don't have too much money and not enough space at home so I've booked a small hall and some entertainment. Is it alright to ask on the invitations that if a parent is coming, can it just be 1 per child, or will people think it rude. I only ask because dds having some nursery friends to her party and for a friends party, the whole family came along for nearly every child, I just can't afford to feed the parents as well and I really don't think there would be enough room for everyone. After all it will be a party for dd and her friends.
What d'you think?
Thanks in advance

hi at this age I find that there's a real mix of attitudes to kids' parties. Some parents want to stay the whole time and bring their other kids along too. Some just want to drop their child off and pick them up at the end. Personally I am more of the 'drop them off' type and certainly wouldn't be offended if an invite said only one parent per child, although I might worry that you were expecting parents to stay and help!

I shouldn't think the parents will expect to be fed though. If you do a 'place setting' for each child and serve them rather than doing a buffet it will be clear that there is no food for parents.

If I were you, I would only feed the kids and choose food that is obviously to their taste and not worry about the grown ups. For me, with four DC, the logistics of parties can be quite stressful and I would feel a bit annoyed if extra constraints were put on me. But I would not expect the party organiser to feed/entertain anyone other than the invitee IFSWIM.

Thankyou everyone, certainly wouldn't expect any parents to help (but I see what you're saying). Having got the room and entertainment booked really smoothly (she says touching wood) I'm uncovering the minefield of everything else.
Thankyou for all your advice

I think if I got that invitation then I would be fine with only one parent being invited along, but I also have a baby and would worry and would have to phone you to ask if I could bring the baby too!

dont mention on the invite but do not provide drinks /food for adults - that is madness!

you could say 'drop off at 3. pick up at 5' or whatever is the time to make sure they dont all stay. If you really need any adult helpers, just ask one or two best friends to help you - 4 year olds are old enough to be dropped off

I've only ever had food for the children at DS's birhday parties. I've been to only one party when he was v young where there were some nibbles and wine for the parents. All others, children food only.

Agree with newgirl. At 4, when the kids are used to being at school/nursery, they don't need their parents hanging around.

do not feed the adults, only the children

at most parties the children only eat biscuits and illuminous sweets anyway, leaving the adults to move in on the left over stuff later

Agree that you should not be expected to feed any parents. You might want to put some teabags out in the kitchen and say "help yourself if you want a cup of tea!.

But do not invite anyone who's pregnant to a party 11 -2 and then not feed them and expect them to not mug small children for the leftovers .