What do you dress a toddler in for a soft play party? + present advice

[Tupperwarewolf]

I am pretty sure I am totally overthinking this, but toddler DD keeps being invited to soft play parties. I think it's quite nice for her to wear a pretty dress for a party but they are so impractical that I think she'd be a lot more comfy in leggings and a top. Or do I put her in leggings and a top and pop a dress over the top for birthday tea, or does that make me completely mental?

Also wondering what wise MNers think about this present situation. We are invited to a twin birthday party. I have a set of ten Peppa Pig books for one of the presents. We are seriously short of funds (I am really too disorganised to attend parties the day before payday ) and my mum suggested splitting them and giving each twin five books each. I thought that was a bit mean so have actually bought another present for the other twin but was wondering what the jury would think.

Present - I think that would be OK.

Dress - how about a dress and a pair of woolly tights? The type with grippy dots on the bottom would work quite well.

Leggings and long sleeved top to avoid friction burns etc.

And socks!

Definately leggings and a top (and some soft play areas say long sleeved tops.) I have never seen a child in a party dress at a soft play party.

You can get leggings with an attached tutu - look cute but don't get in the way of climbing. Gap sometimes have nice ones.

Awesome, thanks :) I have managed to dig out a reasonably pretty top (don't really have much in the way of glitzy partywear). Party is tomorrow so no time for emergency outfit buying :)

I think it's fine to split the present.
Leggings and a top and socks

Present = fine, most parents are the same and don't expect tons we all know what it's like to have to get gifts.

Dress = probably normal for leggings and top, but I always send my girls (3yrs and 8 months) in party dresses. Parties are my one excuse to dress them up! They have never had a problem playing in them and DD1 can scramble about with the best of them, I just make sure the tights are not expensive as the feet get filthy, and the dress is not too long to trip her up.

Thanks all. DD went in a pretty top and leggings (now obviously covered in cake and icecream ) though there were a few girls in dresses (+ leggings) as well.

Didn't split present but you have made me feel better about panic-buying the rest of my gifts from Sainsbury's at midnight on Friday night (got to ELC too late!)