party etiquette

[mcwhite]

If your child is invited to a party but they can't go, do you still buy the child a present or not?

I only do it if it's the child of a good friend of mine, and when DCs get older I'd extend that to if it was a close friend of the DC. My eldest is only just 2yo, but we've already had a few invites we couldn't make and I didn't bother with presents in those instances. Equally we didn't have a party for DD1 this year as we took her away instead, so she didn't get presents from her little friends parents, only from family/family friends.

Not unless it's a good friend etc.

No, unless it's a child a would have bought for anyway, so close friends yes, school friends no.

Thanks all. Confirms my thinking!

It's a no from me too. Unless it's a very close friend.

If I decline the rsvp from the start then no (unless close friend) but if we said yes & then have a last minute cancellation eg child is sick and can't go - then I do

Agree with firawla.