Birthday parties, poor timing, how to?!

[Motherofplants]

My ds turns 3 in January, a few days after I'll have had his little sister (cesarean). I wasn't going to have a party for him, but now he's been invited to his first birthday party at nursery, I'm feeling guilty. We don't have any local family at all so family party is out, our few friends with kids are also a fair distance away. We're also not close enough that I would want them to visit so soon after the section.

I'm pondering a hall party either a week or 2 before (right before section, but at the start of January) or maybe a couple of months after. For his nursery friends and a couple of other friends. The other issue is that I have no idea how much a hall party costs, or how to organise the couple of hours of entertainment!! We live in a flat, not really suitable for parties at home with virtual strangers. No local softplay or indoor kids entertainment really. Any thoughts on this aspect of things please?!

I'd say that at 3 they are not super aware of whether a big party is a treat or not... So you could save the stress for a couple of year's time if you want.

At 3 you could just have a small celebration with key friends.

But if you want to do the big hall party, you can hire a professional kids entertainer like a magic show type. Or a bouncy castle but 3 might be a bit young for that. Otherwise you're likely to have to run a series of party games yourself and surely at 9 months pregnant that will be a bit knackering?

Plus also include a party tea e.g. little sandwiches and cakes and squash

How about a party tea at home for 2 nursery friends (and their mothers) a week before the new baby arrives? a few balloons, party hats, sausage rolls and cake. Activity can either be play with the balloons.. decorate some biscuits... play with toys you already have.. they will all be fun for his guests.. if you have tiles or wooden floors get some pull back toy cars and let them race each other.

Or get him a play tent for Christmas and leave them in that for an hour... feed them cake.. send them home.

Honestly don't prioritize the party. I don't think it will be worth the hassle. Do one next year or even the year after when they are at school.

Just have a day out with him or even a half day out and get partner to take him out for the rest of the day. Zoo? Or play centre that he's never been to before. It can be celebrated without a party.

I really wouldn't bother with a party...you will have so much on your plate with your new addition. A year without a party wont be the end of the world.

We had a soft play party for ss when he turned 4

We were chatting about the parties he's had the other week and he had no recollection of his 4th birthday - he's only 9 now!

Honestly op, don't do it. Go to a farm or a park or whatever he likes doing and save the parties for 5+ maybe

Wow that's pretty unanimous then! I constantly have guilt about this stuff, especially about him missing out now that he's going to have a sister. This is about me rather than him i fear 😨 He would love a day out though that's true! Thanks :)

We got party invites at pre-school but not many. It was reception 5th birthdays that everyone did a big party. That's when we did one. Year 1 and 2 parties have been mostly just a few friends.

Take him for a day out then!! Have cake, sing happy birthday and let him buy some tat from the shop! Ta da.. birthday done!

Noooo, don’t do it! I’d invite his favourite friend and their parent to a soft play / farm / cinema morning / build a bear / cafe / anything really, and call it a day.

There's a pottery cafe round the corner from us that does slime making I was pondering, for maybe 3 or 4 of them?

Honestly just the fact that it’s their birthday makes it thrilling. DD1 turns 3 next week and her only requests have been some balloons, a chocolate cake and to go to soft play and eat chicken nuggets with her friend. She has lots of friends but for some reason she wants to eat chicken nuggets with one in particular.

Another one to say I really wouldn’t worry about a party; in my experience the parties don’t really start until they’re 4 but mostly 5. In the end we didn’t get to do much with covid but we planned a day out for DD when she turned 3.