Evening guests with a 1 year old

[tinyorchid]

Just interested to hear what other people do regarding having evening guests when they have a young baby.

We have a 1 year old who normally goes to bed about 7-7.30pm (bath,book and bed) and when we've had visitors in the evening previously I've found it really hard if not impossible to put her down to sleep as she's over-stimulated by the guests and then she won't sleep if she can hear us next door no matter how quiet we try to be (medium size flat).

Now she's a bit older we (DH and I) would like our mutual friends to be able to visit a bit more for drinks and catch up on the weekends but usually by 7pm I'm ready myself for pjs and chill out time on the couch.

I'd rather have visitors over before dinner and gone before baby bedtime routine so I can relax and unwind after a busy day looking after baby, but most of our friends seem to prefer coming over after dinner. I'm interested to know what other people do?

We've had friends over for dinner a bit, we ask them to come at 8pm after our son is asleep but like you, I'm a bit of a zombie by 10pm. Since our son was born I don't bother cooking for guests. We either get a takeaway, or there is a really great French food stall at our local saturday farmers market so I'll buy beef bourguignon or something similar to heat up.

We also do a lot of afternoon gatherings, particularly with family for a cup of tea and cake or in the summer go to a park for a late lunch picnic at 3ish.

I think I coped with it pretty much the same. Either have them come over for 8 and have a takeaway or cook lunch for them and socialise then.

We haven't had any since having DD, other than if relatives are staying with us. DD now 6yo.

I tend to go out and meet people out of the house as it's easier. Or mutual friends we meet up with in the daytime.

Ok, good to know ppl are similar to us, thanks for replies so far....

We’re in a house so a little easier to not disturb the dc but ours went to bed at 7 at that age and friends would come around at about 7.15 then we’d order a take away. Everyone brought their own drinks.
now the dc are older they end up joining us for food!