Is this a terrible time slot for a birthday party?

[PanettoneMoly]

3rd birthday party, 2:30-4pm on a Sunday? It feels like a bit of an awkward slot in terms of nap time and providing food but DH disagrees and thinks it fits nicely in the post-nap shift.

I think the 3 year olds could go without a nap. If my 2 year old was invited we'd have brunch then get her to nap a bit earlier than normal.

I'd much rather that time slot than a 12pm party. Most children I know nap at 12 so imagine it would suit most. My 2.5yo has been to quite a few 3yo parties recently and they've all been different times. She can also go all day without a nap if needed.

Yes it’s fine. If there are ones that are still napping they will probably have an earlier nap late morning. Hope she has a lovely party.

I'd like this time slot as I find the late afternoon hard to fill for my 1 and 4 year olds. By then I'm tired of entertaining them 😂

I'd do morning, like 10 to avoid the nap situation

Personally it wouldn’t have worked for us. 3 was when DD was at her longest nap. We had 2 close together so stuck to it like clockwork as otherwise it was a nightmare for the rest of the day as DD only slept at home, never in pushchair /car. It was limiting but better than the hours of overtired screaming we got otherwise.

We kept the nap routine until a few months before they started school as they needed it.

But we’d have just declined the invite so no biggie - there were parties at that time going on, we just learnt that for us it was morning or nothing. You can’t please everyone.

We're right in the midst of age 3 and age 5 parties OP and whilst I do the same with the overthinking, I really think it's worry over nothing. I've never known a party not to be well attended. 2pm is probably the most regular time we get for invites and in many ways is better because children have had lunch so aren't desperate for food as soon as they arrive. I don't think many will decline on the basis of naps and even fewer on the risk of napping in the car. When you have a second child, staying home at certain times of day becomes very difficult so many people are used to having much more flexible routines.

OP, the time slot is fine. As a pp said, make sure it suits you and then those who it also suits will come. Would have been fine for both of mine! And also don’t worry about it being a damp squib. For my elder’s 3 rd birthday I only invited about 7 children. In the end only 3 could come and all we did was about 3 games (pass the parcel etc) and a birthday tea with cake and my LO was so so happy with it all. Absolutely thrilled, truly. My friend organised a joint birthday for her 2 children and had about 30 guests. Her 3 y/o was so overwhelmed she retreated to her buggy and slept through the whole thing! If you call it a party and provide cake your 3 year old will be thrilled I promise!!

This. If parents with too much time on their hands start fussing about a time as it upsets their precious routine, I wouldn’t want them there anyway.

Honestly? I mildly rese Ted su day afternoon parties. It's family time for us, we just want to chill at home. Mine are teens now and I still loathe having to do things on a Sunday afternoon.
Still, I know lots of other people who are fine with it. I'd ask the people whose opinions matter to you ( they are coming to the party). Mx

Some people make everything work and other people constantly have a reason why they can’t do something. So set your time and those who come are the people to invite going forward.

Yeah, that age is better in the morning

Plus I start drinking at 3pm at weekends