Parent/s accompanying child at a 3yo birthday party?

[amispeakingintongues]

My MIL told me I should have specified that parents are to accompany their child on the invites.

But I'd assumed parents of kids aged between 2-3yrs old wouldn't even consider leaving them. It's a garden party so not swimming or soft play where I guess you could get away with it?!

Also... please send suggestions on party bag fillers. Thanks!!

My 3 dc are 9, 14, 17 now. But at 3 yrs old I would never have considered leaving them at a party without me, I stayed at them all until at least 6 I think. Most parents if not all, would I think.

No parent I know would leave a 3yo at a party. I’ve never needed to put parents required, it’s just automatically assumed. Most parents woulnt leave children till 6/7 and usually they’d check with the birthday parents.

Thanks @daisydalrymple and @AliceMcK i thought as much!

Yep start adding it when they are 5 as it’s borderline.

I wouldn’t think any parents would think they’d be leaving child alone at a party at that age. School is when that begins but even then there’s still some parents stay for the duration. Re party bags, I think books are great - The Works were always good for doing ones for about £1 each. And then just bit of cake (and a balloon maybe) in a bag. Saves giving out tat that goes to waste.

Agreed - from about 5/6, some parents start to ask if it's ok to leave them.

One time I bought a big pack of mini pots of play doh and a big pack of play doh tools from Home Bargains or similar and gave each child 2 colours and 2 tools.

Another time I did Mr Men books.

A swimming party without a responsible adult for each toddler 😬! The mind boggles. Even for 5/6yos, there isn't a chance in hell I'd take responsibility for other people's kids around water.

But back to the present question, you're right and your MIL is wrong. No responsible parent would dump a 2/3yo on the party host without asking in advance if they actually wanted their child back in one piece. Besides everything else, many children that age will still be in nappies or pull-ups or potty-training. Casually expecting the party host to change your child when required or assist them with toileting on top of running the party and sorting food is clearly not something most sane people would expect.

I have had one almost 4yo left with me during a party once but that was arranged with the parent in advance and I asked another parent (who was a friend of mine) to help keep an eye so she had a responsible adult who wasn't me, as it were.

Party bags for that age, we did a balloon car, some stickers and a chocolate lollipop (winter party).

No one will leave a 3yo unattended, even at 5-6, most would check. For party bags I'd do a tube of bubbles, pack of Harry bow, fun sized chocolate bar, sticks & cake.

We just had Ds 4th party last month. Again garden party at home. 8 children. Every single parent stayed (luckily), and the children varied from 3-6 years old.