18mo DD invited to her first party…at a soft play?

[taylorgrace]

My DD has been invited to her first birthday party (🥺) by another boy in her nursery class. She is my only child so far so this is my first rodeo.

I’m feeling pretty nervous. We don’t know any of my daughter’s classmates parents, as we don’t tend to run into many other parents or know which parents are for which child. (This has been a classic case of parent giving nursery the invites to put in the kids bags).

Nerves wise, this is primarily because DD is 18 months old. Based on ages in her nursery room, we’re assuming that her classmate is turning 2.

DD LOVES soft play and we’ve been a handful of times on rainy days, but she is very small, and needs a parent with her at all times during soft play (she’ll wander off, could get hurt etc). She is still very much at the age of playing independently and interacting with classmates but won’t necessarily know to play with her friends for the full two hours.

How would you handle this situation? We’ve accepted the invite and RSPV’d because it’ll be interesting to see who’s in her class and get to know the other parents, but I’m wondering whether to let DH go off and supervise her playing whilst I catch up with other parents (and vice versa), or whether to expect everyone to be supervising their kids.

I think I’m just struggling to see it as a ‘party’. For example, if DD finishes eating in the party room and wants to go off and play, age wise she’ll have no concept of waiting for others to finish etc…she can’t even string a sentence together yet! Usually when we take her to soft play, she goes off with DH who carries her up to the slide, and she plays in the under 5s section with one of us, but that’s the extent of it. I’m worried we’re going to end up essentially doing our own thing in the vicinity of a party?

Thoughts on this?

She doesn't need both of you supervising her, so DH plays and you chat

From experience it will be like going to soft play normally, except the hosts have paid for entrance and some food! You still need to supervise but there will I’m sure be other things toddlers with similar needs.
Personally it was unusual for us both to go to parties with our DC, even when tiny, but up to you. It’s good for them to start going to parties!

If the kids are all around that age then chances are everyone will be supervising their kids, if there’s a toddler section in the soft play place you’ll probably just sit there with some of the other parents and their kids so you can talk to the other parents and watch your child at the same time.

Ah that’s so sweet. Yes I’d just treat it like a normal soft play session with some food and cake in the middle. I’d have thought most people would go without their partner unless they’re taking older ones too but up to you. Most will be supervising but you bc an chat to the other parents while you do that.
She may well have more experience of waiting for others to finish than you think if she’s at nursery but no one will bat an eyelid if she goes back to play as soon as she’s finished. I’d bring her back for cake and candles if she does though.
Hope you both enjoy it

She'll be fine. You might meet some lovely people who will be your friends while your children are in nursery and perhaps beyond.

Nice to be invited. Will it be as formal as a party room and sit down at a table. Even at 3 yr old parties this generally didn’t happen as I recall.