Would your 2yr old attend a 1pm party?

[Calmondeck]

Is this a strange time for a birthday party to be attended by mostly 1 & 2 yr olds? Are most kids napping at this time?

No not strange at all. Perhaps it’s more strange that you find this strange.

We weren’t dictated to by nap time or a rigid schedule. Then when things didn't go to plan our kids adapted well.

Yeah I always struggled with this when mine were 1/2. I declined a few party invites because they always napped 12-2ish and I didn't want to mess with that and pay for it later! So much easier once they drop the nap.

Yep, we’ve always moved naps around to suit other stuff when needed. Especially when you have two!

Yes, they’d have an early lunch and nap in the pushchair on the way or way back.

This was usual nap time for my DC at that age but we just used to try and do an earlier or shorter nap if there was something like a party going on.

As a first time mum with a terrible sleeper who only started sleeping at 10m, who then would be a nightmare without her 12-2pm nap, I would have declined as I would have been so anxious.

As a second time mum, I would have gone but my second born was a lovely sleeper.

Wouldn't go. Nap time is sacred.

Would definitely let mine nap. Don't want ratbags by bed time. But can put mine down anytime and they'd sleep.

I'd have no problem with it- we were able to flex our toddlers nap time and frequently did around days out and toddler classes.

If we were attending I would have done early lunch, and either walked to venue in the hope that they’d nap in the buggy, or travelled to near the venue early and taken them for a walk in the buggy in the hope of them napping before the party.

If I was hosting then personally I would have tried to avoid that time as you’re more likely to get the overtired versions of most of the kids and I find parties stressful enough as is 😂😂🫠 I’d have tried for 10-12 or 2-4ish slot if possible

Most 2 year olds aren't napping are they? And if they are, it can usually be a bit flexible.

I'd have taken DC and then taken the hit with messed up sleep for a day or so. I'd probably have brought the buggy along in case they flaked out before the end.

For me it was important to socialise (for me as well as DC) to avoid ending up very isolated so I never turned down any invitations because of nap times (and it really wasn't a case of being blessed with good sleepers).

My ds napped until he was nearly 4yo, but yes, I would've gone to a party at 2pm. We didn't have a nap schedule. He would nap anywhere though, so in the car/pushchair/on my lap. Any time, any place basically.

I wouldn't, because mine likes to nap 12-3 on a weekend so I'd either have to keep him up, or wake him up to take him and he'd be tired and crotchety - so he wouldn't enjoy himself. We've taken him to parties that were 11-1 and just kind of hung on, and that's been okay but usually involved one of us sitting with him in the car while he finished the nap he started on the way home.

Depends - if i knew they'd be a nightmare because they should be napping then I wouldn't go, otherwise I would,

Mine are older now but when they were 2 I wouldn't have disturbed their 2 hour nap for all the tea in China. It would have been a pass from me.

Yes it’s an odd time for a 2YO’s party because most kids under 3 still do have a nap after lunch. I personally would have declined because my kids would have got nothing out of it and unlike if it was an event geared at adults I wouldn’t be up for standing around at kid’s party whilst mine slept in the pram because it would just be pointless.

Yes he would. He’s a bit of a party animal.

Yes I’d go but I haven’t let nap time dictate anything since DD was born. We just crack on, although she doesn’t really nap anymore anyway.

I don't think I'd want to be the party host, either - if the kids came loads of them would be overtired and screamy.

Mine were still on two naps a day until about 2.5yrs so 1pm was perfect for us!
They napped 10- 11.30 and then 3-3.45 ish.

My son is 1 and I have a bunch of mums trying to arrange playdates and honestly, it's a nightmare. It was much easier to have a coffee with these mums when our babies were 6-10 months. After age of 1, naps are really over the place.

At just turned 1, my son is on 2 naps so actually 1pm would be perfect. My best friend's baby totally dropped ALL naps around 20 months so she would be fine too.

If the OP comes back, and she is the one thinking of hosting the party at that time, I think it also depends where you are getting the 1 and 2 year olds from. If they're children of friends or people you know from baby and toddler groups, you're likely to get more variety than if it's kids from a nursery where they will all be following the same routine. If it's kids from a nursery class and they put them all down for naps between 12 and 2 normally, then it's a terrible time for a party because the kids either won't come or they will be tired. If it's kids from all over the place, then just check with the parents of the ones you would most like to be there.

Thanks so much for the replies. It seems lots of people would have to adjust nap times or bring forward naps (other than those lucky parents of 1 yr olds who don’t need a nap!!) so I think it’ll just make it an afternoon event

We have this exact situation this weekend with my daughter who is 3 but still naps. I will try to engineer an early nap but we might end up being late if it doesn’t work out. She would be grumpy and tired without her nap so if we went without napping we would probably need to leave early anyway.

I agree an afternoon even is better.