emergency party bags

[time4tea]

I've just been away on business for the last two weeks, DS2's 4th birthday party tomorrow.

DH sends me an email saying it seems that party bags are necessary - does anyone have any ideas how these can be sorted out quickly and easily? which shops can you get them from?
what is the best thing to put in them? we've been able to resist doing it until now, and most of the stuff apart from sweets we've got in other ones seem to be just a lot of plastic tat.

thanks for any thoughts

T4T

Many toy shops have also stuff for party bags. Depending on age, you can also buy a few sets of small Mr Men books or something similar and put one in each party bag together with bubbles, marbles, sweets. A bit late now, but specialised party companies, like Party Pieces (and there are also many other ones if you Google), sell nice stuff for party bags.

If you can't get the actual party bags (although most supermarkets sell them), wrap some small gifts and have a lucky dip.

Go to Tesco and get the bags thre....put a lollpop, a bag of Haribo ad a pack of cheap cryons plus bubbles in each one. Easy. They also like a balloon in them...leave room for a slie of cake.

thanks so much for all the tips... here's my additional ones

always make sure there are party bags for the birthday child and siblings (my lord was there a double meltdown when I said there was only enough stuff for the guests)

use the party-bag as a stimulus to get coats/shoes on and right out of the house, at the shambolic "ok, time to go home now, bye-eee" moment

sorry you had to learn your tips the hard way.

for my DS's 4th birthday I bought a whole of books from ASDA (£1 each) they were Thomas, Post Man Pat and Little Miss books
and put these in party bags
plus a small bag of buttons/magic stars each, a balloon and a piece of the birthday cake,

every one went home very happy