Since when were you meant to stay at a party with your child??

[zephyrcat]

When dd had her party in December I was amazed at the amount of parents who hovered around for the entire party but didn't think much more of it. DD has been to 2 parties in the last week and at the first one I heard the Mum say that 'most Mums are staying I think' but she knew I had a midwife appointment so I went... The party she went to on Sunday I got the impression that the Mum wasn't happy that we left DD there and DP said he felt guilty leaving her there. When we picked dd up she asked where we went and said everyone else's Mum was there!

I've never heard of having to stay at a party before??? Is this the done thing nowadays??

my ds is 3.5 and has been to 2 parties recently,one 3yrold's and one 4yr old's

I was surprised that a lot of mum's at the 3 yr old's left their kids as most were just 3ish.It did make it quite difficult for the mum hosting as they were clearly not comfortable being left.It was at a soft play centre.

I stay with ds as he has nut allergy,even though he doesn't really need me there.

TBH i think proper parties under the age of 5 are silly.A few friends at home ,with cake and a few games is sufficient imo.There's plenty of years ahead for proper parties.

My dd2 (4y 11m) will not enjoy the party if I left, but I get very good at disapearing into the background or offering a helping hand at busy times. A friend used to take a good book with her. Not leaving contact numbers or checking that your child is ok with being left is a real pain. I have sat at dd1's parties with a seriously upset child who didn't want dad to leave, she wasn't a child you would have thought would be so concerned. The second year was a little unbeliveable that they still left her and she still got upset.

Round here BOTH parents stay and siblings come too!

Unless it is a week day

DD is nearly 4 and so far all the parties she has been to parents have pretty much been expected to stay. TBH I wouldn't yet feel comfortable leaving her anyway. Round here quite often both parents attend and stay at the parties too, the adults mingling and chatting whilst the children play. I have found it quite useful, as has Dh, to be able to get to know the parents of DD's friends from nursery - only way really anyway.

I was expecting parents to stop staying gradually once the children start school and get a little older - around the same time they do playdates, etc.

Oh, and often there are bits to eat and drinks for parents too so onviosuly encouraging parents to stay. We are going to provide parent's refreshments at DD's 4th birthday next month and I really do hope most parents WILL stay.

Well my DS was invited to a party and I was told I couldn't stay. All the other kids are at school and my DS is not yet at fulltime school and does not know the other kids, other than the partygirl and her DB.

Some kids could probably be left from 3yrs+ and others might be nearer 7yrs (or older) I would iamgine before they are ready to be left.

On this occasion the partygirls Mum asked me "what was wrong" with my DS because he would not be left