Birthday party for 4 children?

[Mumtogremlins]

My DS has been invited to a joint party for 4 children, all in his class so they are all his friends. There's no mention of presents on the invite so should I be buying 4 presents for 1 party?

I'm afraid you probably should 🙄

Yes, four separate children so four presents.

Myself I'd be really pleased to have four parties wrapped into one- saves a lot of wasted Saturday afternoons!

You're probably right! It's a soft play party too so seems to me that it's a cheap way to get a lot of presents!

Oof not that cheap even between 4!

If you don't want to buy 4 just get your DS's best out of the four friend one. i'm sure the parents wouldn't mind missing out on more plastic shite presents

I think if it was me, I'd put a note to buy 1 present and divide up between the 4. I'm sure there will be a lot of parents who will buy 4 more rubbish presents as it's a lot to pay out at once. One decent present would make more sense

Could you do a collection with some other parents? I only ask because when DS was in year 6 he had a joint party with three other children. It was the end of the year so we thought it would be lovely to invite the whole year group (55 children). We specified on the invitation that we did not want gifts as it was for four children but another mum took it upon herself to do a collection. No one was pressurised into contributing (many didn't) but as far as I know, she suggested a £10 total contribution. She then got each birthday child a £50 (or 60..) Amazon voucher and wrapped it up with some sweets.

It was totally unexpected and very lovely of her. Lots of children only brought a gift for their close friend and, of course, we were more than happy with that too.

I promise that we did not organise the party to 'get a lot of presents' - I hate getting tons of stuff. DD has a big party coming up and I am dreading the influx of smiggle stuff and have already told any parent that asks that just a card would be lovely.

If your child is friends with all four birthday children, or in the same class and would have likely been invited to each of their individual parties if they'd had them, then yes I would get four gifts. What's the difference to you anyway?

As far as it being a "cheap way to get a lot of gifts," I don't see what you mean. It's not like they're all going to one child. I have to say I never think about the cost of a child's party when determining what to buy for a gift. Is that a thing??

If your child probably wouldn't have been invited to all of the other kids' parties, but does know them, I would get the main child a "normal" sized gift and get the others something small or dig into the re-gift closet . I wouldn't show up with fewer than four presents unless we didn't know the other children at all.

Just get a book collection from the book people and split it into four and add a couple of sweets. Would only be about £15.

OP just because you would give four cheaper gifts doesn't mean everyone would. I have a usual amount that I spend for my children's friends and I wouldn't penalize a child for having a party that cost less! If my child isn't really friends with some of the birthday children that's different, but it's nothing to do with the cost of the party.

OP would you be more OK with giving four gifts if the party was very expensive? My DD went to a party at Kidzania last year that cost at least four times what a "regular" party costs. It was for only one child. Was I supposed to spend more than I usually do because it was an expensive party???

Thanks - will go for the 4 gifts. Never sure on birthday party etiquette these days. I guess there are bonuses in only having to go to 1 party!

As I said, never sure on what's best. It's not that I want to give less to each child, it's just a lot to pay out in one go. Obviously need to plan better for multiple presents - not had a situation like this before

Yes I would get all four of them a gift each but sadly probably wouldn't be able to afford to get them a good gift each all at once so would prob end up with £5-£10 present & a card each, (pack lunch box or stationery are a good one ATM as will be in the sales now school terms started) x

but sadly probably wouldn't be able to afford to get them a good gift each all at once so would prob end up with £5-£10 present & a card each

I just be really cheap then as I do a £5 per party present cap!

If you would have gone to four separate parties for these children, then yes you should.

If they've hired the soft play to have exclusively, then it will not be a cheaper alternative.

When my dd was 7, she had a party with five other kids and we invited everyone in her school year - 30 or so, I think. There were three girls and three boys so we suggested that girl invitees brought presents for the girls and boys for the boys. In the end, most people brought gifts for everyone.

Presents around here at DSs parties tend to be around the £10 mark, so £40 is a lot to find for 1 party

I would get them each a present, but I'd spent less than £10, I would get a little something for £5 or less. Maybe a book or one if the little activity packs by galt on amazon.

OP, there is no way I would or could spend £40 on one party as a guest. I would get four smaller gifts for about £5 each. A decent book that my own DC would read usually does it.

How about some glow sticks. Kids just love them and affordable too.