Help! Toddler present etiquette. Bit red faced!

[redfacedintheburbs]

NC as to be honest I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this as I know it sounds trivial.
Background: I have a touch of social anxiety, don't always find it easy to make friends. For my little one and partner I've worked really hard to be more sociable. Things like this unfortunately stress me out disproportionately.

Had a party for DC recently. Started opening presents as people arrived so we could say thank you straight away and make a mental note of who gave what for follow up thank you messages.

But people kept coming and I kept getting pulled away to deal with food and drinks etc so we started putting them away to open at home.

Most have a card attached so all good. But we've ended up with a couple of presents and cards muddled up mostly from the same friendship group. I don't know who gave just a card or just a present or both. I did send a group thank you message already but I wanted to make sure I thanked everyone individually as people drove and took time out of their day to come celebrate with us. I've also already sent texts to people I was sure about presents/cards on.

But I'm now a bit embarrassed of muddling up the rest and thanking someone for a present they didn't give and it coming across as a dig or not thanking others and them thinking us rude.

I'm overthinking it, I know! I just really struggle with this stuff.

What would you do?

Thank you!

It can’t be helped now but I have never been to a party where people open the presents at the time.

children want to play at their party with their friends not stand opening presents. For future just take them home with you people don’t expect you to open it there and then.

For now message the group and say sorry the cards got separated thank you for the beautiful fire engine/game/toy whoever gave it, little Jonny loves it

I would take a photo of the couple of presents without names on and send a group message
"Thanks all for coming. These couple of gifts got separated from their labels on the journey home. If they are from you please send me a message to let me know!'

Send our a card saying "thank you for being part of DCs special day, he had a ball and loved all his gifts and spending time with his friends" or something similarly warm but a bit vague.

Ps I also do present opening at home after party. Don't worry you haven't committed a faux Pas or anything, just might be easier for you next year

Or just be self deprecating but honest and confess all.

Op I wouldn't even mention anything just sent a message individually to say thank yous or coming and DC loved all his cards and gifts.

I second @Wbeezer suggestion. But to be honest, I wouldn't give it a thought as to whether I'd had a thank you or not, I know that toddler parties are a nightmare

I agree with pp, put them aside and open later. When mine were little I didn’t bother with thank you cards (and I didn’t expect one either), we thanked people at the time.

when they got a bit older, I sometimes did a photo montage (using an app) with a generic message saying thank for your coming and the presents etc. and sent by text/WhatsApp- but don’t feel obligated to do that either!!

And I never received thank you messages either which was fine!

God almighty, don't do that

As others have said, honestly don't worry about it. No-one will be judging. I've got two kids who have been right through nursery/ school/ even a handful of secondary school parties and some open there and then (not many, admittedly), some say thanks in person, some send a card or WhatsApp either to say thanks for the car/ colouring pens/ whatever, or just thanks for the present (you could do the latter!), and some don't say thanks at all.

Lots of great points here and you've all made me feel a lot better about it. I think I'be been overcompensating for my social awkwardness a bit. Realistically I wouldn't expect a personal thank you if roles were reversed and I did thank everyone on the day and followed up with general message already. So as not to risk creating an issue where there isn't one I might just leave it!
Thank you :)

@johnnysgirl why not? Now I'm wondering if it's me (fictionally) committing a faux Pas!