Parties when only one sibling is invited - what's the done thing?

[FimbleHobbs]

DS has been invited to a pre-school friend's party, but not DD. Which is fair enough as the birthday boy doesn't really know DD, she is in a younger class, whereas DS is a good friend.

However OH will be at work so I thought I better find someone else to have DD while I take DS to the party. But the person I was hoping would have her has been away for Christmas so I left an explanatory/'holding' message for the birthday boy's parents as I was conscious of not wanting to leave them waiting for an answer.

They then called back and spoke to my OH and said that DD was very welcome too, which is really kind of them. Especially as its at a soft play so obviously costs them more to have an extra child. Apparently there are a couple of other younger children going too.

I just wanted to check whether
a) the parents will think I was just angling for an invite for DD (I wasn't)
b) you would take both children (which would be easier) or would it be more polite to still get friend to look after DD?
c) if you took both children would you buy two presents?

I know I sound utterly paranoid and I probably am but thanks in advance for any replies

Take her

Take her.
One present.
Remember the favour and "pass it on"!

Yes, take dd but only one present.

I would take her but pay for DD myself or get someone else to look after her. Not fair to pass on the cost to birthday boys parents.

I would only take one present still.

When this happened with DD1, I took her, and paid for DD2 to get into soft play. I left DD1 to get on with the party, I stayed with DD2. DD1 nearly 5 at the time btw, and soft play wasn't madly busy.

But if you've got an invite, happiness, off you go with both. And one present, because they're sure to get more stuff than they can accommodate anyway.

I've taken younger siblings to soft play parties before, as does everyone else round here, I always pay for them myself though.

I would take her, and I have done this in the past.
However, I have always paid for the sibling that I have had to take. Seems unfair to expect host to pay £10 for the sibling.

Thanks for all the replies. I am happy to pay for DD but not sure how to do it without appearing crass - maybe I will just pay for her at the desk when we go in.
I like the idea of letting DS get on with party and looking after DD in the main area but they are both being a bit clingy at the minute - fingers crossed though.

And one present it is then!

I would call the parents and say thank you, whilst saying 'obviously I will pay for dd'. Then if they say 'no,no' I would spend a touch more on the pressie!!

my friend did this and-as I didn't have any babysitters for my younger TWO(!)-she invited them aswell. I offered to pay for them but she said there was no need as some of the kids who had said they were going hadn't turned up! Paid a little bit extra for a pressie that I normally would have...just the one though.