Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I was just wondering bc honestly, I'd love to take Gilly to Florida and spend her bday in the castle and have a whole weeks vacation rather then spending 1-2k on a party that is 10 kids and all adults. Looking back at her 1st...she really didnt enjoy it and she was even sick that day. I dont want it to be a party for us...I want it to be enjoyable for her. I would think parties are given 1st yr and then maybe 5th yr when they begin kindergarten but I am unsure.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I plan on it doing it every year, but i don't spend anywhere near 1-2k on it.

My budget for kiddy parties is under 500 bucks in the backyard or the house.. we have 40-50 people for 1st birthdays, mostly adults-we have little babies in the family-my 2 year old is the oldest, then just for my dd's 2nd, i had 22. No one from NY wanted to travel to the nexus of the universe in a state i call CT.

They're only young once, but IMO there's no reason to go nuts when they can't remember it I'd rather wait til they are older to spend the $$$

Message edited 6/2/2008 11:42:07 AM.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I have ahd for for every year and did not spend 1 - 2 K on it. Every party my boys had fun at, will they remember it, no but we will have the memories or it and pctures that they can look at when older.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

i will have a little something every year...but nothing compared to his 1st--we were out of control with that

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I left out a huge part. DD is born the end of Nov so it could never be in my backyard. I am always gonna have to book a place.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

We will have a party every year and we spent no where close to that amount for his party this year. And his 2 was so much different then his first. I think he enjoyed it a lot this year. And he even had so much fun opening his presents.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

So far we have just had immediate family for 1st and 2nd bday. I think at 5 I will have her friends for a kiddy party.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I plan on doing it every year. Last year at his 1st birthday party he wasn't walking yet so he didn't really get to enjoy it much. This year he did! He had a ball running all over the place with all the kids.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Leo is soooo anti party. He loves the trip idea and would want josh to take 2 friends tubing in the mountains for the day or something.

I really don't have that situation...his first b-day party included the 3 of us, my sister from Philly, my mother from NY, boy I watch, and my mom friend and her daughter....

now, my other sister is also due in Dec, but out in washington state....so I guess my mother will alternate years between here and there...so there goes half my party.

Leo will never be able to get off work the week before christmas for a vacation...so who knows what's in store.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Posted by 5ofClubs

We will have a party every year and we spent no where close to that amount for his party this year. And his 2 was so much different then his first. I think he enjoyed it a lot this year. And he even had so much fun opening his presents.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Posted by LuvMy2Girls

I plan on it doing it every year, but i don't spend anywhere near 1-2k on it.

My budget for kiddy parties is under 500 bucks in the backyard or the house..

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Posted by mommy0604

Posted by 5ofClubs

We will have a party every year and we spent no where close to that amount for his party this year. And his 2 was so much different then his first. I think he enjoyed it a lot this year. And he even had so much fun opening his presents.

Same thing with Matthew...

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

We do family parties every year, but they're getting smaller because some family has moved out of state and others had a falling out.

Kid parties usually start at age 3 or 4. We'll probably start eliminating class parties after elementary school. Their friendships will be more established & they can pick a few kids to go somewhere special.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I plan on doing a b-day party every year for her...we wont be spending near that much on a party but family and a few close friends will be invited every year.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

We do a big party every year. 6 big parties so far for Nicholas, and Joey's 3rd is this Saturday!!

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Is the less then 500 dollars in a backyard or at a place? I called white post farms for her b-day and they want 499 and then I would have to get additional food for parents/family, favors etc... Wouldnt that throw it almost at least to 800 dollars? tips etc...

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

I'm doing a big 1st birthday

Then from about 2-5 I will just have family over for a BBQ (which still equals 75 people)

When he is either 4 or 5 he can decide what he wants to do for parties.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

We did a big party for his 1st year and then decided to do a small immediate family for his 2nd b-day. His b-day is in Feb. so it's hard to have something small and inexpensive in the house. I was debating this issue for a while and then he went to a 2nd b-day party at one of those places where they make crafts and none of the kids seemed like they enjoyed it and for the 1 1/2 party, it wasn't worth it, IMO. Next year we will probably go to Disney for his b-day and then after that, maybe start parties again.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Prior to starting pre-school Nicholas didn't really have any "friends" to invite so we always just did something small at home with just us and a neighbor or two. Now that he is older, we do a friends party every year out somewhere.

If I were you though, I would do the castle thing, that would be awesome! I wanted to do that for Emma's 1st birthday, but I ended up cancelling since I spent a lot of money moving so really couldn't afford it. Of course by the time I spent all the money on the party, I could've taken her there!

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Nope, I prefer doing the small low key parties with family and a few close friends. We don't have much immediate family in Chicago and I don't want to spend all that money for extended family/friends. I really don't see the point in having characters and pony rides for the early birthdays. Those are really for other kids that maybe invited.

DH and I both agree that we'll do the big parties for the boys when they can remember them.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

First 4 b-days were family and friends (of ours). We rented a hall, got some food from BJs (either platters, or DW cooked stuff), had maybe 5 or so kids there. WAY under $500. This year, at DS's 5th, we had it at his karate school. DW went overboard with extra food for the adults, but it was still around $500 for 15 kids or so.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

Gillys 1st b-day was at J&R steakhouse with 40-50 people. It came out to about 800 dollars with tax and tip. BUT we still hired elmo which was 225+tip, and bought our favors from Joenick. As you can see by time we were done we were absolutely between 1-2k. I guess it would be less for a second but like I said ...after calling white post farms, it still looked like around 800 dollars.

Re: Do you do B-day parties every year when the children are so young?

this will be my DD 1st bday but i am thinking imediate family parties until she is a little older she wont remember them. so with imediate family she has fun celebrates it with people who love her.