When did B-Day parties get so crazy expensive??

[Mouse House Mama]

Why not? It's just swimming at a hotel, and all the boys go home after cake. Plus a parent stays with them, typically in a connecting room. They eat junk food all night and often rent a movie from the tv list available. They also bring board games, makeup and hair stuff to play with. It's just like a sleepover at home, without all the cleanup.

Of course, I'm speaking from my own upbringing- what the PP does might be different. Why is this such an issue?

I am not saying anything bad about that kind of party but I am not comfortable with it. Sleepovers in general are not something I am a fan of and I don't want my child at a hotel without one of us there. It's just not something we would ever let our kids do.

 

[asmit4]

I am not saying anything bad about that kind of party but I am not comfortable with it. Sleepovers in general are not something I am a fan of and I don't want my child at a hotel without one of us there. It's just not something we would ever let our kids do.

Got it! Every parent is different. Me? Once I hit around 10, I would bet that I was either hosting or at a sleepover at least 5 times a month. Sleepovers were the way we all hung out as kids. I loved sleepovers on Friday and Saturday. Lots of times we would do both nights and just rotate houses

My aunt has an 8yo and she isn't too keen on sleepovers either. She dreads it when her daughter reaches that age where they become the 'norm'.

 

[DAPford]

I haven't read all thru every post but my DD turning 13 in Nov at 4 wanted a "party w/ friends " and since then we have always done a party hayrides,skating, funzone, pool (indoor) magician @ our house, beauty shop, sleepover whatever she is into but we don't buy her anything for a present her party is her present and she can invite xx # of kids depending on the budget
its always been her core group of school/church friends and they always seem to look forward to and enjoy it however her 12th was her last party until 16 and she my DH (her dad) and I will be going to The Melting Pot for her first teen birthday( we went there alone the first year she went away to camp and she has always wanted to go)
At 16 she will have a party similar to a quincerera ( sp?) because my inlaws ( her grandparents ) were missionaries in Equador where my DH grew up and have shown her the photos of all the parties they attended there over the years ( quinceras are usually 15 but we are combing traditions a little here)that will be attended by both friends her age and adult friends probably at our church fellowship hall. and yes we have been told we are crazy for having these parties but its something we budget and plan for and worth it she can tell you evry birthday where it was and what was so great about it (and even the year that she changed schools and how the 2 groups didn't mix) and that to me is priceless

 

[waltskids]

For DS's first b-day we were actually in WDW. So the next weekend we had a large party (around 100 people) at a fire hall. DS doesn't have any living grandparents so we want to make sure he sees our extended families (our aunts, uncles, and cousins) as much as possible (and my family is huge). This was a great way for the families to get together and everyone had a good time. I don't expect to throw a party that large every year, but it was important for us to have everyone get together.

 

[badblackpug]

I don't know where you live, but AMC theaters have a "summer movie camp" where they show kids movies or $1 and you can buy a kids snack pack (soda, popcorn, candy) for $3 each CHeck out www.amctheaters.com

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

our local hotel rents out the pool by the hour and it is $50. hr. unlimited # of children. Only thing is you can't have food in the pool area so if you want food you have to rent out the bfast area at $25.00 hr.

 

[irishprincess]

My dd6 just decided to do a "fourth of July" bday. Her bday is a week after the fourth. She wants a suprise party!! Only problem is mil decided back in JANUARY that they are having a party on the day of her bday. ugh!! That is a whole 'nother story lol!

 

[luvmy3]

My best friend had the best idea for her DDs party.
Rent a room at a local hotel. Everyone gets to come swimming, then back up to the room for cake and ice cream. Then the boys leave and the girls have a sleepover. And then mom doesn't have to clean up the house.
When mine get to sleepover age, I want to!

This is exactly what we are planning on for dd's b-day in January. She gets to invite 3 friends and spend teh night in the hotel room, using the pool, rent movies and have pizza.
We were going to do it this past year but she ended up changing her mind and having a sleepover at our house. It was her and only 2 friends (all she wanted) and they had a blast. The only money I spent was on the food I bought (pizza, chicken nuggets, chips, popcorn cake & ice cream) and the goodie bags. It was very inexpensive and the girls had just as much fun as they would have at some big expensive party place.

OP do you have any local parks that you can rent a pavillion? They are pretty inexpensive and if the park as a lake it would take care of the swimming part of the party.

 

[jodifla]

Growing up, I had some bigger birthday parties, and then smaller family affairs. I consider it sort of birthday party pacing throughout life.

I agree that some parties get way out of hand. I can see a family fun get-together for a 1st birthday party, but some of the parties I went to for very small kids I sort of wondered about....I consider those parties mainly for adults. Again, that's fine. It's up to you how you envision your kids' birthdays. But I won't get caught up in a birthday party race.

We had small, family parties for DS until his birthday (Dec. 1) in Kindergarten. Then, we invited his whole class to a bounce house place. There were 18 kids. It was over $200, but it was well worth it. The kids have a GREAT time, everybody was occupied. My son loved it.

(A note on the cost....I imagine my home birthdays were easily 50 to 75 bucks 35 years ago, making the cost similar to what I spent this year at the bounce house. We had a pool, and I had sleepovers for 10-12 girls. Hungry, teenage girls!)

For his 7th birthday, we'll probably do something just with family again. Maybe spend the night at a hotel with a pool.

Maybe we'll do another bigger party at 8 or 10, we'll see.

 

[princesskimberella]

Well I must be the worst mommy around... my kids have never had a "friend " party. My kids all have summer birthdays - june, july and august - we just do family. Between DH and I for immediate family we have 34 adults and 15 children and it get really expensive event to have a home party. Fianlly this year my MIL has told all of us to just have cake and icecream and let the kiddos play. So this Wednesday evening that is exactly what I am doing cake, icecream, snacks adn drinks. We also cut back on alcohol at the party, DH side likes to drink and liek a previous poster said it can turn into an all night beerfest.

 

[PEANUT1]

I had my daughter's 3rd birthday party at home. It was a curious George party and it was a lot of work and clean up and cost the same as the 4th birthday party I had at the farm near our house.

From now on, I will have the party at a place and I will spend no more than $200. I also don't buy expensive gifts so I feel the party price is ok. For her last birthday, my 4 year old got from us a Mary Poppins barbie and a book. She was thrilled.

My question is....is it wrong for me to have a small party for my second daughters 2nd birthday in September at the house.? She doesn't have any little friends yet and all of her cousins are older. I thought I would just have cake at the house but for her sister's second birthday, we had a party at the Discovery Museum.

 

[luvmy3]

PEANUT1 I don't think its wrong for you to have a small party for your dd even though you had a bigger one for your other dd. I think that kids are different so their parties can be different.
My dd is very social, always has had alot of friends. We have had big parties for her since pre-K. Luckily she's 10 now and doesn't want big parties anymore. WE have a seperate family party since both dh and I have large families.
My one ds7 is more introverted and only has a few close friends. We have only had 2 big friend parties for him. He never really cared, he has enjoyed all his parties equally.
Also, your 2 year old will never remember that mom and dad didn't throw her a big 2nd birthday party like they did for her sister

 

[heatherlynn444]

i only had a couple of "big parties" growing up, definately not every year. what gets me is when paretns ahve these HUGE expensive parites for a 2 year old....they are not going to remember it!!! save your money while you can!!! the kid would probably be more excited to play in the wrapping paper than have all this bouncy stuff and pony rides and whatever else. I think I had a big party for my 5th birthday (my first "real" party) and my 10th, 13th, and 16th. the others were just invite 3-4 firends over for pizza and a sleepover, no real cost involved except pizza. and I ahd a blast! those were the best! I knwo that not all parent shave the intention of trying to impress, but sadly a LOT of them do.

cori-i think the Y swimming party is a great idea. I remember going to those as a kid and having a great time, good luck! I am sure Isa wil have a blast either way.

 

[Ppufi]

One of my parties when I was younger was at the Galaxy Cinemas in Cornwall. I believe it was Around 10 dollars a kid in Canadian, which included a movie, snacks, a party room and some tokens for each kid in the arcade. Not bad, really. I think we spent around 90 for at least 9 kids.

 

[breathinforluck]

i only had a couple of "big parties" growing up, definately not every year. what gets me is when paretns ahve these HUGE expensive parites for a 2 year old....they are not going to remember it!!! save your money while you can!!! the kid would probably be more excited to play in the wrapping paper than have all this bouncy stuff and pony rides and whatever else. I think I had a big party for my 5th birthday (my first "real" party) and my 10th, 13th, and 16th. the others were just invite 3-4 firends over for pizza and a sleepover, no real cost involved except pizza. and I ahd a blast! those were the best! I knwo that not all parent shave the intention of trying to impress, but sadly a LOT of them do.

I completely agree. This is what I was trying to say. Save the money.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

i only had a couple of "big parties" growing up, definately not every year. what gets me is when paretns ahve these HUGE expensive parites for a 2 year old....they are not going to remember it!!! save your money while you can!!! the kid would probably be more excited to play in the wrapping paper than have all this bouncy stuff and pony rides and whatever else. I think I had a big party for my 5th birthday (my first "real" party) and my 10th, 13th, and 16th. the others were just invite 3-4 firends over for pizza and a sleepover, no real cost involved except pizza. and I ahd a blast! those were the best! I knwo that not all parent shave the intention of trying to impress, but sadly a LOT of them do.

cori-i think the Y swimming party is a great idea. I remember going to those as a kid and having a great time, good luck! I am sure Isa wil have a blast either way.

Well one could say the same thing about a trip to WDW. I don't care if my kids remember the party or the trip. They have a ball and we are happy to watch them enjoy it all.

 

[mamaLori05]

what gets me is when paretns ahve these HUGE expensive parites for a 2 year old....they are not going to remember it!!! save your money while you can!!! the kid would probably be more excited to play in the wrapping paper than have all this bouncy stuff and pony rides and whatever else. .

My 3 yr old dd still remembers her 2nd b-day at the local gymnastics place (wasn't very expensive since she has classes there). She talks about all her friends that were invited and everything they did. She had a blast and so did her friends. Some 2 yr olds do remember.

 

[HelenePA]

Hey does this get me out of buying them christmas presents? Birthday presents? easter baskets because they wont remember it too?? Ooooh I dont even have to take them out of the house until they are old enough to remember it? Ah come on.. its for everyone not just the birthday kid.... I can't wait for my son's party on sunday. Yep its gonna cost an arm and a leg but that's okay.. At least I wont have the 25 people at my house

 

[HelenePA]

My 3 yr old dd still remembers her 2nd b-day at the local gymnastics place

My son remembers going to Disney at 1. Amazing what they can remember when they are small.

 

[LovinPooh]

My little one will be 9 on Wednesday. Since our WDW trip is costing us approx $1700 in Feb, and I have spent $800 on Daytona 500 tix. I opted for a family dinner at Applebees and picking a gift at WalMart. I know it sounds cheesy, but I am trying to save money. I told her that for the big 10, she could have a class party. Where we live there is nothing.... Chuck E Cheese is over an hour away.