Nanny Circle Birthday Parties

[Anonymous]

Our nanny has other nanny friends in the neighborhood. Sometimes one of these nannies invites our nanny and kids to their kid’s birthday party. I think these are parties the parents provide food and favors for just so the nannies can get together and celebrate the birthday kid because why else would you have a 3 year old’s birthday at 10 am on a Thursday?? Anyway, for those of you have encountered this, do you send gifts to these?

[Anonymous]

Is this a new thing or something the only uber affluent do now? (I ask because we had nannies and this was never a thing. But that was 10+ years ago.)

Unless my child is invited to another, real party hosted by the parents themselves, I would send a gift. Especially if the birthday kiddo is a 3-years-old? Isn't that what birthday parties are for, everyone saying happy birthday to you, cutting cake, receiving and opening gifts?

[Anonymous]

Don't overthink it. Send your kid with a gift like a couple of age appropriate books with an amazon receipt.

[Anonymous]

My kids attended a ton of these when they had a nanny. They were super informal and we often didn’t even find out until after the fact. We never sent a gift.

[Anonymous]

OP here - sometimes I know in advance and sometimes after the fact. Honestly it seems like just an excuse to give all the nannies lunch! I suspect these are really only happening for the little kids whose parents might not otherwise have a party for friends cause they are 2 and 3 years old (we only did family parties at that age). But yeah, I’ll just buy some inexpensive toys or books to have on hand that the nanny can take as a gift when they come up.

[Anonymous]

I sent some books as a gift when I knew in advance but otherwise I had no way of knowing with enough time to get a gift. It’s fine either way.

[Anonymous]

The people throwing parties like this don’t need more things so gifts are nice but not necessary. Slap a back of stickers in a card or put a card in a book and call it a day. They are fun parties though!

[Anonymous]

We’ve never sent along a gift to these informal birthday parties. On the occasional holiday party like Halloween, we’ll send along pizza or donuts or cupcakes.

[Anonymous]

I’d send a small gift. Sounds nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - sometimes I know in advance and sometimes after the fact. Honestly it seems like just an excuse to give all the nannies lunch! I suspect these are really only happening for the little kids whose parents might not otherwise have a party for friends cause they are 2 and 3 years old (we only did family parties at that age). But yeah, I’ll just buy some inexpensive toys or books to have on hand that the nanny can take as a gift when they come up.

Sounds like a fun time for all. You are kind of bad mouthing the whole idea. Why?

[Anonymous]

A kid that age would be thrilled with a helium balloon tied to a toy car or Bluey figurine.

[Anonymous]

Maybe ask your nanny if you should send along a gift. She may know.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny and their nanny friends poured so much love into my kids and each others kids. It really was a village, and they put a lot of love and care into those parties.

[Anonymous]

This just seems like the nanny version of sending treats to school or daycare for your kid’s birthday. It’s sweet and fun for the kids, and gifts are probably unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

A small stuffed animal.