Goody bags for tag-along younger siblings?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| For a preschooler birthday party, I'm planning goody bags in the $5 range for each invited guest. A bunch of rsvps have included younger siblings (age 2 and under). Do I have to provide goody bags for the younger siblings, too? If so, do they have to be the same goody bags as for the older kids, or can I get away with something less expensive for the younger siblings? I'm not really looking to spend another $40 on goody bags for kids that are coming more as a courtesy to the parents than because they are friends of the birthday kid. Thanks for any experiences or inputs! |
Anonymous
| No, you don't have to provide them. Your guests shouldn't have announced they are bringing siblings along. This changes if you explicitly allowed siblings, in which case you're still not obligated to provide goody bags, but for the sake of peace in the household of your guests after the party, it would be nice of you to provide them. |
Anonymous
|
I would do it. It's 40 bucks. It's the gracious thing to do.
If it's really a stretch financially to do the same bag, at least do something for the little ones. Get them a ball or stickers or something. |
Anonymous
| I certainly dot think you need to provide the same goodie bags (which probably wouldn't be age appropriate anyway). It would be nice to have a teeny tiny something for them, but you're not obligated to. I would buy a couple of sticker sheets for the tots or maybe a pack of of goodie bag sized playdough and that's it. Hand the stickers or playdough to the siblings. |
Anonymous
| I'm providing a different type of goodie bag of the younger sibling set. My preschooler bags are not age appropriate for a 6 month old sister or brother. |
Anonymous
| I am about to have my third child, I would never bring extra kids to a bday it's rude |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for all the responses so far; they're really helpful. Just to clarify, I did an Evite and enabled the setting where parents can say how many kids they are bringing. So while I didn't expressly say that siblings were welcome, I didn't say they were excluded. My preference is that younger siblings don't come, partly for space reasons and partly because I don't know what to do with them while the older kids are doing the party activities. |
Anonymous
|
OP, you should have been less wishy-washy about the siblings. You didn't say they're welcome nor excluded? Come on, pick a side!
You screwed yourself, OP, by not making clear that you can't accommodate siblings. Consider the cost of having to give them goody bags your Stupid Fine and now you'll now better for next year. |
Anonymous
| I just did ziplock bags with goldfish, marshmallows and chocolate chips. I threw a sticker in as we'll. |
Anonymous
| What about tag along babies? It seems useless to make a goody bag for someone who wouldn't notice. |
Anonymous
|
I would break apart a sticker pack for the uninvited little ones and give them each a sheet.
Or, if it is simply not in your budget to buy extra party favors, just give the favor bag to the parent at the end of the party and let them figure out how to distribute it between the invited guest and the tag along kid when they get home. |
Anonymous
Not that I expect the world to revolve around my kid with food allergies, but I would suggest not providing food as a goody bag treat unless you're sure no one has allergies or the treat would essentially be safe for the majority of those that do have food allergies. I always come prepared with something my kid can eat, but he's getting to the age where he knows what he's getting is different, although he's usually pretty happy with what I bring. Examples of safe foods for the majority of kids with food allergies: DumDum lollipops (packaged at the original plant, not the ones that come in a variety pack with other candy), Smarties, and Annie's Gummy Bunnies |
Anonymous
| When my younger twins have been invited to a bday party celebrating my older child's friend's bday, the host gives my little ones a goody bag. I think that it is ridiculous! I have always tried to not take it, but they make me anyways. I thought it was especially strange when my twins were under a year.... So I guess people expect this. My older child's bday is coming up soon and we have invited younger sibs as well. For all that are over 18 months I am going to give them something age appropriate to take home. It doesn't need to be big or anything. I am thinking some stickers and a lollipop. It really isn't that hard to find something small and inexpensive to give a younger sib since they are coming. |
Anonymous
| I'd have something for the siblings too. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same thing. |
Anonymous
| How about some of the $1 board books at Target? |