If the invitation says “no gifts”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time an invitation said "no gifts" I like a fool brought no gifts. Then felt like a complete asshole when I saw that everyone except my kid brought a gift.

That is why I keep a sticker book in my car.

[Anonymous]

No gifts means they don't want 10 to 20 extra plastic crappy items in their home. You bring a card, and maybe a $10 target gift card or a sticker book or matchbox car or bubble wand if you really can't help yourself. It's almost always related to not wanting/needing extra stuff in their home, so treat it as such.

We were team "no gift" until age 5 when my son started noticing and wanting birthday gifts, and got joy out of receiving them, and also wanted to talk about what to get for his friend's birthdays, and enjoyed the giving aspect. And he was old enough to write and sign thank you cards. I can see us being no gift again around age 10 or so when the joy of stuff starts to recede.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you still bring a gift? Etiquette wise it seems deeply wrong and inappropriate to not bring a gift to a kids birthday party. I feel like they no gifts thing is what everyone states now to avoid seeming like a quick party is a gift grab but in reality gifts would be ok or welcome.

Are you stupid? If the invitation day "no gift" then only a moron brings a gift. Personally, I would take it and toss in trash can in front of you and remind you that I said NO GIFTS!!!!!!!

Also, do not have your kid make a stupid card because, it too, will go in trash.

[Anonymous]

Put $10 in a card and add some stickers. You can't go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Once DC was invited to no gift birthday party, DC picked a book at Barnes and Noble and gave it with the gift receipt.

[Anonymous]

Why do people struggle so much with this? Adult parties involve hanging out, socializing, eating, and drinking, yet people seem unable to fathom attending a child's party like that. My kids are young (oldest is 5), but I have never been to a party where gifts were opened, and this is vastly preferable in my view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, no gifts means no gifts. Etiquette dictates, first and foremost, that you do nothing to make other people uncomfortable or feel embarrassed. Bringing a gift would make the host uncomfortable and the other guests feel embarrassed.

Have your kid make a card.

A birthday party we went to explicitly asked for no gifts and what to you know, everyone but us showed up with a gift and then they even had special time for opening gifts.....