What about a week early? Since both went late you can cross fingers and most likely baby won’t come that early. Other kid gets their small party, you have your birthday and then party for your daughter. If grandparents are coming at 39 anyway then that doesn’t impact. I agree it’s ok for kids to be disappointed, and it’s also ok as parents to recognize when something is especially important to our child and try our best to find something that works for the family which I think you’re doing

You’re an adult with apparently a gaggle of kids, why does your birthday matter in this scenario? And really a “big” party, even outside? Where do you live OP?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So the other issue is that my other kid's birthday is 4 weeks before DD's and my own birthday is 3 weeks before DD's. We're pretty stacked on birthdays here. Only DD really wants a big party though, my other child doesn't want one and just wants a family party.

I would just tell her she can't have a big party this year. Kids don't get everything they want all the time and that's fine. Tell her she can either have cake and presents with family or a party with 3 or 4 close friends, but this is not the year for a big party, with the pandemic going on.

We are still in a pandemic. Spring break and variants could cause a spike in the coming weeks. Small outdoor party the weekend before. Make it up to her in other ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So the other issue is that my other kid's birthday is 4 weeks before DD's and my own birthday is 3 weeks before DD's. We're pretty stacked on birthdays here. Only DD really wants a big party though, my other child doesn't want one and just wants a family party.

Damn, that's rough. I'd do it 2 weeks ahead of time. She is five, she should be able to understand the necessity.

I would also do that. I'd avoid having it overlap with the other kid's bday. If you feel like you're overloaded on bdays, I'd probably just make my own a very small event (evening at home w/ immediate family; dinner, cake, movie/game night).

I would do all the planning as far in advance as possible, so that, apart from being at the hospital with you, your DH should be able to pick up the party. Invites out, favor bags purchased and packed, cake ordered, party decor purchased, balloons ordered, etc. Do you also have a nanny or relative that could help out in a pinch?

OP here. My parents are likely flying in at 39 weeks to watch my kids if I go into labor. They can only stay for 30 days (have a doctors appt they can't miss every 30) and my last kid arrived at 42 weeks. No one else could really help. Inlaws are local. DH is exceptionally helpful, but can't leave the hospital once I'm in labor because of covid. I have friends lined up to watch our kids if I go into labor before 39 weeks, plus a daycare teacher can spend the night.

The party really means a lot to DD and she's been talking about it for a while.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So the other issue is that my other kid's birthday is 4 weeks before DD's and my own birthday is 3 weeks before DD's. We're pretty stacked on birthdays here. Only DD really wants a big party though, my other child doesn't want one and just wants a family party.

Damn, that's rough. I'd do it 2 weeks ahead of time. She is five, she should be able to understand the necessity.

I would also do that. I'd avoid having it overlap with the other kid's bday. If you feel like you're overloaded on bdays, I'd probably just make my own a very small event (evening at home w/ immediate family; dinner, cake, movie/game night).

I would do all the planning as far in advance as possible, so that, apart from being at the hospital with you, your DH should be able to pick up the party. Invites out, favor bags purchased and packed, cake ordered, party decor purchased, balloons ordered, etc. Do you also have a nanny or relative that could help out in a pinch?

I agree with the pp that suggested enlisting your friends help. My oldest had her 7th birthday party 5 days before #4 was born. I had everything planned well in advance including a plan B for food. I made all of the food for the party but was ready to pay more and order it from Chick-fil-A if needed. I talked to a few of the moms ahead of time and they all agreed to be at the party and if need be would fill in for me. My dd is now 18 and recently told me how much that party meant to her. She was happy that their was another baby coming but at 7 really needed a little extra love and making sure her party happened as planned was a tangible example that she was still important. She laughs about it now and says she knows I will always love her but when she was 7 sharing mommy with her brothers was hard.

I think it's ok to tell your 5 year old you can't plan a big party because of the new baby's arrival is uncertain.

But soften that with what you CAN do. Medium to small party, with something special she likes etc.

She's 5. She should still be pretty easy to impress!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So the other issue is that my other kid's birthday is 4 weeks before DD's and my own birthday is 3 weeks before DD's. We're pretty stacked on birthdays here. Only DD really wants a big party though, my other child doesn't want one and just wants a family party.

Damn, that's rough. I'd do it 2 weeks ahead of time. She is five, she should be able to understand the necessity.

OP here. So the other issue is that my other kid's birthday is 4 weeks before DD's and my own birthday is 3 weeks before DD's. We're pretty stacked on birthdays here. Only DD really wants a big party though, my other child doesn't want one and just wants a family party.

I would host 3 weeks to a month early.

I have no problem with the idea of parties at a convenient time. I'm too disorganized to pull of a party a month early, but if you aren't and her birthday is late enough that a party of month early is still spring and nice weather, then I'd do that. I think if my kid's birthday was before late April, I'd plan on a June party, and if it was after late April, I'd plan on a month early, just because early March is so iffy.

I'd aim for something in-between. Can you reach out to 3-4 friends and make a plan to do something outside around her birthday? I'd maybe plan it early, but make it simple enough that it's easy to pull off without you. Cupcakes, some balloons, gifts, that should do it.

My mom hosted my brother's 6th birthday party at 39.5 weeks pregnant. I was born 3 days later.

Have it one or two weeks earlier than her birthday/due date.

I'm due on my DD's 5th birthday. She's very extroverted and the only thing she wants for her birthday is a big party outside (it's in the spring). WWYD?

My other kids were all born at 41 weeks+, but I know that this one might come on time or early and I absolutely couldn't do something until at least a month postpartum. Should I just nix the party this year? Host it a month early? I'm okay hosting it at 40 weeks pregnant and I'm a pretty energetic pregnant woman. We haven't let her see any friends for a year, but I think everyone will be feeling safer soon and everything will be outdoors. She liked her family party last year, but was really bummed when she realized that only grandparents were attending.