Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do the 4 pm slot and do pizza and cake at 5 pm. 2 pm is hard with naps and parents always appreciate a meal. I say this from experience. You will probably get more parents/kids.

This.

Also, let her "be a mess" the next day. It's ok.

+1 mom of older kids here. I spent so much time when my kids were little trying to optimize the timing of everything and not wreck nap or bedtime for fear that my kids would be a mess. Sometimes they were a mess anyway, even with everything else maximized. I wish I had spent less energy worrying about the what ifs and just relaxed and let the chips fall sometimes. Either time is fine. Enjoy!!

Anonymous wrote:I would do the 4 pm slot and do pizza and cake at 5 pm. 2 pm is hard with naps and parents always appreciate a meal. I say this from experience. You will probably get more parents/kids.

This.

Also, let her "be a mess" the next day. It's ok.

I would do the 4 pm slot and do pizza and cake at 5 pm. 2 pm is hard with naps and parents always appreciate a meal. I say this from experience. You will probably get more parents/kids.

New venue or different date at your current venue to get a morning slot.

We've always done 4/4:30 pm parties and it's worked out great. Both my kids have winter birthdays and it gets dark early so a gymnastics party where the kids can run around and then eat dinner works great. By the end they are fed and tied out and then can go home and start getting ready for bed.

4pm. Feed kids pizza / dinner at the party.
Don’t tell her it’s party day until that day. Reiterate “party after lunch and rest”

Set expectations that she will not open gifts that day. At that age, we opened one gift a day until they were done - even if it took weeks.

I agree, do what’s best for you but know that any younger kids might not be able to come.

Do what's best for you. I ran into a similar problem - and I was really anxious (like ridiculous) about even sending the invitation if I would be seen as the Mom trying to destroy naptime. It all worked out and we had a ton of attendees. Everyone had a ton of fun and there wasn't a meltdown - so I just think every parent figured out what worked for them and adjusted. We did gymnastics and it was so much fun!

2PM, naps can be moved up or cut short, but 4pm is rough imo.