No one needs a favor. Just skip.

Almost as bad as giving out pretzels or raisins for Halloween

If you want to come off as a crunchy mom, make bubble solution and wands from coated wire. Of course the plastic bubble wands from dollar store would better.

Or a couple of unpeeled mandarin oranges.

Anonymous wrote:This thread is why I don’t do birthday parties for my toddler. I think fruit sounds lovely, but you’ll always find someone to complain about an idea.

Huh? How do you do life?

I have celebrated every single birthday with big parties for my kids (until they grew out of parties). Give goody bags, don't give goody bags...it does not matter.

I always had a mylar balloon from dollar tree and it was tied to a weight and a bag of assorted individual snacks - Pirate's Booty, Goldfish, Harvest Snaps, Raisins, Larabars - for each child. I arranged the balloons in a backdrop to take group pics and later all kids were invited to go home with a balloon.

No perishables. Give a book or a wooden toy of some kind.

What's a "return favor"?

What about a little mini succulent or something? Or a decorated cookie in individual bags?

Why not just serve fruit at the party? You can have cute cups for a to-go fruit cup.

Weird. Just give out books

Sounds cute, OP.

Or, give board books as favors.

This threads are always hysterical. Hosts should do whatever they want since no one can ever agree what is junk, what is healthy and what is fun.

Anonymous wrote:Get wooden toys:

https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-color-wheel-puzzle/-/A-93787156#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-go-tots-wooden-race-cars-2-cars-2-disks/-/A-84799841#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-blockables-woodland-creatures-blocks/-/A-93617356#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-magnetic-wooden-alphabet/-/A-82439393#lnk=sametab

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lillabo-3-piece-train-set-60320094/

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/fjaellvrak-puzzle-70582354/

(discount stores often have melissa and doug for cheaper)

No, I think OP is on the right track trying to come up with something consumable. In the past I’ve done things like themed lollipops (look on Etsy), Ring Pop and stickers, sticker activity sheets, travel sized sunscreen (for my summer bday kid’s summer-themed party), mini pumpkins (for my fall kid’s bday), box of crayons, etc. Basically something that isn’t now going to need a permanent place to live in someone’s home until they toss or donate it.

Anonymous wrote:seems like a sticky mess to me and a lot of trouble. no favors needed.

+1
Exactly what I don’t want in my car, especially when I’ll likely be running around the rest of the day.
Just don’t do favors or if you really want to, do a small book or sticker book or little stuffed animal or something related to the theme of the party

No. I don't want to have to worry about fruit getting smushed or staying cool on the way home if I've got other places to go first. Just normalize skipping favors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird and my kid has some fruit allergies. Get a wooden toy, book or nothing.

Are fruit allergies a thing? And if they are, the kid just won’t take it.

Yes a common thing.

Precut fruit is also a big source of food related illness.

Not to mention, if you want to avoid plastic sending a plastic container of fruit makes no sense.

I have found board books under $8 and given those as favors.