We did a 10 am brunch party for my DS and it was awesome. We did bagels and lox with all the trimmings, little yogurts and fruit salad. OJ, coffee, juice boxes and water. . I didn't do mini muffins b/c I was serving cupcakes.

You know what might be totally fun is a make your own Belgian waffle sundae bar. You could have the waffles pre-made and then have ice cream, whipped cream and fun toppings...

The timing is fine. Have coffee for the grown ups!

Do mini bagels instead of regular sized for the kids. Mini muffins. Less waste

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

I would love to go to a party at 10 am. Allows me and my family to get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of our day!

I don't understand. Why attend parties if you don't enjoy them?

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

Who cares if you are not happy with the time or the number of guests. It works for the host. They are paying for and planning the event. If it doesnt work for you, dont go. Trust me, they're better off with out you and your spawn there. You sound like a rude and entitled person.

I don't get the drama. Have some easy breakfast/brunch food and be done with it and ignore the others. I wouldn't be thrilled with the time as I like to sleep in but my husband would take our child as he's a morning person.

OP here. Thanks to all for the feedback! And geez Louise, some of you.

10am is totally the standard birthday party and playdate time for my kid's friends and preschool classmates. She doesn't nap, but lots of her little buddies still do. I prefer this time to the mid/late afternoon party, after which my kid never eats dinner because she's so full of cake and other birthday treats.

Regarding 50 people: that's not 50 kids, FYI. That's the total number of friends, preschool classmates and their parents (who we are also friendly with), neighbors, and family. There will no doubt be some last-minute cancellations and some no-shows. So it goes with the preschool set. My kid LOVES LOVES LOVES birthday parties so I am 100% on board with making her own party a special one.

Haven't yet decided between having breakfast-y foods that people graze on throughout the party, or serving lunch (probably pizza) around 11:30 with cake. I appreciate those of you who weighed in!

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

It doesn’t sound like you get invited to a lot of kids birthday parties. With that attitude, it’s not surprising.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bagels, pastries, fresh fruit, muffins, OJ, water, milk

+1 this is what I served at my DD's last birthday. It was perfect for the kids but the adults didn't really eat anything other than the fruit and coffee (which I also had). I don't know what your parent crowd is like, but in ours people seem to stay away from carbs. I only mention this because we had a TON left over.

Me too! Easy and everyone ate.

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

1) I'd much, MUCH rather attend a brunch kid's birthday party than an afternoon party. Hello, tons of young kids still nap. And yet tons of people do lunch time parties. This drives me crazy--don't your kids NAP?

Better brunch or early dinner than lunch.

2) You *do* realize that OP might be part of a culture that does, routinely, host this many people for a birthday gathering, right? This is quite common with some cultures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

Just because you’re a loser with no friends, doesn’t mean everyone has to be like that.

Seriously. How effing rude are you!?! I’m not OP but my kids immediate family is 32 people because my DH & I have 7 siblings between us. Invite 2 Friends and you’re not far off from 50. AND god for effing bid I let my kid be spoiled ONCE A YEAR. Scrooge!

Anonymous wrote:1. I've NEVER heard of a kids Bday party that early. Just plan wrong and I'm sure the majority of the people going aren't happy about the time either.

2. 50 people is just crazy for a child that age. I sure hope your not allowing your child to get 25 or more presents. Bad move.

Just because you’re a loser with no friends, doesn’t mean everyone has to be like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd go to a 10am birthday party no problem. Hell, my kids have been up since 5. I'm happy to have something to do at 10.

Agreed!! I think people saying it's early must have older kids. Morning activities are always better for us because of afternoon nap. We are always out of the house by 10 otherwise we'd all be going crazzzzy. We eat lunch at 11:30/12 and nap at 1 so 10am parties aren't perfect

Meant 10am parties ARE perfect!!

Anonymous wrote:I'd go to a 10am birthday party no problem. Hell, my kids have been up since 5. I'm happy to have something to do at 10.

Agreed!! I think people saying it's early must have older kids. Morning activities are always better for us because of afternoon nap. We are always out of the house by 10 otherwise we'd all be going crazzzzy. We eat lunch at 11:30/12 and nap at 1 so 10am parties aren't perfect

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking breakfast-type foods. There will be about 50 guests. What would you serve and how much would you get?

50 people?! How many are adults? Adults tend not to eat as much as you think they will esp since most will have had breakfast.
YouRe not seven food right at 10 am as people are shuffling on, are you? No.
When does the party end? 12? Then serve heavy snacks around 1115, cake at 1145, people start to filter out after cake is served.

You're going crazy with your food and these suggestions for catered breakfast trays and all that jazz. The point is a 4 yr old bday party, not a huge food event.

Sounds like a major event to me.

Muffins, fruit, milk and juice for the kids and coffee for the adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bagels, pastries, fresh fruit, muffins, OJ, water, milk

+1 this is what I served at my DD's last birthday. It was perfect for the kids but the adults didn't really eat anything other than the fruit and coffee (which I also had). I don't know what your parent crowd is like, but in ours people seem to stay away from carbs. I only mention this because we had a TON left over.

I agree. 10 am is a hard time for me to eat. I would be hungry for breakfast, so I would eat that at home around 8. I wouldn't want a whole breakfast again at 10 or even 11.