If your LO had a birthday close to Christmas, would you celebrate on their half birthday? How would you go about doing that in regards to gifts and their actual birthdate?
DD was born close to Christmas and I remember people suggesting this idea when I was pregnant but how would you actually handle it? I couldn't ignore their real birthday but then does it seem unfair to do something in the summer too? What would you do?
pineapple / 12566 posts
My DS's birthday is just a few days after Christmas. It never occurred to me to do a half birthday celebration. We just celebrate it on the regular day. For us, Christmas isn't a big deal, so we place a lot more importance on his birthday. In addition, my brother's birthday is just a few days before Christmas and when we were growing up, we always celebrated it separately from the holiday with separate gifts.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
My son's birthday was yesterday, he's 4 and out of control about presents right now. He told me in the car that that Christmas is too many days away.
So, we're for sure not doing half birthdays, maybe for fun, like a half cake or something, but not a party and no presents.
nectarine / 2079 posts
I prefer to just celebrate their birthdays and have more experience gifts for birthdays and material gifts for Christmas.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I don't plan on making a big deal out of half bdays. We went out for pizza when LO was 2.5 but it just was coincidence!
clementine / 933 posts
I have a December birthday, and we never did half-birthday parties growing up. I was bummed to never get a pool party, but I always enjoyed my sleep-overs and skating parties! My parents were always really good about getting separate gifts for my birthday, and being sure to use birthday wrapping paper rather than Christmas wrapping paper, etc. It never bothered me that my birthday and Christmas were in the same month!
apricot / 375 posts
DH's birthday is during the week between Christmas and New Year's. He said everyone was great about separating the days, and I make sure his birthday is big and not Christmas related at all.
This year, I got him concert tickets (went on sale in November - but he doesn't know yet!) for a concert in June. So he will "get" them for his birthday, but we will be celebrating in June! So it gives him something special in June to do!
pomegranate / 3768 posts
DD's birthday is just a few days before Christmas. I never heard of half birthdays. I think I would just prefer to celebrate her actual birthday but make sure it's separate from Christmas, meaning making sure she gets two separate gifts and a birthday party every year.
pomegranate / 3331 posts
I have a december LO, and it would never occur to me to do this, even though we celebrate xmas and chanukah and it makes december a little nuts. in my opinion, that's part of the fun - she'll always look forward to December because she has so much to celebrate!
honestly, if i was invited to a birthday party in the summer for someone born in December, i'd find it kinda strange, and wouldn't really know if i should bring a gift or what. I'd say if you want to throw summer parties, by all means do so, but i wouldn't necessarily tie it to the half birthday.
coconut / 8279 posts
It's my DS's birthday today.
I plan on celebrating his birthday apart from Christmas. We did a party last weekend. I try to plan the weekend before the last one before Christmas but the holidays get so busy, we had lots of people that couldn't make it.
One idea I had for when he was older was to plan a special weekend trip - either with us or with a friend or two. Maybe an indoor waterpark or lodge, something like that.
pear / 1610 posts
@lamariniere: @looch: @Radish: @autumnlove: @HeartAbandoned: @mrs scrapbook: @dolphin: @Pirouette: @rachiecakes: thanks guys for your input! I guess I should have clarified, I am not really considering this but a friend who is having a baby soon said they will celebrate on the half birthdays instead of on the day. I didn't know if anyone actually did that or not. I guess instead of the party in December they would just wait until the following June? People suggested that to us too but I never quite understood how it would work. I agree it could seem odd as a guest at the party. I am trying hard to make DD's 1st birthday this year as special as we did for DS and will definitely be doing birthday wrapping paper, etc like some of you guys mentioned. Thanks again for the input!
coconut / 8279 posts
@creativemomma15: I had a coworker who did this for his grandkids - they all had winter birthdays so instead they had a huge summer cookout with a bounce house, pony rides, etc.
pomegranate / 3863 posts
DS's birthday is the 28th, so very close to Christmas. I wouldn't consider doing a half birthday party but we would maybe try to take him to do something special, just us with no presents on his half birthday. I don't suspect he is going to have a problem with the timing of his birthday though, we will always make sure to keep it separate from Christmas!
pineapple / 12053 posts
unless the birthday was actually the 25th, i would just celebrate the day of!
pomegranate / 3375 posts
Not here! Our kiddo is born the first week of January. Luck of the draw, kid! 
My 1/2 birthday is on a holiday, so I always joke that we celebrate it.
We do plan on ensuring that her bday is celebrated like anyone else's would be. And, I'll keep a stash of bday wrapping paper at home in case anyone decides to do holiday wrap for the bday gifts. 
nectarine / 2210 posts
My husbands birthday is December 23 and he said he loved it growing up. Of course he didn't have many parties, but at family gatherings relatives would realize it was his birthday and give him an extra $20 or so.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
We will just celebrate it normally. December is a little hectic with DD2's bday and Xmas, but oh well, just gotta deal! I plan on making it special every year.
coconut / 8472 posts
DS's birthday was a month ago and even that still feels really close to the holidays to me. We will always celebrate his actual birthday, but if it bothered him that he never got to have the kind of party you could only do during the summer (pool party, camping, etc) I could see doing something small. But no presents or even framing as a birthday party.
persimmon / 1188 posts
We've never thought about it but I don't think we'd ever celebrate it. I think we'll just always make his birthday a special day for him. I will probably buy him some toys and books throughout the year since what he plays with at 12 months will probably be different at 18 months but I won't call them half birthday gifts
pomegranate / 3601 posts
@creativemomma15: my brother is born a few days before Christmas and he celebrated his real birthday with family and presents at that day and then had a half birthday party in June where he'd have a party with his friends. Worked really well...
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