We really want to have a low-key birthday celebration for DD's 2nd birthday. One party will be out of town for us, in the town where both of our families live. We've decided to invite a few of our best friends who still live in the area, and because of the sheer size of our immediate families, it will be about 35 people, so I feel like it was "feel" like a bigger deal than I had planned. I'm staying away from Pinterest and going low-key on the decorations and such. Anyway, there will be 5 kids, all under the age of 3 there, and I'm wondering if you think I should make goody bags for them?
Part 2: On DD's actual birthday, I'd like to invite her 3 closest pals and their parents to our house for just pizza, beer and cake. Do you think I need to make goody bags for that event as well?
I have nothing against goody bags. After going all-out on DD's party last year, I promised DH this year would be very simple and minimal. So I'm just asking for some guidance on how to be minimal but not be rude since I recognize these people come bearing gifts 
Thanks!
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I hate normal goody bags that are filled with cheap toys but a small token is always nice.
For the small party with 3 kids how about a copy of DD's favorite book or book to match the theme?
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I don't think goody bags are a must have in either situation. As a parent I definitely don't go to a party expecting to come home with something!
My DD just had her 2nd birthday and for the 5 or so kids that were there I just bought a few things at the dollar store - they had tons of coloring books, stickers, games, etc, and then just put some individual goldfish packets in there too. It seemed like a lot but only cost a few bucks per kid.
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@Mamaof2: haha I agree! @MrsTiger: That's a good idea. She loves Elmo and we're having an Elmo cake, so maybe I'll give a little coloring book, an 8 pack of crayons and some goldfish (because elmo loves his goldfish...his crayons too. That song is forever stuck in my head). I guess I can just do that for all the kids?
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I don't think there need to be goody bags for either. We just went to a 2nd birthday party where we got a bag full of candy for DS (who will also be 2 this week). Just not stuff I'd like to give him that ended up being thrown away. I loved the sentiment, but completely unnecessary.
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We've always done goody bags, and most of the parties we go to have them - - but I don't really think they are that expected. I don't expect them at least!!
The Dollar stores have some actually really nice Sesame Street / Elmo stickers as well as boxes of sets of crayons (I know because we bought both for LO's goody bags for her 2nd birthday!). We also bought stuff for LO's goody bags at Oriental Trading as well. Both places are super cheap.
If you are cooking-crafty at all, it would probably be pretty simple to make Elmo cookies too; just frost sugar cookies in red, buy those edible googly-eyes........
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@Tidybee: Yes our party was Sesame themed too! Dollar Tree stores had tons of Sesame related stuff.
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My LO just turned 2 and loves to "paint" so we gave those 8-color crayola watercolor sets. I was able to get a bunch for just ~75cents each during back to school shopping season. I know some stores still have those on sale ($2-3 normally).
Dollar spot at Target-- board books, crayola bath dropz, sidewalk chalk, pip squeek markers, bubbles, stickers, party packs with the mini coloring books and crayons..
Dollar tree--they have Elmo bath books if you want to play up that theme. They're tiny and not great stories but most kids love new bath toys. I've also seen animal shaped bath loofahs, magic grow towels, maraca/shakers, more bubbles, coloring books, paint with water books, etc. Or you could get each kid 1 mylar balloon?
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@Tidybee: I just bought some Sesame Street books at Target yesterday from the dollar bin.
My other go to for a cheap, all-purpose party favor is bubbles (the no-spill containers) or sidewalk chalk.
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I like doing goody bags for my LO's parties. Stickers, fruit snacks, dollar books, bubbles, play doh, etc.
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I say skip the goodie bags, I think most of the stuff gets trashed and honestly I don't think they are necessary. If anything get them a balloon to take home or a coloring book/colors and call it good.
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I agree to skip the regular goody bags, but maybe something they can play with at the party could be fun. Recently at a party there was a mini dry erase board at each kid's spot and they drew on those wrote waiting for food and got to take those home. Craft stores have those small paper mache boxes and you could buy one of those for each kid and let them decorate them with markers and stickers. Put a packet of fruit snacks in them if you are so inclined and call it good.
I also fully support skipping them altogether! Nothing is faaaar better than a bad full of stuff that needs to be thrown out in a week when the kid isn't looking!
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