https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:07:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928242 Mon, 08 May 2023 14:34:16 +0000 LadyDi 2928242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm just curious! Do you have a big party with all of your LO's friends? Just a family party? Take a trip? Do you get your LOs gifts?</p> <p>Other than covid years we've had relatively big parties for my oldest. However, he has two younger siblings who are now much more aware of birthdays, parties, gifts, etc and my wallet can't handle three big parties a year and my house cannot handle the influx of gifts and toys so I'm trying to scale back this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927995 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:07:33 +0000 cake2017 2927995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>TIA! I have another question about BDs….</p> <p>We don’t want want to have a party at our home. Any ideas on how to celebrate?</p> <p>Also, his BD is in June(school is out) so do you think we could just invite a few friends from his former class and maybe some from his camp groups?</p> <p>Do you think just inviting some of his close male friends is okay? I’ve noticed he is just playing with the “ boys”….</p> <p>Bowling? too young you think for 5/6 year olds? </p> <p>We were thinking an orchard( running outside, pick your own fruit, pizza, cake)… but it would be open to public, hot and maybe chaotic? IDK!</p> <p>Just trying to get feedback and ideas! This would be our first BD party we celebrate with invites! I feel like i’m overthinking but also want to make it special for our big boy! </p> <p>Thank you- any ideas or feedback would really help us! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927880 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 20:46:45 +0000 cake2017 2927880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! We want to have a party for my son. His BD falls during Father’s Day weekend. Would you attend if on a Saturday? DH works weekend and can get this specific one off…. not many options but wondering if it’s a good idea and if people would come for 1.5/2hours??? Do many travel for Father’s day? I guess it would depend?! </p> <p>I don’t want to celebrate before his actual BD- maybe after but family won’t be able to be there…. but any feedback is helpful! ❤️</p> <p> Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6-year-olds#post-2926643 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:07:28 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2926643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all! </p> <p>ODD is turning 6 on Sunday so we're having her birthday party on Saturday. We invited her class and am hoping at least one classmate shows up (I have terrible worst case scenario syndrome when it comes to my kids and their feelings and have this huge fear they'll feel rejected if no one shows up, but anyway). I just heard back from the first parent regarding the party and she spoke of dropping her kid off. Is this normal for 6?! Lol am I so overprotective to think 6 is a little young for drop off birthday parties, especially when we don't know any of the parents yet? Please weigh in on my normal meter here. I mean, I'm happy that potentially 1 kid is coming, I was just a little shocked!</p> <p> :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-six-year-old-is-this-weird#post-2925323 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 10:34:05 +0000 Cait1 2925323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi, my son is turning six in December and we are starting to plan his party. I think we are going to have it here at our house. I’m not sure what the etiquette is for this age group around parents and siblings attending as well. We don’t have a huge space and he wants to invite around 15 kids so no one in his class gets left out. Honestly, I’d prefer if parents would just drop their kiddos off but am not sure if people would feel comfortable with that. Most are kids whose parents don’t know us personally. But I also don’t have enough space to fit 30 - 40 people. Is it weird to state on the invitation something like “Drop off at 1pm, pick up at 3pm”? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gift-for-4yo#post-2923631 Wed, 05 May 2021 15:52:15 +0000 Clementine12 2923631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest DD is turning 4 on Mother's Day and the gifts I have bought so far are all practical and not very exciting. She's tall for her age and has great communication. We do not have a yard big enough for larger toys to stay out there permanently.</p> <p>Any "one big exciting" gift ideas, bees? Any traditional gifts for this age range that I'm blanking on? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-indoor-pool-party-favors#post-2922100 Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:10:09 +0000 bees_knees 2922100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS3 is turning 3. We are renting out the pool at a local hotel for ourselves, but still want to make it special like a birthday party :) Ideas for "party" favors? I don't want anything too obnoxious (read: beach balls) because...I'll be stuck with four of them :silly: I'm thinking maybe some of those little water/splash balls, some diving rings...and...?? Anyone have creative ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideas-for-virtual-2nd-birthday#post-2918235 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:48:51 +0000 greencraftycello 2918235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a variety of reasons, we are planning on having a virtual birthday for my oldest’s 2nd birthday. We have one bathroom in our house, and there is just not a way for us to do this safely in person with our level of exposure and our parents’ level of risk.</p> <p>Has anyone done a virtual party for a one/two/three year old? Any ideas that made it special for your child? Anything that helped grandparents feel part of the celebration? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/twin-birthday-cakes#post-2916946 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 11:47:43 +0000 ElbieKay 2916946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My twins are turning two in a few weeks.</p> <p>I want to get two birthday cakes because I have read a lot of complaints from adult twins about having to share their birthday cake!</p> <p>We are hosting an outdoor bbq with extended family, total of 11-12 people, including the five members of our nuclear family and my parents who are part of our quarantine bubble.</p> <p>One 6-inch cake serves 6-8 people. One 8-inch cake serves 10-12 people.</p> <p>I cannot get out of the loop in my head of "what if everyone want to taste both cakes?"</p> <p>But I do not want a full cake's worth of leftover cake! (Or do I... hmmm....!)</p> <p>Would you get two 6-inch cakes or two 8-inch cakes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/halloween-party-in-june#post-2911655 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 08:05:45 +0000 Mommy Finger 2911655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is dead set on having his 5th birthday at our house with a Halloween theme. While I admire his creativity, I'm more of a pay money to have a party not at my house so I don't have to think of ideas on how to entertain tiny people and clean up before and after. Any ideas? I'm guessing it'll be between 15-20 kids and I'm thinking it'll be an optional drop off party. I figured I would pay my nieces to help out run some activities. </p> <p>The only thing DS has asked for is trick or treating and a pinata. I saw Amazon has the pinatas with the pull strings as there is no way I'm letting 5 year olds swing bats around each other. For trick or treating, I was thinking that we could do a craft where I could get cheap bags that they could decorate with stamps and stickers and then use that bag to go around to stations in our backyard that would be manned by my nieces and other party helpers?</p> <p>Otherwise, I'm sort of stumped as to how to entertain them for the rest of the time. Most of the games I see would only work for small groups of kids and for short bursts of time so I was thinking we could split them up and then rotate them around.</p> <p>My other idea was to have them decorate cookies and feed them lunch. :)</p> <p>Has anyone been to any good Halloween parties or any good parties at the home in general and have suggestions? I'm not a pinterest mom. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-decide-how-to-decorate-cake#post-2911428 Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:41:51 +0000 Umbreon 2911428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to make a cake for my sons first birthday. I'm not an experienced baker at all but I want to get better. </p> <p>His theme is baby shark. Here are a few cake decoration ideas. I thought maybe you guys can tell me if I'm being overly ambitious. I dont want it to turn into a "nailed it" meme!</p> <p>The first is the easiest I've come across. The second would be tougher but I think possible?? </p> <p>I was at the store today and came across fondant molds for starfish and coral reef, etc. But that might be too ambitious.. </p> [attach=5948/20/q6ycls.450x600.0287c4a06589f401b5549bb5af61177a.jpg] [attach=5948/20/q6yclt.600x600.6731153d1a58316acc599d07c43b509e.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-invite#post-2911151 Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:02:54 +0000 MLE81 2911151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m probably overthinking this, but I’m on the fence about inviting two additional kids to my DD’s upcoming 4th birthday. The guest list is technically already at capacity as per the venue policy, but I can pay an additional fee for up to 4 extra kids, and no one who has been invited has officially RSVP’d yet.</p> <p>Anyway, these two girls are my former colleague’s daughters. I haven’t seen her/them since she invited my DD to her oldest daughter’s 2nd birthday party two years ago. She (colleague) and I do text frequently, though, and keep talking about getting together. </p> <p>I’m on the fence because I feel like the subject of my DD’s birthday (party) will come up at some point, and I don’t want it to be awkward if I don’t invite them (since she did invite us to her DD’s party.). However, my DD won’t really know her girls at all (and vice versa), and as mentioned above, if all invitees end up coming, I’d have to pay $40 extra for these girls.</p> <p>Any advice? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-a-repeat-birthday-party-bad#post-2906535 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:37:05 +0000 yellowbeach 2906535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year when DD turned 2 we had a "Peppa Pig Pizza Party" on the actual evening of her birthday (a Tuesday) at the local pizza joint which services both beer and wine. We had a "no presents please" rule on the invite, and it was frankly awesome. No cleanup, happy tipsy adults, kids full of pizza and gelato.</p> <p>I've asked DD what she wants to do this year and am getting no answers, which is fine - but is it bad if we just repeat last year's party? Adults seemed to appreciate an easy spot in the neighborhood that didn't take up a Saturday, and I loved that it wasn't at my house.</p> <p>How about a rainbow theme instead of Peppa at the same pizza place? Lame? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-birthday-party-q-need-help#post-2909999 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:55:29 +0000 helloperidot 2909999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's 5th birthday party is this weekend at a local sports/arcade complex. We are doing pizza and cupcakes upstairs and have our tables for a quick 2-hour time block (3-5pm). However, I didn't plan any activities because...I don't know, I've never done this before!</p> <p>Do I need to buy arcade cards for all the kids so they can play arcade games? Is that something you would expect, as a parent? Should I have the food ready and waiting right away, or an hour into the party?</p> <p>I guess in my head I thought people would show up, play games for an hour, then everyone would come to the table for pizza and cake. Is that silly? </p> <p>Ugh, I've never done this and I'm never throwing a big party again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-logistics-questions#post-2909051 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:57:55 +0000 Pollywog 2909051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is having his 4th birthday party next weekend at a community center with a child entertainer. The party is from 1-3. Two questions:</p> <p>- I have goody bags for all of the kids who RSVPed and their siblings who RSVPed. There's 2 kids (with 2 siblings) who did not RSVP despite reminder emails and a text. Can I assume they're not coming and not make them goody bags? I have 24 bags and everything in them only comes in packs of 24. It would be pretty expensive to get stuff as a just in case.</p> <p>- I was planning on doing snacks for the party: veggies and hummus, cheese and crackers, fruit, and chips and guac. I don't need to provide a meal at that time, right? There will be plenty of food, just nothing hot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/party-favors-what-the-point#post-2908265 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:32:34 +0000 jennlin821 2908265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a spin-off from the other thread.<br /> Every time someone in my mom groups talk about a birthday party, its always about the favors. I don't get it... why are favors necessary? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/party-favors-that-arent-junk#post-2908134 Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:32:54 +0000 nwm 2908134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS1’s 4th birthday party is coming right up. It is at a nearby kids gym, loosely animal themed. I know kids really love party favors bags stuffed with trinkets but they drive me somewhat nuts. Any recs for party favors that won’t break the bank but still are useful and/or solid quality? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-birthday-menu#post-2907869 Wed, 08 Jan 2020 15:06:59 +0000 bhbee 2907869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help me out here - I’ve done a morning party before but forgot what we had!</p> <p>I think we will have about 14 kids (mostly 4-5yo) and 18 adults. It’s at a Rec center with bounce houses so we can bring anything we want. </p> <p>I’m thinking:<br /> Fruit tray<br /> Chick fil a tray (the sandwich minis)<br /> Donuts and donut holes<br /> Juice boxes<br /> Water<br /> Coffee box from Starbucks </p> <p>Is that enough? Should we have some goldfish or something? Not looking to be fancy this time around :happy: </p> <p>And do I use the donuts as the singing-happy-birthday treat or make cupcakes also? I think I did make cupcakes last time but maybe that’s overkill?</p> <p>Thanks from my tired brain!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dragon-birthday-party-ideas#post-2907295 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 08:25:33 +0000 erinbaderin 2907295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is turning 6 in a few weeks, and he’s informed me he wants to have a dragon party. So far what we’ve got planned: the party is at our house, 10 kids, 1:00pm-3.30pm, and we have a person from a local animal rehabilitation group coming over with some animals (fox, porcupine, etc) - this was all planned before he said he wanted it to be a dragon party. The animal thing should take about an hour. You guys are great at parties, does anybody have any suggestions for some easy dragon themed activities that we can do to fill the rest of the time? Or dragon-y snacks? Because of the time I don’t think we’ll do a meal, just snacks and (ice cream) cake. </p> <p>I thought about a piñata but I don’t love the scramble for candy. Maybe pin the tail on the dragon? Decorate dragon headbands (different kinds of horns or something?)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-invitations#post-2906465 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:27:12 +0000 bhbee 2906465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Silly question - Is it better to send bday invitations a bit early (~ a month in advance) or 2 weeks from the date?</p> <p>I usually aim for 3 weeks but I’m thinking school break will make that bad timing so I need to go one or the other. It’s an e-invite. </p> <p>Thanks for helping me stop thinking about this :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904112 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 14:00:08 +0000 catgirl 2904112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD's birthday party is this coming Sunday (12/8) at a party venue. We invited her whole class - 18 kids. Yesterday was the RSVP deadline. So far 8 families have said yes, 2 have said no, 3 have said maybe, and 4 haven't responded. </p> <p>I sent an email to the ones who haven't responded as well as the ones who said maybe, but I haven't heard anything yet. Do you assume no response is a "no" or that they might still show up? What about the maybes - how do I push for an actual answer? </p> <p>Also, it's amazing to me that multiple families assume they can bring siblings without asking. In some cases 2+ siblings! I invited a few siblings because they are always part of our play dates and close in age, so I feel like I can't say no to the others - but it seems crazy to me to bring a ten year old to the birthday party of a five year they have never met! </p> <p>The party includes 15 kids and then we have to pay extra for any over. </p> <p>I need to give a headcount to the venue by Wednesday and am feeling really frustrated. This is the first friend party we have thrown and I am finding the process so annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-attend-a-birthday-party-on-1228#post-2904167 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:40:35 +0000 Cait1 2904167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! My son’s birthday falls on a Saturday this year - 12/28. We are hoping to have his party that Saturday and invite ~15 kids. I’m about to book it but am now getting worried that it’ll be too close to Christmas and no one will come. We could push it out a few weeks, but I was hoping to use my time off around Christmas to prep. I’m fine with it if half or so of the kids can’t make it (we pay an extra amount for every guest beyond 10, so a small group is okay) but would be incredibly bummed if only one or two kids came. He’s turning 4 and this is his first “friends” party so we are newbies! What do you guys think? Also, how far in advance should we send out invites? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/no-giftsdonation-wording#post-2902787 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:31:20 +0000 lady baltimore 2902787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter has a December birthday, and we are throwing her first friends party this year (she's turning 4). We're inviting her whole preschool class, plus a few other friends, so it could end up being a pretty big party (hopefully not too big, so close to the holidays). Instead of gifts, I thought that we could collect donations for Toys for Tots. What is the best way to express this clearly on the invitations? Any clever ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-scheduling-wwyd#post-2902541 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 09:16:53 +0000 JennyPenny 2902541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm currently pregnant and this LO is due just a few days after DS2's 3rd birthday. I'd like for him to have a birthday party still and my gut says I should schedule it for like a month before his actual birthday. But I started second guessing myself and wondering if a month or so after his birthday would be better? A month before and I possibly risk having everything ruined by an early arrival. A month after I definitely have the stress of having a newborn, but there's not risk of missing it entirely. Also his birthday is in April, so a party in March would likely be cold and need to be at a venue, a party in May, we could probably do a park. Another consideration is that his school transitions you to a new class right around your birthday so a March party would include his current classmates, whereas I'm not sure who I'd include in May...it'd probably depend on when he actually moves up :-/ So, with all that - what would you do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mlk-weekend-bday-party#post-2902124 Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:02:12 +0000 bhbee 2902124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Silly question, do people travel for MLK weekend? It seems possible as our elementary takes 2 days off this year (M-Tu) and Preschool is off 1 day (that is where most of our invite list would come from). </p> <p>That’s my ideal weekend, the weekend before would be before his birthday. Silly again but I want him to get presents from us before he gets stuff from all his friends. Doing it even later is a no go because my oldest has her bday party that weekend and I can’t handle both. </p> <p>I’m sure I’m overthinking this but it will be his first friends party for turning 5 and I want a decent turnout! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-year-old-party-ideas#post-2901912 Sat, 09 Nov 2019 11:22:07 +0000 Jess1483 2901912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 7 year-old really wanted a sleepover party for his birthday, but that is definitely not happening, especially with a baby in the house. So we’ve planned a sleep under. We will have 8-10 7 year-old boys (and one girl) from 5-730. We will be doing pizza, an episode of Pokémon, make-your-own ice cream sundaes, and maybe a piñata if I can figure out where to rig one up inside. I don’t want to over-plan (as I tend to do) and have them do a whole bunch of activities if they just want to be wild and play around, but I also want a way to reel it back in if anyone is being left out or if it’s just gotten too wild. So far, we’ve thought about balloon tennis (with paper plate “Racquets”) and maybe Twister? Or sardines? (Backward hide-and-seek) Also considering some sort of sit and pass game (with a present with multiple wrapping layers or something) if we just can’t recover. </p> <p>I’m thinking:<br /> 5-530: arrival/games<br /> 530-6: pizza<br /> 6-630: Pokemon episode (timed so I can nurse baby, but dad is available)<br /> 630-7: ice cream sundaes/opening gifts<br /> 7-730: games/hoping parents pick up on time ;)</p> <p>It is likely to be both cold and dark, even at the beginning of the party (probably snow and 20 degrees), so outside activities are out. I don’t want to spend a whole bunch of time preparing something and then feel like we need to use it if the boys are having a blast doing something else, so I’m looking for easy prep.<br /> After typing this out, I might be regretting this choice ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipping-at-childrens-parties#post-2899064 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:49:01 +0000 misolee 2899064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has a swim party coming up at an indoor swimming school type place. For the party, the whole space is yours. There will be 1 party coordinator (who I have been emailing with) and they help with set up, coordinating, etc. There also are two certified lifeguards inside the pool area during the party.</p> <p>Question: how much do I tip each of them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-year-old-bday-party-activities-indoor#post-2896959 Sun, 15 Sep 2019 15:56:01 +0000 Alexandra603 2896959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are inviting a few friends over for my son's first non-family birthday party in October (he's turning 3). What are some simple indoor activities we could do at the party? The weather in October in Seattle is not reliable enough to plan anything outdoors (it will probably be raining) - otherwise I would have done a bounce house. And our house is pretty small. My daughter's birthday is in June and it's so much easier to do birthday parties where the kids can also run around outside! Any ideas? Thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-throw-your-three-year-old-a-party#post-2892453 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 11:44:53 +0000 agold 2892453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm contemplating not throwing my soon-to-be 3 year old a birthday party. I just don't want to spend the money on it right now. Did anyone skip a party, and if so, what else did you do to make it fun a special day? Balloons? Family dinner, anything else? I'd love your thoughts on this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/late-summer-birthdays-for-the-public-school-crowd-bday-party-question#post-2888268 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 09:29:23 +0000 Anagram 2888268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2nd kiddo's birthday is in August. She is in a public school program, and her class has only 14 kiddos. We live in an urban area, so summers usually mean a lot of people travel, or they have family beach or lake or mountain houses they spend a lot of time in, so summers can be problematic for birthday parties in terms of attendance.</p> <p>On top of that, my daughter has been in public pre-k all year (for 3-turning-4 year olds). I feel like 3 year olds have short memories about friends--like out of sight, out of mind.</p> <p>So here's my question: We've always had an every-other-year birthday party policy. Like we invite friends one year, then do an at-home family party with cake or an activity the next year, etc. This year is a year both of my girls can have a friends party in a venue. My 6 year old has had some of the same kids in her class since pre-k, so they are a tighter group. Her Bday is this Saturday, and she's going to have high attendance.</p> <p>I worry about my 3 year old's birthday in August. By then, the kids will have been out of school for 6 weeks. A lot of people are out of town or in various camps around town most of the summer, so she won't really see them.</p> <p>Should I expect to have low attendance? We'd invite the 14 kids in her current class (school ends today) plus maybe 3-4 family friends' kids. I'm so worried she'll only have about 4 kids that can come! And that's not really enough for a venue party.</p> <p>WWYD? She'll be turning 4 and this is the first year she's been old enough to notice a discrepancy between her party and her sister's party (which is Saturday). Since we've party planning and making favor bags, my youngest is constantly verbally planning her own party in August. I'm so scared we'll spend the money for a venue and then have no one to come!</p> <p>Should we just plan a venue party anyway and see what happens? How far in advance should we send the Evites, knowing it's summer and people travel a lot? </p>