https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:32:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221606 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:47:46 +0000 808love 221606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if there are a lot of gifts like maybe more than thirty or so it would be too tedious. Maybe for smaller parties it would be ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221567 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 00:27:45 +0000 Red 221567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to open gifts at my LO's 1st birthday but we had rented out a play gym and we only had a little over an hour to eat (after gym time) so it wasn't practical to open up the gifts. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221524 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:40:35 +0000 Rubies 221524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: I want to cry all the time. It truly amazes me how quickly the time has passed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221521 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:38:50 +0000 Mrs. Pen 221521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: awww is it hard for you that she's turning a year?! I don't even want to think about that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221518 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:37:53 +0000 Rubies 221518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Ooooh. I think it's just part of the festivities! LO's 1st birthday party is next weekend but I don't plan gift-opening since we'll be out at a venue rather than at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221513 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:32:48 +0000 Mrs. Pen 221513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: Oh... see, I don't understand the point of opening presents in front of others if the child him/herself cannot open them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221512 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:31:37 +0000 Rubies 221512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Well, SHE wouldn't but people insisted that I open them for her in front of our guests! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221511 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:29:09 +0000 Mrs. Pen 221511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: so your daughter wouldn't have been able to open gifts anyway? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221474 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 20:22:41 +0000 PawPrints 221474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It kind of seems like a good idea to me, actually. Nobody ends up feeling bad because their gift was cheaper or less well-liked, and also it puts a little less emphasis on materialism and centering the event around acquiring things. Seems like it would help teach the kids that the focus of the celebration is spending time with each other. But mostly the first point - to avoid any awkwardness over the difference between the expensive toy and the cheap toy, or the fun toy and the "educational" toy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221395 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:09:27 +0000 tequiero21 221395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel opposite from the consensus of the room. I'm glad they don't spend the time to open all the gifts. One thing if its a bridal shower or baby shower, but I don't want to spend who knows how long watching the kid open gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221386 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:46:03 +0000 Mrs. Train 221386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My twins are having their third birthday in two weeks and I am trying to figure out whether we should do it or not. I understand all the hassle and timing of it but I still can't get I out of my head that it's a little rude not to. I'm so torn </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221348 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:53:38 +0000 Rubies 221348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Koreans celebrate a baby's 100th-day - waay back in the olden days it was a huge deal if a baby survived that long so it's a big celebration. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221340 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:06:48 +0000 owlmom 221340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the parties I've been to for one and two year olds skipped present opening, which I personally don't mind. I can understand for a one year old's party with lots of guests - the birthday baby doesn't really know what's going on, and neither do the little guests. I can also understand it for slightly older kids when the party is at a location where the main activity is costly and time constrained, like private use of a bounce gym. But I agree with @mrs. bird that it's a really good learning experience - children need to practice being gracious givers and recipients of gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221337 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 14:27:50 +0000 Mrs. Pen 221337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: what is a 100th day party?</p> <p>hmm I haven't been to a bday party recently so I haven't noticed it but it seems strange! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221321 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 13:26:32 +0000 matador84 221321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have seen this at parties other than just birthday! Wedding showers...baby showers...etc. Kind of crazy! Some open and some don't. Actually, I remember at one of our own wedding showers there were SO many presents, I kept thinking "when am I going to open all these?" and didn't want to ask-but before I knew it, someone had loaded them all up in the car as the party was ending. It was low-key though...more a bbq-shower than formal sitdown. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221208 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:02:27 +0000 mrs. bird 221208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i've noticed this too. i can see both side of it. it adds time, kids get cranky, it draws attention to who gave what and might showcase differences in guests spending rather than focusing on the celebration. but i also think it teaches giving, children see other children opening gifts that they might like and want, but it's not their day, it's a day to celebrate someone else and give them a gift you think they would want, it teaches patience. i think it's healthy for them to experience that desire to have something but not get it and know that when it's their birthday they will be celebrated and the other children will feel the same way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221196 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:48:35 +0000 sulli301 221196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I didn't think about that aspect, good point! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221194 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:47:32 +0000 Andrea 221194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There hasn't been one party that I've gone to where the kid opened presents. I don't mind this at all. I think it would take way too long and there is other fun to be had. Parties for young kids can only last so long before they get cranky so I'd rather not use up on hour or more opening presents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221189 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:40:14 +0000 sulli301 221189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to one party where this happened as well &amp; think it's odd. I understand that little ones can get tired out, so maybe opening them mid-party or having the parents help? I will always make sure our LOs open them at birthday parties! I know people enjoy the gifts they brought being opened </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-221176 Sat, 14 Jul 2012 08:47:49 +0000 looch 221176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this trend is partly to limit inappropriate comments from the birthday kid ( I hate this, I already have this, thus toy is stupid, etc) and to avoid having a war erupt over a coveted toy. I'd skip gift opening in favor of another activity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220835 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:38:14 +0000 yin 220835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my LO's 1st birthday party we didn't have time to open gifts, and he opened them after the party. I felt bad but there wasn't much I could do. He was getting tired and cranky. Nap time was needed and then guests started to leave. I did make sure to send out thank you cards written by him (my writing but his "voice"). Some cards even had pictures of my LO playing with the present that was gifted to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220694 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:14:30 +0000 Cole 220694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have noticed around here it is the norm not to open gifts at the party but usually there is at least a dozen kids there and they try to keep those parties short (like two hours tops). At a party with only a few kids but family etc gifts do seem to get opened at the party. The price range here seems to be all over the page too which maybe part of it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220685 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:11:45 +0000 pinkcupcake 220685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I noticed this too! I was totally bummed... it's so fun watching kids' reactions to gifts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220640 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:35:05 +0000 Adira 220640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think even at a young party, you should still open them because people came with gifts and want to see them get opened. When my friend's LO had her 1st birthday party, my friend basically ended up opening the gifts and showing them to her daughter and I think all the guests liked that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220632 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:29:43 +0000 heffalump 220632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried not to open presents at my engagement party because I hate being center of attention but every one wanted me to so I did. I know they'll want my LO to open her gifts at her birthday party, even if she's too young to know. I figure I'll give her the bags/paper to play with and it will still be cute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220619 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:24:38 +0000 brownie 220619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do the really young parties because the kid doesn't know what to do and just wants to play with the toys. After about 3 we do them at the party. It is a great way to kill 20-30 min. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220616 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:23:10 +0000 chopsuey 220616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I noticed this new trend too... It's odd! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220614 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:22:46 +0000 LuLu Mom 220614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always opened them, I like to see the child's reaction to the gift I picked out, that's half the fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220612 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:22:26 +0000 MsMamaBear 220612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never been to a kids party where they didn't open presents! That's part of the fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-etiquette#post-220609 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:20:24 +0000 Alivoo01 220609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too have noticed this trend, and I don't understand it! I enjoy watching the kids open the present we bought for them! </p>