https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:20:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82591 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:20:54 +0000 mamimami 82591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did NOT open gifts at his first birthday, and that was good... babies are very clear about what they love (toys) and what they don't love (clothes, which mom loves!) we took photos of him opening each gift afterwards although we had to cajole him into looking happy/interested with a lot of items. If you do this, you can include the photos with the thank you notes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82576 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:14:54 +0000 looch 82576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my son's first bd party, he was a bear, he was crying and freaking out, no idea why, because he's normally soooo social. </p> <p>Needless to say, we didn't open gifts, in fact, at one point, we had to bring him upstairs to calm down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82551 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:12:53 +0000 chopsuey 82551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO hasn't had her birthday yet.. We'll probably help her for her 1st bday. 2nd and beyond she should be able to open presents herself.<br /> We don't plan on opening presents in front of our guests this year. When she has birthday parties with friends she'll open presents in front of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82549 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:10:42 +0000 Boogs 82549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO hasn't had his birthday yet, but we are going to help him to speed up the process like we did for Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82529 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:13:02 +0000 aunt pol 82529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lol that's fair enough so. I guess I just like to see the kids reaction, so I know I'm doing ok at picking presents! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82528 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:11:12 +0000 Andrea 82528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aunt pol: @artbee: nah, i'm glad that people don't open them around here!! my MIL seemed to be the only one who was disappointed at our party...because she is pretty nosey. LOL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82527 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:08:40 +0000 aunt pol 82527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Lol I'm nosy too so:)<br /> It's great that the child does show the interest though! The best we saw was DH's niece, the year she was 4, I think, unwrapped everything, did all her thank you's properly, and then stood with her arms spread and eyebrows up saying, "Am I finished? Is there any more?" Her mother was mortified, but it was funny:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82525 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:02:46 +0000 heffalump 82525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Really? I love seeing what everyone gets people. Maybe I'm just nosy. </p> <p>@aunt pol: This little girl didn't want to move onto the next gift.... she wanted to play with each thing that she opened right then. Her mom didn't let her though, and she was good at telling people thank you. Well the mom was, she hasn't had a birthday party where she talked yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82524 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:02:12 +0000 aunt pol 82524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Ah you have to open the presents, I love seeing kids reactions to them! My SIL never opens them, and it's always been kind of disappointing for me anyway. Then last October we caught her unexpected and my nephew ripped the paper off and was so excited to see Thomas trains etc, it made my day:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82523 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:59:46 +0000 aunt pol 82523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think helping is a good idea, and it means you're in the right position to encourage a suitable display of gratitude- I know kids can sometimes be a little underwhelmed by gifts of clothes etc, and I know I'd want to be able to whisper in their ear to do the Thank you/hug/kiss routine and not just move on to the next gift! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82522 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:57:29 +0000 Andrea 82522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't open presents at my LO's birthday party. No one else seems to do that either. I don't think it's very interesting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dodid-you-help-your-lo-open-their-presents-at-the-first-couple-of-birthday-parties#post-82520 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:50:51 +0000 heffalump 82520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a birthday party coming up for a toddler... and I'm kind of dreading it just because of the present opening process. Her mom makes her open up all her presents alone- which wasn't easy for her first couple of birthday parties. She didn't have the attention span or fine motor skills for it, and it took forever! </p> <p>At least I learned from it and I'll be helping LO until she gets the hang of it and can open gifts at a good speed by herself. </p>