https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 04:41:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776892 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:34:30 +0000 snowjewelz 2776892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: so complicated but so spot on! it's true that when they're younger it's pretty much all "family friends" anyway. My almost 3 yr old does have a "bff" but I wouldn't invite her now. When they're "of age" they will probably have a separate friends party and still celebrate with family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776881 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:46:39 +0000 PinkElephant 2776881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend told me her parents did something similar to @mrsmacslp: 's family....She and her sister had close birthdays, so every other year they alternated who got a party, and the sister who didn't get a party got a present every day the week of their birthday. :)</p> <p>I say while they're little, it's fine to share a party - especially just for family. Also, when they are small, it's likely that any friends you invite are "family friends" - you know the parents and all children in the family, and are all friends/hang out as families. I think where it can get a little weird combining parties is once the girls are old enough to have their "own" friends. For example, I wouldn't have wanted to combine parties for my three and five year old this year. While most of my five year old's friends from school/activities and their moms knew my three year old, my three year old had lots of friends from activities we did while big sis was in school, and none of them knew the rest of my family. Having a joint party would have left me with a lot of extra hostess duties to try to bridge the gap between crowds, and I would have felt awkward if people who only knew one child thought they needed to bring a gift for the other child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776856 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 08:30:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2776856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmacSLP: I like that system so that it's fair but also not so much work! </p> <p>@Peasinapod: Yeah, that guilt is nagging at me too! If I do joint, she def will get her own little area with her own cake, decorations, etc </p> <p>@MsMini: Awww. I wonder if his middle sibling feels the same way. Or as the 3rd kid it was just the worst of it :sad: </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: I love that idea too! Must share a birthday party but have special treat for each kid tailored to what they want too! </p> <p>@Tanjowen: I like this too! It's true that as long as their birthdays fall on weekdays then they will always get their own special stuff on the actual days too, aside from the party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776837 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 06:51:49 +0000 Tanjowen 2776837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: My brother and I have birthdays 2 days apart. We did a joint family party or dinner, and then my parents always did a celebration at school. That meant we got something on our own when we were small, which was nice. Once we reached 13, my parents only did big separate parties for milestone birthdays - 13, 16, 18, 21. I feel like it worked out nicely. </p> <p>My 2 boys will have birthdays 2 weeks apart. I will do the 1st birthday separate just because it's fun, but will then follow the model I grew up with and see how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776812 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 20:02:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2776812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: we didn't give them a choice/say right now. There wasn't a way for us to do three parties in one week. And at this young age they really didn't care. We picked a good weekend day between them all. </p> <p>At home they each got their special "day". Streamers on their bedroom door, presents from us on the table, their pick for dinner and a special treat with a candle and birthday song before bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776810 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 19:42:06 +0000 MsMini 2776810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL always did joint parties for her 3 kids all born in the same month. My DH is the youngest and has always felt his birthday didn't really matter/wasn't special, partially because of the joint parties. I would vote for no joint party from hearing his perspective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776735 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 12:22:01 +0000 Peasinapod 2776735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe it's because I'm second born but I would give little sister her own party for the first year. After that totally combined. I feel like turning 1 is a big deal!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776729 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 09:24:27 +0000 misolee 2776729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Go for it! I don't think one year old will know any better and the 3 year old will just be excited about all the gifts 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776704 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 23:02:03 +0000 mrsmacSLP 2776704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a child who shared a bithday with her sister, also in December, I honestly don't remember before age 12. When my sister turned 12, she got a big party (rent a place/whatever she wanted within reason) while I got a small sleep over with two friends for turning 11. From that point forward my parents did the big party on even years for each of us and small sleep overs for odd years. We both look back now and are thankful my parents separated it when we hit those tween years! But before then? No memory! Keep them together! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776688 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:59:21 +0000 Portboston 2776688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend with a son and daughter born on the same day two years apart. They do joint parties every year since she was born. They’re 5 &amp; 7 now. She’ll do separate themed tables, cakes &amp; decor for each kid and they both get to invite a certain number of friends. The kids don’t seem to mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776645 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:47:32 +0000 PawPrints 2776645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a joint party is a great stress-saver when they're that young. Once they get older they'll want their own parties, so give yourself a break while you still can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776634 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:42:08 +0000 bhbee 2776634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a 2nd and 5th joint bday last January, they are 11 days apart. (And I planned one the year before that got canceled for illness.) It was great! They both liked paw patrol so that made for an easy theme with yellow and pink colors. The 2yo thinks most of his friends are the 5yos anyway, and we had siblings in the friend group already. We did a Rec center playplace that worked for all ages. I did make separate small cakes that were for their actual birthdays and used cupcakes at the party. I say go joint until one is old enough to want a party that would no longer work for the younger kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776633 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:40:28 +0000 Anagram 2776633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: we did our between. =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776629 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:28:22 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2776629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister does 1 family party for my nephews ages 9 and 13 both with August birthdays 5 days apart. She has been having both parties together this whole time, each boy gets their own cake and happy birthday is sung individually to each. My sister usually picks a weekend that works, unconcerned with whose birthday its closest to. Usually both boys have some friends at the party but it hasn't been a focus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776620 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:03:03 +0000 snowjewelz 2776620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: Aww fun!! I'm trying to decide to do it the weekend after my first's, or the weekend before my second's. Ugh, decisions decisions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776619 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:01:13 +0000 avivoca 2776619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: Ours is actually going to be ON my oldest daughter's birthday! It's on a Saturday, so we are having a party in the afternoon and hopefully we can get someone to watch our youngest so we can take the big girl to see the My Little Pony movie! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776615 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:52:51 +0000 snowjewelz 2776615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: @Anagram: Are you guys doing it before both their bdays, inbetween or after? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776614 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:52:10 +0000 Truth Bombs 2776614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids birthdays are 6 days apart with Thanksgiving usually right in between their days. My son is only turning two this year but I did separate parties last year and will again this year, with a lot of overlap in attendance to the parties. My brother and I were born 2 days apart and my mom never had joint parties for us and it was something I always appreciated. My daughter is turning 5 and has been having friend parties since she was 2. She expects to get to have the party she wants (venue, theme, etc) as I think she should since it's her party... and I feel badly just tacking my son on to what big sister wants to do, especially when it's likely not even age or interest appropriate for him (last year she had a party at a trampoline park which is obviously not what I would pick for a 1 year old's party, and this year Princess Elena is coming to our house to do Princess Lessons which my rough and tumble boy probably won't enjoy). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776613 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:50:25 +0000 avivoca 2776613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dr. Pepper: @snowjewelz: My daughters are the same. DD1 will be 4 on October 7 and DD2 will be 1 on October 11. I'm doing joint parties as long as I can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776608 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:44:51 +0000 snowjewelz 2776608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dr. Pepper: haha what are the chances! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776587 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:01:17 +0000 alphagam84 2776587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd absolutely be doing one joint party with birthdays that close together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776566 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:26:27 +0000 petitenoisette 2776566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dr. Pepper: My LO2 who is still cooking is due 2 days after my first's birthday to glad to hear that is working out for you!<br /> (Also nice bdays for your boys, my mom's bday is June 12 and mine the 14th ! :grin: ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776565 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:24:52 +0000 petitenoisette 2776565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two perspectives:<br /> My sister has 3 kids born within a span of 2.5 weeks and she usually has two parties and even that can be a bit much even though I do understand why. </p> <p>We're having our 2nd right around when our first was born and I definitely plan to have joint parties until they are old enough to have their own friend parties (so same people won't be invited to both). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776545 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:48:33 +0000 Dr. Pepper 2776545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My boys are June 12 (4 years old) and June 14 (1 year old). Their birthdays are 2 days apart! They will be having joint parties as long as I can pull it off. We did 1 party, 2 themes, 2 cakes this year. It worked pretty good for us and the 4 year old had no problem with it at all. I'm pregnant and due June 6th next year- so all 3 will end up with a joint party more than likely. </p> <p>I plan to stop joint parties when they are old enough to want friend parties instead of family parties. That is unless the boys want to continue joint parties with both sets of friends all together (a mom can hope right!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776540 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:37:19 +0000 snowjewelz 2776540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: That's so true, I can justify spending more if it's just one party! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776537 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:30:56 +0000 Anagram 2776537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: We did a joint party when my girls were turning 1 and 3 and it was great! They both have summer birthdays, and our friends travel a lot in the summer (some people go down the shore every weekend), so I knew attendance would be lower. And having 1 joint party gave me the excuse to spend a little more on the venue. Plus it was super, super cute. </p> <p>I have an old thread about our joint party with a ton of pics. </p> <p>But I definitely see us doing a joint party again in the future. Even though they are 2 years apart, our girls still have a joint circle of friends because our babysitter takes our kids and hangs out with a circle of nannies and their charges, and they've all known each other 2 years now. All the kids range in age from 2-4 (My girls are now 2 and 4), so it's perfect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776536 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:30:45 +0000 birdofafeather 2776536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>December and two weeks apart?! Definitely joint, no question. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776520 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 08:54:01 +0000 snowjewelz 2776520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: Oh that's wonderful that they share friends already too! I like that to just do what I want until she clearly is against it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776519 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 08:53:50 +0000 NorthStar 2776519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our niece and nephew were both born in November and born only about a week apart. They've always had a joint birthday. That time of year is so busy that I appreciate only having to travel once for a party (we live 2 hours away). I think that December would be the same way due to various commitments and family gatherings. I would recommend a joint birthday! They've even done it where each kid gets their own theme cake. Last year was ballerina for the girl and farm for the boy. As they get older, you might have to change it up some, but at this age, I say you just do what you think is best and let DD1 know that this is how the party will be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/joint-party-or-not#post-2776518 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 08:53:39 +0000 looch 2776518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since it's a family party, I wouldn't even think twice about it. I think it makes a difference when the kids start wanting to invite their friends. </p>