https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:38:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024649 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:51:22 +0000 Jess1483 2024649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did at LO's first birthday party, which was a 50/50 split of family guests and friends with kids. Hereafter, we probably won't. I went to one party where the kiddo opened gifts as we arrived, so we each got to see our own present opened, but it wasn't a big thing. That worked well, I thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024642 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:46:17 +0000 photojane 2024642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Presents have been opened at every party I've ever been to, except Sadie's. She and I were both sick at her party, and there were a lot of gifts. She had no idea, and no one seemed to care. We opened the gifts on her actual birthday at home when she was feeling better, and she enjoyed being able to play with things as we opened them. We're asking for donations instead of gifts this year, so we won't have that problem.</p> <p>As a guest, I don't care. I like seeing the person's reaction, but I'm definitely not offended if they choose to open them later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024640 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:44:00 +0000 Ginabean3 2024640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We open after everyone leaves! The only exception is family...they always want to see their gifts opened. But we have a pretty small family so it's no big deal. And we only do family gifts in front of family (like after all non family guest have left!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024626 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:33:14 +0000 Torchwood 2024626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: Yeah, we typically don't do venues, at least not for family ones. I think sometimes the kids may do ones with other, non-family people. Though I do have pictures of me opening presents when I was around 7, and we were at a play place. But I'm in the South, and sounds like it's a regional thing. It's so strange sometimes, the things that are different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024611 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:24:35 +0000 sarac 2024611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't really care either way. My daughter always opens one gift and then wants to play with it and couldn't care less about the others, so I think we'll do it later in the future. But I don't think it's rude not to open during the party, certainly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024598 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:18:44 +0000 beachbee 2024598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I agree about the reaction. I tend to diy gifts or choose something very specific to the birthday child, so I love to see their face when they open their gift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024597 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:17:35 +0000 beachbee 2024597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we've always opened at the party, and most parties we've attended have done the same. I guess it depends on a few things: the comfort of the child (if they don't mind being the center of attention), the venue (it can get pretty chaotic and messy if a big group of young children are involved), and the time frame of the party (not enough time to play with gifts/toys once opened). I personally love watching kids open gifts, and have never seen the awkwardness or boredom some others have mentioned. Usually the other kids have tons of fun because they jump right in and help open the gifts, and if there is time left over they love to play with the new items. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024595 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:15:44 +0000 rachiecakes 2024595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: yea that's why we couldn't open at the venue and our place is waaay too small for guests.<br /> Our play gym party was 45 minutes of play/45 minutes in party room. We served lunch and had cake, so couldn't really do gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024585 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:11:46 +0000 Freckles 2024585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: I think that's the problem...if you decide to open gifts at the end and need to be out by a certain time. Them you have the kids that want to play with all the new toys! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024582 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:10:13 +0000 Freckles 2024582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: @rachiecakes: I've been to a couple of parties where they opened it at the venue and it was soo chaotic! We plan on doing it at a venue that requires you to be out by a certain time...do think I can deal with the chaos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024566 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:01:42 +0000 78h2o 2024566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it really depends - on the age of the birthday boy or girl, on the number of guests, on the location, on the length of the party, etc. As a guest, I don't usually mind either way; however, sometimes if I've purchased something really special, I like seeing the recipient's reaction. </p> <p>At my daughter's second birthday party, there were only about eight other children. I felt like there was time, so she opened her presents. She acted really excited about all of them but tore through them like the Tasmanian devil. I think she had every present opened within five minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024563 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:00:54 +0000 BadgerMom 2024563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had never heard about not opening gifts at the party until I joined Hellobee. Gifts have always been opened at the parties I've attended. I find it really interesting that it seems to be a regional thing. I'm in the Midwest :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024556 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:54:42 +0000 dolphin 2024556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never been to a kid's party where they open gifts. I prefer they be opened at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024488 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:31:21 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2024488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i've never been to a party where the opened the gifts, but i think it's more of a ny thing where most parties are at venues since we all have small apartments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024359 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:42:59 +0000 jhd 2024359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never been to a birthday party where the presents weren't opened while the guests were there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024343 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:36:46 +0000 MamaCate 2024343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We opened at her first bday because it was just family and close friends and we did the opening.<br /> LO is now three and we opened at some parties but not this year. The problem, at least with my LO, is that she wants to play with the new gift right.this.minute so opening took forever! After her party this year, we opened one or two a night for a week! It worked better to go at her pace and I can't imagine other kids wanting to sit through it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024319 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:23:13 +0000 matador84 2024319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I grew up you ALWAYS opened gifts at the party, where we live now, I've never attended a party where you open gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024306 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:20:06 +0000 Anagram 2024306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a guest, I don't care. Where I grew up in the south, it was considered rude not to open...but now I live in the NE and thinking back to all the first birthday parties we attended this year, I don't think anyone opened at the party.</p> <p>Must be regional. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024300 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:18:59 +0000 Madison43 2024300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: same - if the party is at home, gifts are opened while guests are there. If it's at a play place, there's usually not enough time or space, so they're opened after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024296 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:18:07 +0000 hilsy85 2024296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a bit odd to open gifts at a kids party...? I. Can't see that as being much fun for the kids watching! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024285 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:15:13 +0000 Mae 2024285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd def prefer to wait until after the party. Seems awkward to make a kid open with a big crowd of people then come up with appropriate responses. I struggle with that as an adult, that is a lot to put on a little kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024282 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:14:31 +0000 mrsjyw 2024282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've only had one bday party for ds, his first w guests. And it was at our home. We opened gifts but went quickly since it was Dh and I doing all of the opening. When they're older I'll probably do gifts after the party. </p> <p>As a guest, I don't really have a preference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024257 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:08:01 +0000 avivoca 2024257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd prefer to wait until after the party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024244 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:06:34 +0000 rachiecakes 2024244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: my mom was not happy when I said we weren't going to do gifts at J's party. She thought it was terribly rude.<br /> If the party is at a play gym or something like that, it's hard to do because a lot of time you don't have the table/room for very long (we had 45 minutes in party room &amp; 45 minutes in play gym)</p> <p>If it's at someone's home, I would expect the gifts to be opened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024233 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:02:48 +0000 Greentea 2024233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always thought it was considered rude not to open gifts in front of guests- not saying how I feel, just thought that was the etiquette. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024231 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:02:26 +0000 Torchwood 2024231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with @Danizaur, I've never even heard of not opening gifts at a kids party! In my family, ALL the kids are eager for gift time, not just the birthday girl/boy. They like to see the reaction to the one they brought, and they want to play with the new ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024225 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:00:42 +0000 artsyfartsy 2024225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's funny reading all the responses. Growing up it was always tradition to open gifts at the party in front of guests. Honestly waiting until after the party sounds much better to me though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024215 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:55:27 +0000 pui 2024215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a kid's party, no. It would take forever! Growing up we never opened gifts at other kids' birthday parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024204 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:51:04 +0000 blackbird 2024204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For E's first, we waited and then did just family at the end. I wanted to hang out with everyone, not open all her gifts lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-gifts-at-birthday-parties-yay-or-nay#post-2024203 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:49:27 +0000 mrbee 2024203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do it after everyone leaves too. </p>