https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:47:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800697 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:46:46 +0000 littlejoy 2800697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If my kiddo had symptoms that would keep her home from school (fever, bad cough, rash, etc.), I would cancel her party and give her all the cuddles. No questions. We've done it before. </p> <p>If she said she wasn't feeling well, and we had plans with other kids, I wouldn't go. I'm a stickler for trying my best to not spread germs. It actually really bothers me when people take their sick kids out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800540 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:34:01 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2800540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We cancelled my daughter's 2nd birthday party under similar circumstances a few years ago. Thankfully it was mostly family friends at that point, and it was easy enough to do, but now that we do a more involved party with her classmates/friends, I usually reserve a local park so if I have to cancel, I'm out about $80 tops. When my kid was just about 1, we went to a birthday party for a friend, and she was a bit sniffly so I didn't think anything of it, and lo and behold, she turned out to have hand foot mouth and got the whole family at that house sick, including the kid and the pregnant mom. After that, I go the overly cautious route. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800530 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:11:31 +0000 gingerbebe 2800530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really do assume that with children, there is always a good chance they will be sick for whatever. I have had to cancel so many plans in the last 3.5 years because one or both of my kids were sick. If it was in the case of a larger birthday party and it was something where my kid could power through for 2 hours with Advil, I would probably still hold the party (because we'd likely have family visiting from out of town who would take the risk), but immediately call everyone else who had RSVPed and let them off the hook. If my kid was really sick, I'd cancel absolutely. I think its just a risk you have to factor in when setting a budget and planning a large party for a small child.</p> <p>But its also probably why I really just do casual family dinners for any non-major birthdays. So far we have only hosted a real party for their 1st birthdays (we had lots of out of town grandparents and family), and even then the parties were only scheduled for 2 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800457 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:42:31 +0000 irene 2800457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: That must be terrible! I agree it is such a hard thing to "orchestrate" when everyone is already coming...! I hope all the kids were fine afterwards... Or did they not speak to you since? :grin: </p> <p>@erinbaderin: @looch: Yes 99 is not a fever but the fact is DS acted really unwell - lack of energy, lost his voice, and not acting like himself. You know sometimes when they are sick they are still jumping and running and screaming (with a runny nose and what not) but that was not one of those. He was borderline OK which made it so difficult to decide. I was reluctant to cancel because I prepaid for bowling (haha), and before we head out I measured him and he was 98. In the middle of bowling he was 99.6. While it came down a bit (99.4) when he took off his jacket we still canceled the dinner plans. He was 100.3 and acted really unwell last night before bed so we decided to stay home from school today too...</p> <p>Thank God this morning he seemed fine! Bummer we are still missing school today because the teacher told us to stay home (thus we are missing lunch :-( ), haha. I bet they are under a lot of stress too with flu season being so bad this year.</p> <p>@honeybear: I agree. Just that when you have a whole big thing set up / paid for, and everyone has the expectations it would be so hard to cancel! Hopefully I'd never had to do it.... grrrr I hate winter birthdays.</p> <p>@bhbee: Kudos to you and I am glad everything still worked out in the end! What a precious child that she liked the preparation more than the actual party :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800451 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:03:47 +0000 looch 2800451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son runs hot, I am sure there are times when he would have registered 99 degrees but not had anything else that would have caused me to think he was ill.</p> <p>The biggest thing for me though, would be that if my son told me he wasn't feeling well, that would be enough for me to cancel. I am big on my son learning to listen to his body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800449 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 07:57:17 +0000 bhbee 2800449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We cancelled a joint 4th/1st bday. My older had bad croup the night before, which usually has a viral cause, so after a night getting meds in the ER and knowing she was likely contagious it felt like we had no choice. I was lucky that the Rec Center gave our money back for the booking! We just set it all up on our dining table and later took the cupcakes and favors to preschool instead. For her it was fine, she likes the preparations and trappings better than the actual party where she gets overwhelmed by the crowd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800448 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 07:50:50 +0000 honeybear 2800448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd cancel based solely on my son telling me he didn't feel well. I figure if a child says that knowing that it means missing his birthday activities, then it should be taken seriously, fever or not (technically 99 isn't a fever, but you can feel plenty crappy without a full-blown fever). </p> <p>I really think cancelling is the right thing to do. No one appreciates sharing germs, however mild the symptoms may seem. Last minute cancellations for that reason are completely cool with me. I can find something else to do on the fly, but I can't un-expose my family, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800440 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 06:46:02 +0000 erinbaderin 2800440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t really think of anything under 100 as a fever. If he felt ok I would have gone ahead with all of it. If he wasn’t feeling well I would have cancelled and try to reschedule for the next weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800437 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 04:53:47 +0000 ElbieKay 2800437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son came down with pink eye literally the hour before his second birthday party. We were hosting at home with a guitar / music guy and a lot of homemade food and basically a ton of effort, and it was literally took late to cancel. So we held the party and got some stink eye from a few parents and took him to the doctor the next day (his actuaL birthday). I really had no idea what to do considering that most people were already on their way to our place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800433 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 02:49:50 +0000 lamariniere 2800433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@turquoisemama: agree! While it's disappointing to cancel all these birthday plans, I would definitely cancel for a fever.</p> <p>I hope your little guy is feeling better soon and can enjoy his actual birthday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800431 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 01:51:19 +0000 jhd 2800431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry you had to cancel your plans! I hope your LO feels better soon!</p> <p>I would have canceled too, especially given the fever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800430 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 01:49:22 +0000 turquoisemama 2800430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: if it was just a cold, I think I would still have the party but send out a heads up telling everyone and let them make their own decision. I’d also see how her mood and energy was. If she clearly didn’t feel good, I’d cancel. With a fever, I’d cancel. Not worth tiring them out more or spreading it to everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-your-child-is-sick-on-the-day-of-hisher-birthday-party#post-2800429 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 01:38:58 +0000 irene 2800429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>*Vent alert*</p> <p>DS is turning 6 on Wednesday and we are not having a birthday party this year. I took some great advice here on another thread and arranged a wonderful "line up" for DS. On Saturday (yesterday)we were supposed to go to a lunch place of his choice, then we would go bowling with his BFF (both first timers), followed by cake and dinner with the same friend at the restaurant of DS's choice, which we ordered a cake and were planning to bring it there. Sunday we were going to the same BFF's birthday party, and have dinner with a few more friends to celebrate. Monday we signed up to go to school and have lunch with him, and on DS's birthday (Wednesday) we were going to bring in birthday treats at snack time at school and go out for a nice dinner to a restaurant he has previously expressed interest in celebrating his birthday at.</p> <p>Next thing you know, he told us that he wasn't feeling well last Friday.</p> <p>He was well enough to go bowling which we were borderline going to cancel, and he spiked a 99 fever when we were at the bowling alley (yes I brought my thermometer). We canceled the dinner + cake . Sunday we also missed his friend's birthday party and the dinner. We are missing lunch tomorrow too because he is still not well to go to school and his low fever continues to run as of tonight. Now I am just hoping he can be healthy by Wednesday so at least we can cut his birthday cake!</p> <p>As disappointing and frustrating as it was, I am thankful we didn't have an elaborate party planned where everything is planned and paid for. It would make canceling so hard to do. </p> <p>This makes me wonder, what would you do if your child got sick on the day of the party - not just a mild cold, but a mild fever? Has this happen to anyone before? Just curious to hear. </p>