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We always opened gifts at the party! The only time I didn't want to open gifts was at LO's 100th-day party - I adamently told people not to being any gifts but some people did. I didn't want to open the gifts at the party because I didn't want people to feel badly if they hadn't brought a gift. But my friend, who brought a gift, announced, "It's gift time!"...Ugh.

@Rubies: I definitely think you made the right call at your LO's 100th-day party. If you told people not to bring gifts, but people did anyway, it would make the other people feel awkward if you spent time opening gifts, since many of them followed your instruction to not bring something.

I've noticed this lately, too! Th e last few birthday parties we've attended the kids haven't opened presents. I just figured the parents were trying to maximize the fun time and most toddlers/babies would get bored with opening presents? I know that DD (age 2) takes FOREVER to open presents. We have to space Christmas presents out over three days because it takes her like 20 minutes to open each gift!

I've never been to a kids party where they didn't open presents! That's part of the fun!

I noticed this new trend too... It's odd!

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.

I noticed this too! I was totally bummed... it's so fun watching kids' reactions to gifts!

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.

I went to one party where this happened as well & 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

@looch: I didn't think about that aspect, good point!

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.

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.

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.

@Coco Bee: Well, SHE wouldn't but people insisted that I open them for her in front of our guests!

@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.

@Coco Bee: I want to cry all the time. It truly amazes me how quickly the time has passed!

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.