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My brothers birthday is 12 days after mine...and we hated having joint parties. I completely understand why my mom did it, but we would have liked separate ones. BUT...at 1 and 3, I didn't give a crap...I say until they are a little older and can really ask for what he wants do them together

My two LOs are one month apart. So far we have done separate celebrations, but they have just been family celebrations and not actual parties.

My kids are a week apart.

For this first year (1st birthday and 4th birthday) I think I am going to do something separate. The 4 year old party isn't going to be a big deal though. Maybe swimming at the local pool with some snacks, dinner and cake at home with family.

After this year (2nd and 5th birthdays) I will do them together for a while.

My brother and I shared the same birthday although we're 4 years apart. I wasn't a fan, but we had our own friends hanging out so it was okay. At the age of 1 and 3, I'd totally do joint to save planning and logistics headaches.

I have been to one. The only things I think you should keep in mind are 1. presents (do you want people to bring them? The one I went to said no presents -- I think they thought it would be a lot to ask for two presents?) and the other is, how do you make sure the kids are equally represented? The one I went to seemed like one kid's birthday with another kid added at the last minute (the younger one of course).

@autumnlove: at what age do you think they will start to care? I've already got a huge list of joint themes I want to use!

Pirates and mermaids
Mickey and Minnie
Princess and Knights
Cowboy/cowgirl (woody and Jessie)
Butterfly and Bugs

@T.H.O.U.: 4 or 5?

we have a lot of close birthdays in our families and everyone has said that they resented having joint parties as kids. my mom was born on my uncle's birthday and i think taking away his only child status and his special day had a negative impact on their relationship as kids, he used to call her his worst birthday present. mr. bird and his brother are a wk apart and both were envious that their sister got to have her own birthday celebration while they had to share. while they're still too little to understand, i don't think it matters, but once they start going to other birthdays where someone gets their own special day, i would do one for each so they don't feel slighted. doesn't need to be a huge, expensive event, but something where it's all about them and they get to feel like the center of attention for a day. a month and a half isn't that close and if you did one the wk end before the birthday itself and one the wk end after, the parties could end up two months apart which isn't close at all.

Throw them together, but separate cakes.

i would do it together at that age. we went to a joint 2 and 5 year old party this weekend and it was a blast! they had separate cakes though - hello kitty and lego.

My oldest and youngest are two weeks apart and we do a joint party, they each get to pick their theme and they each get their own cake in the flavor they pick. They also each get to pick some friends to invite. We have a huge family and they want to be there for both so I would hate to ask them to come two weeks in a row plus Halloween is right in the middle of the two so it is already a busy time. I will post some pictures when I can get out to the computer.

I also celebrate each birthday just with our immediate family. On their birthday they get to pick their dinner and small dessert plus that's when they get their presents from us so they get to open something by themselves on their own day.

My other two are twins and share a party so I think my oldest and youngest think it's fine. The twins share a party then they share a party. Maybe it just seems normal to them? I think as they get older and maybe choose an outing instead of a party then it will be different but last year at 6 and 3 they didn't mind.

My kids' birthdays are 9 weeks apart. I threw a joint party for their 2nd and 3rd birthdays last year. I'm going to do a joint birthday party as long as I can!

This year Lilly wanted sleeping beauty and James wanted Phineas and Ferb. When they were 4 and 1 we did Peter Pan and the fairies. Then when they were 2 and 5 we did Spiderman and the Little Mermaid.

I think you're fine to combine for family parties at any and all ages, but when it comes down to friends, at a certain point, the oldest might not want the youngest and their friends at their party. I would guess by kindergarten they'd start to want their own thing, or as soon as they see their friends getting their own party...peer pressure, you know?