I need opinions. What is everyone’s stance on birthday parties? My daughter is turning three next week and I really don’t want to do a birthday party but I don’t know what else I could do. I’m super antisocial and I’m 8 months pregnant and exhausted so I want to avoid inviting a ton of people to celebrate, is that selfish? What is a fun cheap alternative to a birthday party that would still be memorable and exciting?
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We dont always do parties for our kids. Sometimes we do sometimes we do something they ask to do. Like a day on the lake or a day with all of us in the pool.
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We never had parties. My mom just used to decorate the house with some balloons and streamers and we opened some gifts. It was great.
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Honestly we just do something small for immediate family usually pizza and cake or take her somewhere special before baby comes maybe a weekend getaway
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My kids loved it when I would make it a day just my child and I favorite place to eat and shopping letting them pick what they wanted…
My kids have decided they would rather do weekend vacation’s instead of parties and we started that little tradition about 3 years ago and it has been amazing, sometimes it might be just a day trip but they still say they like that better than parties!
We had my friend and her 2 kids over for cake and that weekend she got to pick a birthday adventure. We ended up at the aquarium. You could also do a “slumber party” even if it’s just you and her. Let her pick a movie and pick dinner. I do this with my daughter and we color and paint nails.
You could just do something with her, your partner, and yourself. It could be something super simple like a cookout and a few presents.
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My daughter just turned 4 last month, and this year is the first year she really understood a birthday party was for her. Do what makes you comfortable, especially that pregnant!
Take her to the zoo, kids science museum, or an aquarium. Go get lunch or dinner after and have a picnic at a park.
Not the same, but my son is Autistic and doesn’t really do parties, so we take him to the zoo on his birthdays. We go to a different zoo almost every year. Aquariums are fun too.
My son is 4. We did a 1st birthday party and that’s it. The rest have just been me, dad, and GMA. We will have a “real” party when he turns 5
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Some family over for a quick easy lunch we just for my 2 girls with party pie sausage roll Frankfurts nibbles and ice cream cake 
done easy then we do pick any takeout for dinner they choose my kids love doing that we did Chinese one and kfc the other
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I’ve always just let my child pick what they wanted to do. Sometimes it’s a museum, a waterpark, shopping…
Take her out for lunch anywhere she wants. Get her nails painted and a pedicure. Make it a special mommy and me day
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I hear me,me,me,… What I want… that’s all that matters…
Just do some cake & a couple gifts she would love.
Indoor playground like Candeeland!! She will have a blast, you can relax, and AC!!!
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It depends on where you live and what’s available to you. The zoo…a Peter Pipers or a Chuck E Cheese Pizza!! Decorate your kitchen and set up for a “Personal Party!” Eye Candy…you know. Get her a preset she will LOVE! No matter who’s there!! Outside water fun if its hot!! Many things are options
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We have always done a beach trip for my sons birthday. This year was the first year he had a party with friends plus he still had a beach trip. He turned 9. Parties aren’t that important in my opinion. Now did he have fun of course. I booked a private pool party for him and his friends
I did birthday parties for my little girl for the first 6 years but after that she just didn’t really show interest in it so we stopped.
Take her to the zoo, an aquarium, and invite some family.
She’s 3 mama.
She’ll like just about anything
Something fun is good idea .parties can definitely be exhausting …is there something she likes to do take her and maybe a friend and mommy friend and go have fun
Just do a family party.
I make my kids their favorite meal (or go out to eat) & favorite cake. Then open gifts & take pictures.
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My son just turned 7… we had immediate family (my parents, my sisters, their spouses, my daughter, and my nieces and nephews… 13 people other than me and him) for dinner and cake a few days before. Other than that I took him to the please touch museum in Philadelphia on his birthday… just us… best part is that’s all he wanted.
Take her to a hotel and have a sleepover and play at the pool!
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Absolutely genius idea! Bravo!
If she’s the imaginative type let her make it a party with all of her favorite dolls and stuffed animals. Or do inside camping by building a fort. It’s more about the fun and experience than the work of creating an event. 
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local pizza place with close family/ friends or just order for delivery and let all kids play outside before and after eating , also get some cupcakes/ cookies, easier than having to cut cake and putting on disposable party plates
Take her some where nice for the day and spoil her
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Give her a couple of outings and let her pick. A movie, splash pad, or give her a mini shopping spree. Wrap 2-3 things for her to open with cake then let her go pick out 1-2 things.
Is there a trampoline park around or even just a park to let her run around then have cake at home
Maybe if it’s nice out an she has a few cousins or whatever or just u guys pack a lunch go to the park get cupcakes or McDonalds in Hilliard has an outside cute little playground get a small cake play n eat.
We have decided we are not doing birthday parties for every birthday. My oldest is 10 this year, so we are throwing a party. My next 2 kiddos will be 4 and 6. Their birthdays are close so we are just doing a play date, nothing big, a few friends to come play. My youngest will be 1, so we will have a party.
We’ve only done a couple actual birthday parties for my sons. We always just take them and a couple friends out of town to do something fun for a few days. Some ideas for your girls b-day: take her to get her nails painted (you could get a Mani or Pedi too!), then to the store to pick out something she wants and end by going out to lunch or dinner. Make the day about her! Invite a couple of her tiny tot friends or cousins to chill at the local pool for a couple of hours. Go to Chuck-E-Cheese to get a pizza and the cake - they’ll sing as they bring it out, put $20 on the card and let her play whatever games/rides she wants.
We do themed parties for the first 3 years and then after that we just let them pick out a cake and invite immediate family.
We give our kids a choice… big party, big outing as a family with a friend, or big gifts and a special dinner/cake. My oldest always chooses an outing to Dave and busters, my middle likes his pool party every year and my youngest is opting for the big gift (he wants a laptop) vs a party this year. You could take her someplace special with her best friend and than make her favorite dinner and do a cake and presents at home.
Memorable for who, you or your child?
One year we did a potluck style birthday. Everyone brought a dish so I wasn’t stuck buying/preparing everything and my son wanted to make his cake so we did it together and opened presents. A couple people stayed to help clean up. Super stress free.
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We celebrated milestone birthdays with parties. And others just focused on that child. Like favorite meal and dessert, gifts, or and a special trip to somewhere they wanted to go.
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Family party! Have a crown, flowers, Birthday cake and great presents. Dance and sing . Play some easy games.
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A birthday meal that she eats with no fuss and a fun birthday cake with the grandparents if you get along with them.
We usually let our kids choose an outing to do for their birthday. I took my oldest and her bestie and their boyfriends to paint pottery. My youngest chose a zoo trip. And my middle wanted to go up in the arch and out for pizza. We still do a small family dinner with my close family members.
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Take a child to the zoo or, a fun place. Take a 3 year old to McDonald’s bc they will have fun
My son is turning 6 this month. No party. We are doing the zoo and the ocean 
I don’t do birthday parties anymore. What we do is we pick something the kids wants to do and do it. We have gone bowling, Lazer tag and on and on. The kids love it cause the day is all for them. They pick what’s for dinner also. We have a cake the next day just for us. We don’t have alot of family and don’t know alot of ppl so for us this works. The kids love it.
We did family only when my granddaughter was a toddler. But when she started kindergarten we had kid parties. I had hers at the place she took swim lessons. Chocolate Chip Cookie cake . Which no kid ever wasted like they do traditional cakes. The bakery decorated them like a regular cake . Pizza Soda and water . Rented 2 hrs at swim center . Had every birthday party until middle school there . Her entire classroom always showed up .
Take it from my experience. They won’t remember. I threw big parties for my kids when they were young and they don’t remember. How about a little celebration at the park with as few people as you want. Cake or cupcakes , her favorite food, simple decor (balloons, party hats, and tablecloth for the picnic table) with her closest loved ones.
Or
Take her some place she loves and then cut a cake at home with simple decor.
I do 1, 5, 10, 15 and or 16, 21. Mile stones. 5 start of school (for some) 10 double digits, 16 Sweet sixteen and 21 old enough to drink. Then every ten years 30, 40 ,50 ect…
I decorate the house before they wake up. Then we do some kind of scavenger hunt. I hide as many objects as their age (3rd bday= 3 objects). We’ve done gold coins, action figures, costumes (I collected them on after halloween clearance for his bday the next September), bouncy balls, action figures… For my daughter’s last birthday I made jewelry & hair accessories with panda charms. With the help of school staff she found them all day while at school. The bday kid gets to choose dinner & we have cake & ice cream.
I don’t do birthday parties very often. They’d always rather do something special together.
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Just have a cake with her, your husband and yourself.
We do family day trips or one on one outings of their choice as an alternative
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Just as long as you recognize it in some way, you’re good.
Order food she likes or make whatever you’re up for and have cake or cupcakes with candles and just mom & dad. Send dad to buy a small cake or ice cream cake at the grocery store.
Or see if someone else in your family will do all the work. If she has a friend or favorite family member, invite that person over.
Or go someplace fun and do something where you don’t have to do much, and buy her ice cream or a cupcake and sing Happy Birthday.
Note: Most restaurants will supply a free dessert for the birthday person if you pay for a meal. Don’t stress.
My friend’s kids get to “be the boss” on their birthday, picking foods for meals (maybe from a pre-set choice list) & what they want to do within reason/budget—no party required. Maybe let her pick her own bedtime if she doesn’t have to be up early the next day.
Something to open (my son was happy with his own jar of olives), cake and a candle or two, and singing Happy Birthday is all you need.
BTW, congrats! Hope you have an easy delivery and an easy baby.
When my child turned 3, we took a vacation instead of a party
Honestly…just do a family bday all about her
.at 3 she’ll hav no long time memory so just make the 1 day her day … x
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I like having my kids party where there’s a host taking care of everything and I just follow them around 
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we get family to come over for cake. then my husband and I just do something the birthday kid wants to do, and a present of course. it’s so much easier
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I know a lot of people that do not do parties. The birthday child picks a special thing to do and maybe bring along one friend .
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I personally don’t do that. I do parties with immediate family if at all and that’s it. You don’t have to have people over to make a day special. You do what’s right for you .
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Have a party with your family. She’s 3.
We did bowling parties a lot when the kids were little. They usually let you bring in a cake and we would buy the adults two beverage tickets from the bar and pitchers of soda for the kids.
I’m big on birthday parties for my kids. But I’m a party planner so it comes naturally. However, I think it’s 100% appropriate to not have one for a 3 year old. She won’t remember it anyway. Do an activity that you’ll know she’ll enjoy (the park, a pool, etc) & tell friends & family you’re going, & if they want to come they’re are welcome. But I wouldn’t worry about doing something big. Especially since you’re expecting! Happy birthday to your lil one!! 
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We don’t do birthday parties often. We take a trip. Even a small trip close to home is fun. The beach or a lake house is a big hit for mine. My 6 year old just had a birthday June 29th. I spent $500 preparing for a birthday party that I cancelled in 2 days notice because she wanted to go to a lake house in Tennessee with my friend instead. We had a freaking blast!! Trips are always way more fun and memorable. Also worth the money more than a party in my opinion.
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last year my middle daughter turned 3 we went to an animal farm. Had a picnic there, she went on rides, fed the farm animals etc, had McDonald’s for dinner (her request) & birthday cake for dessert. She loved it & talks about it all the time 
She is only 3. Just have cake and ice cream and immediate family.
My son turned 3 yesterday. I hate people.
I know the family wants to celebrate so I’ve told them I’m doing a small BBQ tomorrow, and if they would like to come they can but don’t have to. Bought a few balloons and dinosaur themed decorations, and that’s it…
I mean you could just have a little picnic with your little fam and let everyone know you’re not feeling up to throwing a whole party x
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We take our daughter to a state park to go swimming with our dogs. We don’t know many people in our area so instead of her being disappointed by no one showing we let her pick what she wants to do. This year was lunch at her favorite restaurant, shopping and Starbucks. Last year we did the swimming and cooking at the picnic area (grilling)
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Birthday parties aren’t a necessity. You could always just go for a picnic or something simple at the park
So we do like a big first birthday. Then bigger parties for when they’re in school and have friends. On the years we don’t do parties we still do their favorite lunch or dinner, cake, and gifts. Then we’ll take them somewhere fun. Last year for my youngests 2nd bday we did the splash pad. We took them to an indoor play place with bounce houses and an arcade for my middle sons. Not like the party package but just took our kids for a fun day. But we’ve also just done the cake and stuff at home too! There have been birthdays where I’ve been exhausted or everyone has been sick so it’s totally ok 
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For my daughters 3rd Birthday I went and bought a slip and slide for the yard. Super basic one. We ordered food of her choice and had cake. Just our family of 4. Hands downs the best Birthday we have celebrated. Simple is ok 
We take our little family and do something fun then take them to get a toy and do a cake with just us I stopped doing bday parties bc they was so stressful and nobody showed up
When my daughter was 3 I actually put her grandma in charge of her birthday party to take some off me. She did beautiful cakes and did a painting fun party. It was in the summer so she hung up a sheet and the kids put fly swatters in paint and smacked the sheet. I still have this and my daughter is turning 11 this year…
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A family dinner party with presents and cake for a 3 yr old is totally fine
I’m not doing a party for my sons 2nd birthday, I’m just planning on doing an outing with close friends and their children and maybe some food after
My daughters birthday is in march and she’ll be turning 5 and thats when she’s gonna have a birthday party for the 1st time. I really didn’t see a point in doing a party for her 1st birthday because she wouldn’t remember it so its really just for the family. But I figured a big party for her 5th because she’ll be in school by then and she can invite classmates
Make or buy a little cake, put a #3 on it and take her picture with it. Let her unwrap a present or 2 and call it good.
Go for a little picnic, some place with a playground, splash pad, yummy birthday treats for lunch. Invite one other same age kid along.
Just have close family over for cake. You can make it memorable by decorating with her favorite things. Plates, table cloth, party hats…maybe a pinata and little party favors
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Take her where she wants to go. Either you, dad, aunt, grandparents. Whomever can if you’re incapable due to the pregnancy or what not. Have an entire day all catered to her and spoiling. Can have a small get together with some presents, a cake, etc and make her feel special.
She won’t remember, so just grab some photos of her in a tiara/sash/dressed up and call it good
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Take her to the pool with a friend…or do a “spa day” if she’s into that.
We give our kids the option of an “experience” or a party.
My kids usually choose the experience , because even when we throw parties hardly anyone shows up 
We have gone to South Carolina to see my grandparents and gone to museums and funn places there & Salem, MA for my daughter, the beach last year for my son, the lake water park this year for my son, and my daughter this year I think will wanna go to great wolf lodge.
We have had a couple parties in between and they’ve been really fun but for the amount of money we spend and for so few people to show up…the experiences are better and they’re starting to learn that.
Don’t stress yourself out over a party. The younger you start doing “experience” birthdays the easier it is 
It is perfectly acceptable to do an “immediate family only” birthday - ESPECIALLY when you are 8 mos pregnant! Anyone who complains should be thanked for their generous offer to plan, organize, host the party, and clean up afterwards.
Seriously though, sometimes a special day for a preschooler can be as easy as a happy meal, 3 choices at the dollar store, and a bed pillow fort while you watch a movie on tv.
I’m a fan of “yes days”, where the kid gets to call the shots (within reason and if old enough a budget). Ice cream for breakfast? Yes. Bubble bath for an hour with all the toys in the middle of the afternoon? Yes. They get to push the cart at the grocery store? Yes, let’s learn about how to navigate a public space. Spend the afternoon at the library doing puzzles and looking at books or playing on the computer? All the yes. Cheetos and watermelon for dinner? Sure, it’s only one day. The kids LOVE having that kind of control, and it’ll be special with no additional cost for you.
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We don’t do parties every year, it’s every once in a while. We take them out, they pick the food, they pick the cake and/or dessert, I’ll buy or make them what they want, up to them, they choose the activities. My youngest likes to call it yes day lol. Even though we do this kind of thing often enough anyway😆
But I learned my lesson the last time we threw them their joint bday. Family that wet don’t talk to literally any other time, I don’t enjoy it bc I’m running around like mad, a bunch of ppl say their coming and don’t show…I was just sick of it all🤷♀️ Especially the family, bc they act so entitled and then don’t mess with my kids at all the rest of the year😒 Not doing it anymore!
It’s about US. MY family unit. We enjoy our time, we spend the entire day together,
To be honest she won’t even remember anything from her 3rd birthday Just make her feel special!!
A crown and tutu, pancakes with whip cream, a trip to the park. Just put some effort into it.
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I love love to gift out experiences! They’re so much better than actual gifts. Instead of a party, ask relatives to do an experience with her instead, one on one. This gives everyone fond memories together AND it gives you some time to rest. That’s what I do for people who can’t make it to my sons birthday things. They usually take him out to lunch or dinner a different day, take him to the skating rink, bowling, etc. Everyone can pick an activity that they enjoy and that your daughter will enjoy and have fun together. (Think zoo, splash pad, a grandma and me lego day, etc)
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Birthday parties are so over rated. Half the time people don’t come after all the preparation and money. I tell mine, what I would spend on a party I’ll give to you in addition to your gift. We have cake and chips here with family and I take him to a bounce park, the beach with a friend or whatever. I’ve been over it…
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If I don’t do a party I make a cake pr buy a cake of their choice and make the dinner they ask for and get ice cream and presents from us
I stopped having parties for my girls. Gets expensive. I take them to their favorite place to eat. Buy them what they want and call it good.
I get it completely. But your kiddo deserves to be celebrated. The conditions are up to you, but personally I keep it super simple. Mostly family. Some food, some cake. You don’t have to throw an extravagant party. But for me it’s important that my girls know they’re loved and important, and their existence is worth making an occasion of, no matter the scope of it.
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We have a “grandparent birthday” for most birthdays. The birthday kiddo gets to pick their dinner and dessert and the grandparents come over for dinner. That’s it. On “big birthdays” we’ll invite the whole family and a few friends.
Every year I let my kids choose dinner and we do cake and ice cream. I then let them chose based on what I can afford/time energy for as far as what else. Some years the options include a party, an experience of some sort, shopping, money, hotel stay ect. I usually give them 2-3 choices and base it on what I can afford. Obviously some years the choices are better than others. Examples we’ve done include- build a bear, Adventure zone (it’s an arcade, go cart place), the mall with $$, a girl’s day, camping, skate rink, big parties/pool party at a hotel, movie night, bonfire with smores.
We do birthday parties, with family and friends, for milestone birthdays… 1, 10, 13, 16, 18 and 21. For all other birthdays in between, we take the kid to eat at a place of their choice and for an activity of their choosing.
If you have a Build A Bear near you, that’s a great idea for a 3 year old. They offer a Birthday Bear where the price is based on your child’s age. So with her being 3, her bear would be $3. Clothes and accessories are extra, but she will get to make her own bear, add a heartbeat, a scent and name it.
Not selfish. I grew up without the funds for that stuff. But it was always made a big deal with my parents and siblings and that’s okay.
A birthday cake - maybe even make it together! Open a gift & play with it at home - maybe a craft. Enjoy a movie & have fun snacks - popcorn / candy. Slumber party but at home. She’s only 3. I see nothing wrong with enjoying your time with her before baby comes & changes everything!
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Birthday parties are a waste of time and money doing something as a family is the way to go.
We stopped doing birthday parties. They were exhausting and expensive. We now take all that money and planning and do activities or trips to make memories
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Just do something as a family you all like to do, take lots of pictures as well to make it a memorable day.
You don’t have to have a party If that creates too much stress for you! Go to a zoo, or even a petting zoo, the beach, or a splash pad, a picnic at the park. A cake and ice cream with just your household is perfectly fine!
Let them choose a cake from a birthday cake cookbook and have a family morning or afternoon tea, lunch or dinner and invite grandparents…no need for anything major for a 3 year old!