1ST birthday party

[que-ry]

I am going to have a birthday bash for my son next month. Have never done this before so here's a query-what kind of return gifts can I give? Will it look really bad if I don't give any?
There will be around 40 families with kids ranging from a month old to 17+.

[Older Mum]

It is absolutely fine to NOT give return gifts - I invariably end up throwing the stuff away that my son brings home - usually old tat!!!!  I would be glad if he came home with nothing!

Whatever happened to going home with a bit of birthday cake in a napkin - that's what we used to do?

[NMS1]

Of course it is fine not to give anything but the expectation certainly will be that you will give something. However, given the age range you are going to struggle to find something to suit everyone and I wouldn't recommend trying to run around finding different things for different groups. I would suggest a nicely packaged packet of sweets/biscuits/chocolate which will suit everyone.

If you have enough people and don't mind spending a bit you can have chocolate bars customised for the event with your son's name on the wrapper. A lot of locals will give thme out for their baby's 1st month so try googling around that.

[Common practice]

Most kids are used to a return gift, so have a smooth answer ready for the more vocal tots, who ask you where their goody bag is
There are lots of decent cheap options that you can buy in bulk if you do wanna give something - small bottles of bubbles, playdough, etc. The kids dont care what it is. They are just happy they got some trinkets in a colorful bag. I think its a pain to put together but I always do a goody bag - its nice to see their faces light up even though they dont even know whats in it.
Either way its your choice.
P.S. I also toss the cheap candy that comes in my tot's loot bag, so i never put any, in the goody bags that i give out.

[Pretty Girl]

Go to that cheap Japanese store at Vivo City/Plaza Singapura and buy 40 little gift bags, they come in packets of 10 or so. Fill with jelly beans and tie with ribbon. Attach a little thank you card which may also be purchased from the same store. I also like the idea of buying 40 small bottles of bubble mixture and decorating as above.

[name]

marker pens, preferably of the permanent variety

then you will be guaranteed to be shunned by all your friends with children

[numbers]

40 families with kids?

Where you holding this?  The indoor arena?

[no gift]

Most kids are used to a return gift, so have a smooth answer ready for the more vocal tots, who ask you where their goody bag is

How can they be used to receiving a return gift when their ages are going to range from between a month old and 17 months?

I know kids today are a bit forward, but I doubt the OP is going to get much verbal from kids of that age.   

Apart from anything else, most of the kind of tat that kids get in party bags isn't suitable for kids under 3 years so it's probably better not to bother.

It's a 1st birthday party OP - give them a bit of cake and be done with it.

[learn to read]

Most kids are used to a return gift, so have a smooth answer ready for the more vocal tots, who ask you where their goody bag is

How can they be used to receiving a return gift when their ages are going to range from between a month old and 17 months?

I know kids today are a bit forward, but I doubt the OP is going to get much verbal from kids of that age.   

Apart from anything else, most of the kind of tat that kids get in party bags isn't suitable for kids under 3 years so it's probably better not to bother.

It's a 1st birthday party OP - give them a bit of cake and be done with it.

The OP said 17+, not 17 months.  And subsequent posts refer to the huge age gap between guests.

[SimpleSolution]

OP, just provide great food and drink and a great party. Start worrying about party favours/gifts/bags for the 3rd birthday. I always go by the general rule that the party is all about the birthday boy and girl, not the guests, in any case. So do all that stuff when the birthday person in question is old enough to notice or care. Simple

[intime0]

What I've always done, is have games.  The winner of the game gets to pick a prize.  I  make sure to buy enough prizes for all the kids to take something home.  From something nice, down to really cheap things like bubbles.  I keep these things year round, whenever we are given stuff that we wont use, or when it's marked down, or cheap/sale prices. 

By the end of the party, everyone can select something.  Whatever is left, goes to the next party I give. 

Some things we do:

Tiny puzzles
I'll buy a package of plastic jewelry (from Toys R Us) but divide it up so one bracelet or a ring would be the prize.
A package of play doh, divided up with the shapes, etc.
a notebook
a cute pen
a little book or puzzle book
night lights (can be gotten for very cheap at times)
always use candy and food.  you can buy in large quantities and divide up.

anyway, that's how we do it.

[Older Mum]

What I've always done, is have games.  The winner of the game gets to pick a prize.  I  make sure to buy enough prizes for all the kids to take something home.  From something nice, down to really cheap things like bubbles.  I keep these things year round, whenever we are given stuff that we wont use, or when it's marked down, or cheap/sale prices. 

By the end of the party, everyone can select something.  Whatever is left, goes to the next party I give. 

Some things we do:

Tiny puzzles
I'll buy a package of plastic jewelry (from Toys R Us) but divide it up so one bracelet or a ring would be the prize.
A package of play doh, divided up with the shapes, etc.
a notebook
a cute pen
a little book or puzzle book
night lights (can be gotten for very cheap at times)
always use candy and food.  you can buy in large quantities and divide up.

anyway, that's how we do it.

Sorry Intime0, because I know you are a sensitive soul, but this is PRECISELY the sort of crap I hate my son coming home with - I would rather he learned a lesson to NOT expect something for going to a party.   Having a good time should be more than enough ...

[agree agree]

What I've always done, is have games.  The winner of the game gets to pick a prize.  I  make sure to buy enough prizes for all the kids to take something home.  From something nice, down to really cheap things like bubbles.  I keep these things year round, whenever we are given stuff that we wont use, or when it's marked down, or cheap/sale prices. 

By the end of the party, everyone can select something.  Whatever is left, goes to the next party I give. 

Some things we do:

Tiny puzzles
I'll buy a package of plastic jewelry (from Toys R Us) but divide it up so one bracelet or a ring would be the prize.
A package of play doh, divided up with the shapes, etc.
a notebook
a cute pen
a little book or puzzle book
night lights (can be gotten for very cheap at times)
always use candy and food.  you can buy in large quantities and divide up.

anyway, that's how we do it.

Sorry Intime0, because I know you are a sensitive soul, but this is PRECISELY the sort of crap I hate my son coming home with - I would rather he learned a lesson to NOT expect something for going to a party.   Having a good time should be more than enough ...

Totally agree.  I did a party for one of my children once and there were 2 or 3 kids who were trying to scavenge any left over party bags and game prizes.  Ungrateful brats - none of those particular kids said thanks either.

I never did party bags again after that.

[123help]

Help, we are drowning in pencils. Pencils of all sorts of colours, shapes, lenghts. We are also drowning in "Hello Kitty" erasers and all these kind of things that we need maybe once but not 50 times. We have enough to last the rest of our lifes.
I am totally on the side of the "no party bags" people.

[don't stress]

There will be those for (and some people LOVE freebies), and there will be those against.


Go for something practical. Buy those 40 gift bags from Japanese dollar-store Daiso,


40 and counting are a lot of people to plan and stress for. Make your life simple and go for a ONE item gift if you must do a give-away.

I like these ideas already suggested:
 - Chocolate bars with your baby's name (practical and edible - not cheapie brand)
 - Bottle of bubbles (sits well with kids age 1 -
 - Jelly Beans (but is a choking hazard for the under 3 group) - how about substituting for real fruit juice gummies instead?

Or really, save your $$$. Just give away slices of take-home cake, and shoo everyone home from that point on. Just make sure you order a bigger one.
A 1 yr old bday party is really just an adult party. Basically just plan a party for adults. Kids that age don't know any better. The only real kid party you start planning for is around age 3 and up.