HOw do I manage all the presents my 6 year old will be getting for birthday

HappySad wrote: »

Why do people get offending but for Wedding is it normal to have a wedding list?
Even for baby showers it is normal to have a baby list..

Some people get offended if they are invited to a party and they have to bring along food. Some people are not. I knew someone who struggled to put on birthday parties for their child because she could not afford to and she would not ask everyone to bring along food because she said that it was rude and if that was her she would be offended.

I have hosted and also been to plenty of parties where guest bring along food & no one is offended.

Weddings are different, the list was traditionally designed to help the new couple set up their first home together. Its out of date now really as most people already live together anyway but some people still use them.

Baby showers are very American and have never seen an invite to one in the UK. I'd take a gift after the baby is born but wouldnt go to a party purely designed really to get gifts.

As for bring food, yes if a big bbq type or bring a bottle but again not really suitable for a childs party.

I think giving a present should be the persons choice and should not be mentioned by the host , regardless of event, unless specifically asked. I think its just rude to presume a gift will be forthcoming and ever ruder to express what that gift should be.

A wedding list is not supposed to be advertised - the little cards shops give brides and grooms to put in their invitations are horrendous breaches of etiquette. The list is supposed to be something that the parents of the bride and groom, best man and bridesmaid/s know about, so if someone's looking for inspiration for a gift they can ask to see it. If you have a wedding website, it seems to be ok to have a little note at the bottom of "other information" or some similar tab to say, We don't expect gifts but if you'd like to give one and are looking for ideas we made a list [here].

Adding a line about gifts on an invitation to a child's birthday party is a couple of steps beyond reasonable.

mrcow wrote: »

So you're going to let your child open 30 presents, and then you re going to take them away to "recycle" them?

Way to go. You do realise that a 6 year old will remember each and every gift they open.

It's just toys. He's six years old, can he not just be allowed to have them?

Agreed. :T

If I got an invitation for one of my 4 children to a child's birthday party which suggested a voucher (even a fiver voucher) I would be offended and wouldn't buy a voucher, as a matter of principle!

Most canny mums keep a 'present drawer' with suitable pressies already bought in the sales etc, just simple stuff like stationery or a football, garden toy etc. Most things having been bought half-price, say for £3.50 instead of £7 - sorry if that appears tight but I buy what I can afford in the sales and that's it.

I keep a cupboard with such items and would not expect to shell out on something else each time an invitation arrives.

I do sometimes recycle a few duplicate presents - but be VERY careful if doing this, OP, and don't let your little lad know you've put them aside. You would be well advised to make a list of who gave what (will help with all the thankyou letters your son will have to send!). Then KEEP that list all year to make sure you don't give a child back the present they gave your son...that really would offend!

A 6 year old's party shouldn't just be about presents. It sounds like you're only inviting 30-40 children to get what you can out of them. It should be about them having fun, playing games, eating ice-cream - a gift should be a bonus. If your son wants a big present then you can buy it. If you can't afford a big party and a big present, have a small party instead.