When Do I Have the Birthday Party?

I always have mine after... silly reasoning, but I just think, well, they are ____ then!!

Plus, having the party after makes their actual birthday remain a "big deal".

Happy Birthday!!

Either one. My daughter's birthday was at the end of October, but with another birthday in the family, Halloween, and a bunch of other activities, we didn't get around to having her party until last weekend. My other daughter's b'day is Jan 3. I'm usually so exhausted from all the holiday activity that I don't even THINK about planning her party until the end of Jan and we usually have it sometime in Feb. I guess that's what happens when everyone's birthday falls right around this time of year - it's busy enough with all the holidays, but throw 3 kids and one auntie's birthday into the mix and it gets craaazy!

Do something just family on his brithday and then have the party after. As folks below said this way he will be 5 and his actually birthday won't be a let down because he is expecting another party or something big.

I think either weekend would be fine, but I would also acknowledge your child on the actual birthday with a special dinner. Just FYI -- In January, there is a holiday on Jan 17th Monday (President's Day) and kids are out of school that day--some people take a long weekends and might not be in town for the party or it could be a better time since people have more time off that weekend.

I go for after too.......do something nice, favorite meal or something for the birthday day.....then party on the Sat. after....

Good Luck and take care.

One of my children has a January birthday. We always had to come up with creative ideas. Here are some we used which worked wonderfully. Ongoing movies shown on our TV. Games at intermisssion.
A treasure hunt that worked only if the kids shared the information they found.
The treasure hunt had multiple prizes. A trip to the movies for the birthday invitees and pizza afterward. We always chose a Saturday closest to the exact date for the friends party with a cake.
We had a cake on the evening of the birthday at home. Presents were given on the birthday. It was a family celebration.

I would do it the Saturday after. Celebrate with a special dinner on his actual birthday and then he will be so excited to talk about his party... ;)

Either would be fine, but I think the closer you are to the birthday, the better. Have fun!

It's whatever works best for you. My oldest's birthday is on the 4th of July. The only way we could have a party for him (and this only worked in his younger years) was to host it either two weeks before or two weeks after his actual birthday. As he got older it was harder and we stopped trying to have friend parties. Now that he's 16 it's getting a bit easier since most of friends drive they can zip over for a party. Last year he even had two friends over ON his birthday (that was a first).

I have done both a party before and after. It's whatever works best for you. Just explain to your child that you can't do a party on their actual birthday because people can't make it during the week. I always just make sure to give my child their gift on their actual birthday from me.

Have fun!

As a child entertainer, I do many parties the weekend before and after the child's actual birthdate. Now with that in mind, you may need to watch for any Holidays or such that people may be out of town, etc...

Happy Early Birthday to your little one,
R.

I think you do it whenever, there is no rule. When my daughter's birthdays land on a weekday we do family parties on a Saturday or Sunday. Then for their actual birthday, we do cake/ice cream our present with just our family of four.)

I am a christmas baby and am suggesting the one after. reason is everyone is broke after christmas and that gives them another pay day to recouperate before being hit with a bday party.

Just do what works best for your schedule. My kids both have holiday birthdays (one a few days before Christmas and the other is in April which means we have to work around Easter). They are in elementary school now and I think only one time have had their birthdays on or super close to their actual birthday. They don't care...it's more just about the celebration and recognition and fun with friends and family. For my daughter we actually do a half-birthday (hers is the one in Dec.) so it is totally far from her real date! We do always do something with just our family of four on their actual birthdays though. HTH!

Either one would work. I typically do the weekend before just because kids tend to not want to wait past their birthdays. I have actually only done a party after his birthday once for my son (he's 19) and he was actually turning 16. Only because he was on the high school soccer team and had a game the weekend before and not the weekend after AND his birthday was on a Wednesday.

We usually go out to mexican food on the actual birthday. They do all of the b-day hoopla there. We have celebrated the kid b-day party either before or as late as 2 weeks after. If the before or after is not a big deal to you then if probably won't be to your kid.

Have it when it's most convenient for you, and then give everyone around 2-3 weeks notice so they can get it on the calendar. There's no specific etiquette for this--- just have fun!

it really doesn't matter but the saturday after since its on that friday sounds better

You have the party on a Sat that works for you. It doesn't matter which one.

Some of my friends don't even have it in the same month. It just depends on where you are having it and if it's avail.