Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

Is this necessary?

Someone told me "yes you have to, otherwise it would be rude."

Here's the issue....there will be over 80 people at the party, so when would we have time? I don't want to be "rude".

Your thoughts?

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

No way. A child doesn't even "get" it at that age. If someone has a "special" gift and wants you to open it with them, like a grandparent, they should do it separately like next time they visit you.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

I haven't seen this done at any of the birthday parties we've been to (regardless of age), and we won't be doing it.

I guess it depends on your own circle. Honestly, if I was one of 80 guests at a birthday and had to watch all the presents being opened, I'd seriously sit there . We only open presents at the party for showers.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

NO... totally unnecessary.

It also depends on where the party is. If you have it somewhere then you have a certain time so you don't want to spend part of it opening gifts.
We had it at my parent's house. After the entertainment left we had cake and friends and fam started to leave. DS took a nap and when he got up it was only my family, IL's and my SIL. That's when we opened gifts. Honestly, the last few b-day parties we went to they didn't open gifts at the party and if they did it was way after they served cake.
The only pple who enjoy it is the close family anyway

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

I never had my kids open presents at a party even he 1st bday. We always kept them to the side in the gift section and brought them home with us after the party.
Most people do not like to sit there and watch gifts get opened for an hour and also it relieves the anxiety some people feel about how much they spent, quality, or if they did not bring a gift at all, etc.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

Thank you!..I agree 100%

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

I don't think its necessary and its not rude if you dont. My son did open some of his gifts though...it was so cute. Family and friends gathered around him while he opened them...unbelievable memories...my in-laws even put together his tot ride right there at the party...they're crazy LOL

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

absolutely not. we didnt open them at the party and it wasnt expected since 90% of our guest give cards.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

Nope we didnt open the gifts at dd first bday either.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

I would not say necessary. We did open at her 2nd birthday though even with 50 people. Because at that point SHE was opening and saying thank you.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

At DD's bigger restaurant party we did not.
At her smaller home party with close friends we did.

I know when I bring a gift, I like to see the reaction of either the child or parent. Otherwise I would just get gift cards/cash gifts

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

absolutely not

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

NOPE! With a party that large, how could they expect a 1 yo to even rip open 5 presents? If there's an older relative that wants to see you open the gifts, that 's fine. No one expected it at my DS's party and we didn't open the gifts at all!

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

If you open all those presents at the party -- I will throw a tantrum and throw myself on the ground in protest.



No, you absolutely do NOT have to open them. Just make sure you keep track when you open them at home, so when you do a thank you note, you can be specific like 'Demon spawn really loves playing with the set of knives you bought her!" or "Demon Spawn can't wait to put on the straight jacket!"

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

We did. My family & DH's family is very old school like that. If they bring a gift, you dammn well better open it and LOVE it. Even though many people didn't pay attention, those that would have b!tched, moaned, and p!ssed had we not; did.

I didn't want to do it- but I knew we had to. It wasn't so bad because we had an assembly line set up and it went fairly quickly. We had 75 people at the party.

Good luck!

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

I wanted to post the same question b/c I said no to opening gifts at the party & DH said yes. Gotta go tell him that I win

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

For a party that big? No

We opened presents at DDs party but it was small (20 adults max).

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

We had 100 people at DS's first birthday - we did not open presents.

Re: Opening gifts at a 1st bday party

BREEDER!!