Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

I am having my twins party on saturday. What is the correct protocol for presents. Do you open at the party in front of everyone or not?

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We had pizza and cake on DD actual birthday with grandparents and our siblings and opened presents from them. We did not do it at the 'big' party.

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We did not open presents at my DD's 1st birthday party. It didn't seem to be expected by anyone anyway because there were a lot of gifts and I couldn't imagine my DD sitting still through it all. Not to mention there were a good amount of kids there and they likely wouldn't have sat still either.

I think it's pretty normal for the first few birthdays that you don't have to open in front of everyone.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

I've been to a lot of first birthday parties and I've never seen anyone open gifts. We didn't do it ay my DS's party

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

If we have a larger party we don't open gifts if it is smaller party we do.

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

For DS's first, we did not. We had it at a beach pavillion with 75 people and it would have been pure chaos. I didn't even bother inviting my parents or inlaws back to the house after to watch, which I feel bad about now. DS was tired and cranky and we ended up opening up his presents the next day when he was in a better mood.

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We opened gifts for their family party. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I'll never do that again. It was a mess with all the cousins wanting to open the twins' gifts for them . At their big 1st bday party, we opened them the next day without everyone. It went much smoother.

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

I vote yes! Atleast a few, it's part of the fun.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

The big 1st bday blow out - no.
The immediate family pizza & cake - yes

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

THanks Schmora... ha ha. I was hopeing someone would say Yes. XOXO

We having two parties one friend party & the other family party. I will see how it goes. We will probably listen to you all & wait.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

When I was kid we always did but I notice people don't seem to do it now (at least not around here). I wouldn't. As a pp mentioned, I would open if it's a small family party. I'm sure family would want to see the kid's reaction to the gifts.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We have yet to hold a big party for AJ but every year she opens gifts given to her on her bday when given to her.

That said,
EVERY. SINGLE. birthday party we have been to.. Big or small, EVERY time the presents are opened there in front of us. Ironically the only time this didn't happen was at a Twins party. and I thought that was awesome! lol

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

our party wasn't big...... for the first year we got around it.... had all the presents in the hall, the next morning ds opened them up and was very slow about it......

After that 2nd and 3rd he opened them at the party and fast cause he knew they were toys for him.

That was family/family friends party, we haven't done the kids party thing for him, that I'd just skip the gift opening for.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

For a family party at the house i would open them.. For a friends party with lots of kids or if the party is not at the house i would not open them.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

For a big party - id say more then 15-20 or so, I would vote no. We did not for DS birthday/christening party. But we had a small party on his birthday with just Grandparents, one aunt & uncle and kids and he did open those presents.

I have been to one big 1st birthday party where presents were opened. It was ok, but it took so long and honestly, there were so many people, you really couldn't see much anyway. And the kid did not want to sit still for all of that.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We didn't for DD"s 2nd bday party for many reasons....

1. As a guest I think I'd be bored to tears to watch a child open millions of presents.
2. All of the kids would want to play with the toys right then and there.
3. DD was already so overwhelmed by all the festivities, having all eyes on her opening presents would have been too much.
4. It would have been so frantic I wouldn't have been able to keep track of who gave her what which is important to me for thank you notes
5. No one else seems to do it at their kid's parties

Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

Our 1st was at home with mostly family there was plenty of time and we had fun opening the presents. When we started to have our parties outside the home(much easier, no clean-up or mess ,well worth the cost,if you can) it would take up to much of the parites time. You have an hour and half let the kids play and eat do the presents at home.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

Big 1st Bday - no
Small family party - yes
Future Kiddie Parties - no

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We only open presents at the party if it is just close family. never if there are a lot of people or friends, extended family.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

We had DS's party at a party place and only had two hours there so we did not, at a home party where there is more time I think it would be nice.

Re: Birthdays--Opening presents at party or Not

Depends on time constraints. If you have time, yes open the presents, or atleast the ones from the people who are still there.

We've had big and small parties and managed to open some presents at each. Sometimes with older relatives they expect you to open the gift in front of them, or other kids that really want you to open it up before they leave.

The only time I think we never opened up any presents was when we had it at a party place and they basically take the presents throw it into a big bag and ask you to bring them to your car. Other than that if the kids want to open them, we let them, it's their party afterall!