This is planning a bit far in advance, but my son's birthday is only 2 days before my due date for the next baby to arrive. Since their birthday's will only be 2 days apart, I've been asking anyone I can find who has a sibling with a close birthday if they had one or two birthday parties when they were a kid. One big party seems more practical, and I'm sure more family could attend that way. But was sharing your brithday fun or terrible?
I have an older sister that is almost five years older. I was born in June and she turned five in July. Our grandparents/family all lived five hours away so for the most part we had seperate Birthdays unless the family could come and then we had a big bash! Now I have 5 children of my own and face this dilemma myself as our 3 yr old BB twins just shared their Birthday with their one yr old sister (only 11 days seperate their Birthdays). We live in NC while both our families live in Florida. Seeing as how they have never missed a first Birthday they all came for hers and we had a seperate cake just for our twins at the same party. When they are little I don't think they mind but as they approach the 4 or 5's start having them seperate, if it's having friends at the party. Maybe have a family only Birthday celebrating both, then the seperate ones just do cake without the meal/bbq thing. Good Luck! Congrats on your soon to be new one!!!!
I say share a birthday party; until they are old enough to plan and prepare for the event. I would however make a distinction in your family. Maybe do two separate special dinners where the birthday boy gets his favorite meal and dessert or gets to go to his favorite place to eat, and then on a separate night do the same thing for the other one. And never never never, get them a shared gift. I have a brother whose birthday is on Jan 9th and mine is on the 5th, but fortunately for us we are 12 years apart so there was no sharing. However we have both experienced the Christmas/Birthday gift and that is terrible, I would rather two smaller gifts than one big one. Just some side advise. Congratuations on your new little one.
My sister and I have our birthdays two days apart (9 year difference). I would say that one party is fine, but on each child's birthday, let them pick what they want to do, dinner and what type of cake they want. You are going to have a lot of cake/pie, but it will cut down on arguements between siblings. It's important for both of them to feel that they have a special day all to themselves. I remember several times my mother would just have a party on the day in between. Also, you may be a bit premature in worrying. I have yet to meet anyone that actually had their baby on their due date, unless of course it is a scheduled c-section. Good luck and congrats on the upcomming baby.
I agree with the other post that a shared party is ok. I think you can make each of their days special and still have just one big party. I would do each a cake. (just do smaller ones) and sing happy birthday to each. That way they both have their "time" during the shared party. They will share lots of the same friends anyway as the get older due to being so close in age. It really makes it easier on the mom's. We have 10 children in our church that where all born with in 6 weeks of each other. I have joked that we all need to get together and have on large party because we are at a b-day party every weekend sometime 2 in a day for about 4 weeks. Good luck on your planning and best of luck with the new baby.
My sister and I are seven years apart. Our birthdays are July 29 and August 12, respectively. My parents have numerous pictures of the two of us blowing the candles out together. However, my Mom always makes birthday special so I really don't have any hard feelings about sharing a party anyway.
My husband and his sister shared a b-day. December 20th so double wammy with it being so close to Christmas.
They did one party, but my husband always felt that he was neglected as a kid b/c the sister got so much more attention. I think the one party is the way to go, but make sure one doesn't get over-shadowed by the other. If you sense that this is becoming a problem (example: 1st b-day is a big deal with the cake and all) you might want to be flexible from year to year. As they get older, definitely ask which one they would prefer. You could even spread out the "celebration" a bit to break it up.
I have two stepsons and one son. Their birthdays are 2/3, 1/22 & 1/18. My stepsons being the first two. They have their party together. While my son's is separate because of their different families
My oldest daughter will turn 8 on 1/7 and my youngest daughter will turn 6 on 1/29. While they are not as close as yours COULD be, they were SUPPOSED to only be days apart!(My oldest was 2 weeks early) I pick a weekend in the middle and let them have all their friends over together but make them each a separate cake with candles on their respective birthdates. It works and makes their days special. I hope all the advice you are getting helps. It really won't matter until they are older anyway! Good Luck!!
I just had a double birthday party for my 2 girls. One just turned 6 and one turned 3. They love having a birthday party together. It saves soooo much money. and more people do show up. I had them seperate one time and it was so much hassle! Half the people who showed up for one didnt show up for the next. I would advise having seperate cakes though. or cupcakes. Because this year I decided to have 1 cake for both of them and the older one blew out the candles first because she was quicker. Well the youngest did not like that til we relit them!I made them both little chairs to sit on to open presents and made sure I made everything as equal as possible. It turned out great and I saved alot of money. Although, I'm sure when they get older they'll want thier own. So you might want to get in as much money saving as possible while they're still young! Good luck and Have fun!
I would say for simplicity sake, and God know you'll need it for the first couple of years that one party would be fine. My oldest son didn't quite "get" the birthday party thing until this year..his 6th. So unitl the oldest is about 5 or 6 he will not mind. After that you may need and want to separate them even if just one one weekend and the other the next..for identity purposes as well a jealousy. Everyone wants to feel special, and since birthdays are the only time you are truly speacial for day, that day should not be shared all the time.
ME AND MY SISTER SHARE THE SAME BIRTHDAY 9 YEARS APART. I THINK EVERYBODY WANT THEIR OWN TIME AND DAY.
I gotta tell ya, doing 1 b-day is wonderful!!! My 2 girls are 5 yrs. apart. July 2nd & 6th. My youngest is 10, oldest is 15. I have had the biggest b-day party on the 4th of july for 10 yrs now. But, on their actual b-day, we have a small "just family" cake night. Every one is content with this. I hope my story helps!!!
Hello Stephanie, I am 28 years old and the younger of two girls in my family. My sisters birthday and mine are 1 day apart(2 years apart) and we always had our parties together. In fact there was another little girl that had the same birthday as mine and she would have her party with ours too. I thought it was fun, as long as you make each one feel equally important. As far as I remember we opened presents from our family on our birthday, and from everyone else at the party. As far as sharing the party with another girl from school, it kept people from having to choose which one they wanted to go to. Hope this helps!
Angela C.
I have 2 sons and there birthdays are in the same month. They are not quiet 13 months apart. One is a t the beginning of the month and one is at the end. So I was having 1 party in the middle. It works well but now that they are older 3 and 4 I will need to have them seperate because they are aware of the difference and want different themes. Since yours will only be
a few days apart I suggest having them together until they let you know otherwise. Christy W
Hi Stephanie. I am Nicole single mother of one daughter. But my sister has four children. Boy 6, Girl 7, Girl 9, Boy 11. When it came to the girls. We've always had their birthday parties together. They've never minded. But this year it was different. They wanted seperate ones. But otherwise. Its was always good to do a party together. And they enjoyed it.
Nicole
Stephanie my children are 12 months apart. July 31 and August 26 also with my anniversary on August 27. Triple whammy. We always had our parties together. We would have the birthday parties during the day and the Anniversary party at night the children would have thier own cakes though on their actual birthday. Seems to work for us. Not to mention it is during the summer so sometimes we go on vacation to celebrate all 3.
Hi Stephanie,
I have two girls one whose birthday is January 25th and one who birthday is February 17th, not as close as your two. Except for my youngest 1st birthday (which is special) I have had the party's combined. There is 3 years difference, but my older child hasn't really cared up until this coming year. I think it will be fine to do birthday's together, until the older one really vocalizes that he/she would like to have their own. You will also need to consider the the theme of the party. One year when my youngest was turning 2 we rented Party Pony's. They brough 5 pony's (the ones they use at different events that they hook up and they walk in a circle) for two hours of riding. I had over 30 children between the ages of 2 and 5 in and around my house. It was great, but I didn't consider the fact that everyone would show up. We also had a party last year at Pump It Up, it is an indoor facility that has the blow up things they jump, crawl and run in. It went really well and was fun for all ages.
I would have their parties together while they are young, (Except for the 1st birthday). As they get older they may want to have separate ones.
I think my days of having my girls together are over. My middle child will turn 8 and wants to have a spend the night party and the youngest will only be 5. It has been nice and yes it can be cheaper. You just need to consider how many you want to invite. It will be double the children at the same time.
Congratulations on your baby!
Roxanne
My children are 5 days apart, and I wouldn't dream of doing theirs together.
I do them one weekend apart. It's really not that hard to do it that way!
Good luck in whatever you decide!
I have a six year old and a four year old whose birthdays are three weeks apart and I have done all of their parties together and they love it. For me, it is alot easier and alot less money to have them together. I also just had a baby in March on my two year olds birthday and next year they will start having their parties together. There will come a point where I'm sure I'll have something for them seperately but, while they are this young having them together is just more practical. Good luck!