Moms Talk Q&A: Birthday Party Best Practices

Next to Christmas, a child’s birthday is often the most memorable event of his or her entire year and it falls on parents to make each and every birthday count.

But should every birthday be a soiree for your child and 50 of his or her closest friends, complete with bounce house, magician and fireworks display, or is cake and ice cream with the family sufficient some years?

We’re asking our Moms Council and community experts (that’s you parents) to chime in on this topic and share best practices when it comes to the big B-Day.

Here are a few questions to guide the discussion:

• From birth to age 18, how often should you plan a party for your child’s birthday?

• How much do you spend?

• If the party can’t be had on the actual birthday, how early or late can you celebrate?

• What would you consider are A) party must-haves, B) once-in-a-lifetime splurges, or C) Are you kidding? That has no place at a birthday party.