12:45 too late to eat for 3-yo bday party?

[nrp]

I just booked DS's birthday party, and the only time they had available on the date I wanted was 12:00-1:30. It is 45 minutes of play and then 45 minutes of "party" - where we will serve pizza, drinks, snacks, cake, etc. I'm having second thoughts and wonder if that is too late for kids to eat. There are no other better options on either of the other two closest weekends, so I am a bit stuck. It wouldn't bother me, as my kids often don't eat until then anyway, but I wondered if it would be an issue for others. I plan to put something to the effect of "pizza served after playtime" or somesuch, to give people the heads up in case they want to give their kids a snack beforehand.

Would you come?

[Green_Tea]

I think that's completely fine. We eat lunch anywhere between 11 and 1 pm on the weekends.

[twowhat?]

I wouldn't, but that's cuz my girls will almost certainly still be napping at that time.

Can you swap the eat/play times? Eat first, then play?

[nrp]

I don't think I can swap - they move several parties through during the day. I thought about naps as well, but most of his class doesn't seem to nap that much anymore anyway (unlike DS - but he is good to go down at 2 or 2:30).

[baileygirl]

I have a 2 and 4 year-old, and the time of the party or eating wouldn't be a problem for either of them.

[janine]

I agree...DD is 2.5 and eats lunch between 1230 and 130.

[MommyAllison]

That would be totally fine for us. DS does still nap, but not til 1:30, and can pretty easily be pushed back to 2 or 2:30 if needed.

[amm40]

My DS will be 3 in aug. he eats lunch at 11 or 11:30, and is down for a nap between noon and one, pushing nap till later doesn't usually work well for us. But if it was a party I wanted to go to, it would be worth giving him a hefty snack beforehand, knowing he may sleep for 10 minutes in the car on the way home and skip nap. There are so many 3 yr olds that don't even nap I really think you should do the party!

[DietCokeLover]

As long as I knew the lunch was after play, I could easily adjust snack time and it wouldn't be a problem.

[ahrimie]

I think as long as you note there will be food, mamas will accommodate if they need to.

[sewarsh]

I think its a bad time b/c of naps, but if its a party i want to go to badly enough we'd make it work. As far as food goes, parents can give kids a snack before party if they like. Just let them know lunch won't be until later.

[wellyes]

It's not the normal schedule for us but we'd accommodate for a birthday party, no problem.

[nrp]

Thanks for the replies - I'm thinking of switching it to 4pm (the other available time). At first I thought that would interfere with Saturday night plans, but DH pointed out that the party would be done before 6, so it shouldn't be too bad. What do you ladies think? Play at 4, followed by pizza, etc. at 5.

Would the new time make you more or less likely to attend? DS's class is small, and we just have a few other kids that I'd want to include, so I want to make sure we have at least a critical mass.

[wellyes]

4 would be more difficult for me. I think 5ish-6ish is the witching hour for 3 year olds. I'd probably still go but she definitely has more enegry in early afternoon than late.

[DietCokeLover]

I would much prefer the earlier time as well. My kids start to melt down later in the day and I'd also not want them to get hyped up from the party that late in the day.

[ahisma]

I'd stick with the time you have. I'd happily shift a nap to later, but waking a kid up and getting them out the door...then coming home right before dinner would be a pain. I'd go, but it would be a hassle for sure.

The lunch hour doesn't bug me. I'd probably give my DS a sandwich before we went, but wouldn't think anything of it.