Children’s Birthday Parties ‘Too Expensive And Stressful’


by Alison Coldridge |
Published on

Gone are the days of a simple sponge cake and a round of pass-the-parcel – children’s birthday parties are so much grander now, according to new research

Children’s birthing parties are getting more and more expensive, bringing the average amount parents are spending to £152. And one in 10 parents are even stretching their budget to over £250 for their child.

READ: PRINCE GEORGE TURNS ONE! AND HERE’S HOW TO THROW A BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY LIKE A ROYAL

This new research, conducted by Cussons Mum and Me, breaks down exactly what parents are spending their money on. Parents are most likely to spend high on their little one’s fifth birthday and their first – despite the fact that their baby won’t be able to remember it.

Only 50 of the 1,000 parents polled thought they could throw a party that cost under £50.

READ: BIG BARN BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE FROM ELLA’S KITCHEN

One in five of the 1,000 polled parents confessed to splurging over £40 on party bags alone and four out of five mums fee the need to impress their friends with more than traditional food and games.

But it’s not just the cost that’s overwhelming – seven in 10 parents said they start planning their child’s birthday a month in advance and seven per cent admitted to making plans up to six months in advance. Only one in 10 plan the event in under a week.

READ: 8 TIPS FOR THROWING THE PERFECT BABY BIRTHDAY PARTY

And around 30 per cent of those polled admitted the think children’s birthday parties have become ‘very competitive’ and six in seven parents think other mums and dads judge them. Perhaps this is why 14 per cent don’t invite the competitive parents they know. In fact, some of the polled parents admitted to finding it so stressful that they dread the party.

What are your tips for cutting costs (and stress levels) when it comes to kids’ birthday parties? Let us know in the comments box below.

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