2 Yr Old Bday in Daycare??

Hi,

The teachers at daycare told me that kids that age love munchkins as opposed to cupcakes or cake (too big and messy for them to handle.) But a munchkin or two for each kid in the class is a treat. So that's what I brought in.

-M.

I did home daycare for 5 years. Parents typically brought in a snack on their childs birthday. Everyone LOVED it! I would always have a present for the birthday child and we would do a couple extra fun things that day to celebrate.

Snacks that were brought: cake donuts, cupcakes, cake, little debbie snacks, etc.

I would ask the Daycare provider what is acceptable to bring, if anything. They might not allow outside goodies.

Hi there! My son recently turned 2, and I asked his teacher at daycare if it would be alright to have a party there, since our family couldn't make it to our house for a party. The teacher/staff said it would be a great idea. I made a cake and brought party-favor bags for all the kids (just some dollar-store crayons, coloring books, silly whistles). They had a blast, and it didn't cost me a fortune! Oh yeah, I also brought a couple gallons of ice cream. Asking the teacher/daycare provider in advance is a good idea in any case, but he/she might also let you know if there are some lactose-intolerant kids in the class--you might be able to bring some fruits or a small veggie tray for them instead, so that they don't feel left out. I made my cake dairy free by leaving out the eggs (I think Betty Crocker has a cake mix and icing without dairy). Happy 2nd to your little girl! Have fun!
-T.

Ask the director - for my daughter's 2nd birthday, they had a 'celebration of life party' - I made a poster of her with pictures to hang outside the door and brought in cheese and crackers (home-made items aren't allowed because of food allergies).

Ask the director/teacher. Some places prefer vanilla over chocolate for cleanliness factor.

For sanity, keep everything single serve. Small juice boxes, cupcakes, cookies, small plates, napkins, etc. Most places do the celebration during the afternoon snack time. Ask if you're allowed to bring a candle/matches.

Do NOT take in balloons. They cause fighting. Options causes fighting.

Over the years I've taken:
- store bought cupcakes that were decorated (i'd stay away cupcake sticks or rings, etc they cause fighting)
- 24 count cookies - each kid and teacher got one cookie.

M.

Something that i've always done when my girls were in daycare was to see if I could come in either when I dropped them off or before all of the children left w/an age appropriate snack. Then if you can, read them a story or tell them a story all about your daughter. Have fun!

I used to buy pizza for the whole class (plus the teachers) for lunch and then I would bring in a cake for the afternoon snack. I also gave the teachers (or my children when they were 4 and 5) a disposable camera so that they could take photos during the day. Some of the photos that my kids took were priceless!!

You've gotten good advice from the other moms. I'd ask the provider what they suggest based upon their policies or state regulations that are in place.

For our son's third birthday, we got a cake from Sam's Club, and I came in to celebrate it with him then took 1/2 the day to spend with him. It ended-up being a bigger deal in my head than it was for him. But, it was a nice photo opp.

If you want to bring something then ask the day care what you can bring. Most day cares say anything store bought you can bring so healthy or non as long as it is store bought. If it is 24 or less kids/people I buy cupcakes, sometimes I buy pre-cut apples with various store dips, if it is more then 24 I buy cookies or sometimes those small donuts. Oh could bring gramcrackers (still in package) along with nutella and peanut butter jars... Depends on what the day care allows.

If the day care has all the kids having snack time together then you should have enough for everyone. If the day care has snack split into groups or at same time but in different rooms you could just get a special snack for your daughter's group but to be on the safe side if you bring a snack bring it for everyone (all kids, helpers & teachers) so no one feels left out.

Ask the Director. Teachers may have good intentions but the Director will be able to tell you any rules about food purchased from a store versus food cooked at home. They may also have a monthly party for everyone's birthday and the cook fixes the snacks for it.

Don't be surprised if they say all food has to be purchased from a store and still sealed. Food cooked anywhere but a health department inspected facility is usually not allowed anymore. You may have a clean, sanitary kitchen but you really don't know about those other people in the school system. Too many times people think their area is clean but I have heard stories of people getting sick and the states are getting pretty regulated about this rule.

I would take the financial question very seriously. We have two now, and while I love my second son more than words can express, money-wise it has been very difficult. When I say "very difficult" I mean cashing in change jars to buy groceries and going weeks at a time with a zero checking account balance. We don't have money to take our family on vacation this year, which makes me feel bad for my five year-old who will be stuck at home all summer. My husband and I are stressed and have been arguing more. He has had to take on additional work to make ends meet, which means many nights and weekends he is gone and I am alone with the kids.

So think about it very carefully. Your husband may have a point. This is a decision that should be made with the head AND the heart. Good luck:)

As a director of a pre-school, we love when parents bring in a nut free snack and a craft. Pudding, Ice Pops, or Rice Krispy Treats are just a few suggestions. If you go on to Oriental Trading, you can find some very inexpensive craft kits for the age group you are working with. Most often for $10 or less you can get a set of 12 craft kits and the kids can do something fun after snack and will have something memorable to bring home with them. -D. Lindner - The London Day School

I bring cupcakes to my sons school. he's almost 3. i know other moms bring cupcakes too. his bday is in march actually and i plan on bringing cupcakes and any goody bag stuff leftover from his bday party - if theres enough. i always over buy! if you can be 100% sure you can bring in something nut free thats great - my son actually has a peanut allergy so i have a box of mini store bought cupcakes that he gets if there is ever any doubt. most boxes of mix and frosting though are usually fine. I think we use betty crocker or Duncan Hines? Just be careful one of those had a "manufactured in plant that proceses peanuts" warning one time I looked so I stay away from that one. Products with that warning aren't allowed either. My son LOVES when cupcakes are served. heehee -they just had a bday party yesterday as a matter of fact!

We brought in mini cupcakes for our daughter's daycare. Ask your daycare provider if there are any allergies you need to be aware of and ask them for suggestions or ideas of what other parents have brought in. Our daycare provider has balloons and other decorations, etc. One thing I will do differently going forward is to get a picture of when they are enjoying the treats at daycare.

Ask the school for their policy. They may prefer something less messy like cookies or cupcakes to a big cake they'd have to cut. They may have something special they prefer that you do