Invited Without Baby

[DeeLicious]

We are planning to have a few neighbours round for festive drinkipoos, and we want to invite a nice couple but don't want them to bring their baby who's about a year old. Is there an acceptable way of phrasing that invite? Tin hat on waiting for abuse at us not wanting them to bring their baby....

[Bobbisox1]

Just explain you’d love them to join you for drinks but it’s adults only , don’t feel guilty and nor should anyone have a go at you , they should respect your decision, good luck

[retrocop]

Cordially invite them to you're soiree and state if they cannot find a baby sitter you will understand why they cannot attend. Is that subtle enough? :-)

[jennyjoan]

well the couple are now a threesome and so they come with baby I'm afraid. I mean do they have anybody to look after baby when you're gone.

[Sqad]

Too bloody right....you don't want a 1 yr old.....you know what women are like, they go all gooey and the baby becomes the centre of attraction.

Invite them round in the evening and tell them that it will give them time to get the baby in bed.

[Sqad]

Good answer by retrocop.

[TonyV]

You could advise it might be a bit noisy and unsettling for baby and leave it up to them. Think simply saying "don't bring the baby" is not the way to go if you want to remain on speaking terms.

[Old_Geezer]

Hold the festive drinkipoos after beddybyes time ?

[New Judge]

I totally agree with Bobbisox. Your house, your rules. Take no notice of anybody hurling abuse at you. I imagine they will turn down your invitation. That's their privilege. But there is no doubt that there are some places and events where it is simply not appropriate to include babies and small children. Unfortunately many parents, who obviously idolise their children, think they can do no harm and they denounce anybody who does not want to run the risk of their event being spoiled. Tough luck.

[naomi24]

I would have said something similar to Retrocop.

[Rockrose]

I agree that its a grow up party, so the suggestions above are quite good.
Or you could just say 'the keys are going in the bowl at 830pm'

[237SJ]

Tell them that one of the other neighbours is bring their big snarly dog that doesn't like kids )

[Old_Geezer]

Actually it finds them delicious !

[New Judge]

//You could advise it might be a bit noisy and unsettling for baby and leave it up to them.//

Not a good idea. They will almost certainly pitch up with the child. I was in a restaurant a couple of Saturdays ago where there was a party of eight or ten with a child who was probably only weeks old in a Moses basket. The child cried, screamed and sobbed almost incessantly throughout our meal. It was so bad it had cleared the restaurant by about 9:30pm when it usually remains busy for at last an hour later than that with people lingering over coffee and brandy, etc. Not the child's fault; it was obviously tired, confused and possibly even frightened as the place was quite noisy and busy. But you cannot trust parents of young children to act sensibly when it comes to their little darlings.

[anneasquith]

A one year old, doubt they will attend .

[Bobbisox1]

To NJ ^^^ No baby , especially one so tiny to be in a Moses basket, shouldn’t be anywhere except home at 9-30 at night

[youngmafbog]

I simply wouldn't invite them and to hell with the consequences. Who wants a wailing brat (and it will be) and to be honest with people potentially getting popped up it is an unsuitable environment IMHO.

But then I dont like neighbours anyway. Only talk to 3 in my road (about once a month) and been there over 20 years.

[emmie]

I would go with Retro's suggestion, seems eminently sensible.

[anneasquith]

A one year old in a Moses basket? That’s one big Moses basket !!!

[retrocop]

After all Christmas is a time for adults. :-)