What Do People Do for New Year's Eve When They Have Little Ones?

Every year a small group of my friends get together at someone's house. Whoever feels like it hosts. The host usually cooks a ham or something, then everyone brings a part of the dinner, appetizers, or desserts. Anyone with children brings them. For the little ones, we set up pack-n-plays in one of the rooms so the kids can go to sleep when it gets late. It is nice to spend the evening with other people without getting into the hassle of going out. And this way we don't need to pay for babysitters.

Have fun!

In two words or less: Not Much!
Ha! We usually stay home, have a nice dinner & dessert then watch a New Year's Show & the ball drop. As my son has gotten older, he has stayed awake til midnight & banged pots & pans. He's almost 6 so I'm betting he'll be up again this year!
Even before my son, we never did much b/c my husband had a good friend that was hit by a car on New Year's Eve and he doesn't like to be out driving around will all the amateurs!
I doubt a 3 year old could stay up til midnight and if she does--watch out--surely you'll have a cranky kid the next day.
Also, I usually invite my family for a traditional New Year's Day dinner on Jan 1st.

J. M since my children were born 20, 18, and 16 I have never left them on new years eve. invite some friends and family over that have children also. keep it light and easy have everyone bring a little something and what ever it is they want to drink. that way you are not alone and you wont have to hire a babysitter. There are loads of people who dont want to go out (too expensive) but they also want to be around family and friends. Well good luck and have fun. So what if your daughter stays up a little late once in a while.

I'm not sure what they have in West Chester, but here in Western PA, there are some locations that start festivities at 10am and do the "ball drop" at noon, or at 6pm so the kiddies can go. We enjoyed it as a couple last year in Harmony, PA (my mom-in-law babysat), but plan to take our 21 month old this year. I think Harmony's "sister city" is a town in Germany, so that's why they did 6pm for "midnight".

Or you can do what we did when we were pregnant/living away from friends - go out for an early fancy dinner (with or without kids) or have a fondue picnic with a stack of good movies on your living room floor! Be creative - and enjoy!

We will invite kid-friendly friends over and make a 7 course dinner (prepared mostly ahead during the day) and have the little ones play waiter/waitress and serve us. I did it as a little one and now am passing it onto my kids.

In the past we have gotten together at someone's house with friends. None of these people had children at the time (they since do), but we always said that we would be bringing our son and they all were fine with that. See if friends want to get together at your house (with or without their kids)! Good luck and have fun!

We go bowling and it's alot off fun for our kids. It's mostly families and not alot of people drinking. I give my kids a nap in the afternoon because we are up late it's 9:30pm-12:30am.

We have friends that are just New Years eve and one camping trip per summer friends. Hubby's guys and their wives, I guess that explains it. But we take turns hosting and the kids have a great time playing and we just hang out.
I would think that maybe you could find a couple to come over and play board games with while your kiddo's played together Or maybe all watch a kid friendly, adult amusing movie. Or have a fondue night or make some cool new dish.
I was older than your daughter, but in middle school on, my best freind's family would invite one friend per child and we would watch movies all night. The adults were around but were free to do what they wanted because the kids were all entertained, (well free to an extent) Anyhow,those were great times for me to be included in their big family.

Maybe talk with hubby and decide what you would love to have as your own family traditions.

Other than bar's I don't know of any activities around town for celebrating. If you would be willing to drive, check out neighboring communities and see if they have acitivities for kids or fireworks or something.

Happy New Year to you!!

Have a few friends over, with kids, and hire a couple of preteens or young teens (older ones will have their own plans) to play with and watch the kids...if there are a lot of kids, have several sitters. Or, go out for dinner with another family, then back to someone's home to hang out, have dessert. Decide if you're going to let the kids stay up, or if you're going to call it an early night and tape it for the kids (as we sometimes did).

Hi J.!

For the past 2 years now, our friends have come over with their children and we have had one big sleepover--parents and kids! We make some appetizers and buy some drinks for ourselves and get pizza for the kids, we rent movies, play board games, watch movies, etc. The next morning, everyone takes their time waking up, we make a nice breakfast, and then they go home! It has been a blast! It's safe, it's fun, and everyone's happy! Our friends live 45 minutes away, so it's great to get together with them!

We never go out and do anything because either my husband or I have to work New Year's, and my husband hates driving on New Year's Eve (he's a police officer), so we always just hang out around the house, maybe invite a friend or my in-laws over. But our kids always stay up with us. I have an 8 yo, 6 yo, and 3 yo, and for the past couple of years they've made it to New Year's and then we go outside and bang pots and pans and yell. Then we go inside and have hot chocolate. What I'm trying to get at is, take your daughter with you if it's somewhere that's family friendly. She'll enjoy the crazy glasses and making noise.

Happy Holidays!

the husabdn and I don't drink so we get a bottle of sparkling cider, do champange glasses and toast in the new year. Hopefully with the kids in bed.

We usually invite close couples (sisters and best friends over here). We include our kids in the ball dropping. It is a great night, lots of confetti and sometimes fun games. We also light the firepit outside. I would think you are right about the sitter. People snatch them up way in advance :-) Have fun whatever you choose!!

Hi,
we have two kids and have had the same question for the past 5 years! LOL We've done the babysitter thing, which wasn't that great for the babysitter. Last year we invited a bunch of neighbors over (some w/ kids, some w/o) and just did a small party here. It was great - could put the kids to bed whenever and it worked out really well. Good luck and Happy New Year!

We used to alternate with friends for New Year's eve but, as a nurse, my friend started working more on New Year's Eve so she could have Christmas off. So, for the past 10+ years my husband, children and I have gone to dinner and a movie on the Eve, getting home by 9:00 p.m. with dessert. We then play games and listen to music. Nearing midnight we pour "champagne" (Sprite, ginger ale or black cherry soda -- whatever we're in the mood for) into champagne flutes and drink to the new year. We then go outside to greet neighbors and make a lot of noise. My children are 16 and 14 and still request this evening together.

You can make it as fun or as laid back as you want -- dance to party music, make a new year paper chain with fun things that you plan to do (and your 3 year old can cut out pictures to paste on), whatever you think is fun to do together.

Enjoy.

I am having a game night at my house for New Years eve... all my friends are invited and must wear a pair of PJ... I am going to give out a prize for who ever has the coolest pair of Pj's... Kids are welcome just have other parents bring their pack and plays so they can put their kids to sleep.

When my children were little, we would get together with another family with kids at similar ages. We'd play games, the children would play, we'd eat fun foods, and watch the ball drop together. If the children were tired they'd fall asleep, or just curl up on the sofa. We'd all bang pots and pans at midnight, and then they would go home shortly after. It was like a mini party and we didn't have to travel far. We would switch off houses each year.

We always get together with our other friends with children. The children run around playing until they drop (which is usually when we get them in the car to go home) and the parents play games. The kids range in age from 10 down to newborn....and there's anywhere from 9-11 kids there. Yes, it's crazy at times, but so much fun. The kids love being able to stay up as late as they want.

Another option would be the town party (if yours has one). In Manheim at the square they have an oldies band play, people dance in the street, I believe there's food and drink available and a ball or something drops. If it's not too cold or rainy, that would be fun. Dance till you all drop!! (although if your little girl is anything like my 4 year old little girl, she'll stay awake with all the excitement....and maybe even sleep in with you the next morning!!!)

"For the past couple of years since our daughter was born, we just stayed at home, watched the ball drop on t.v., wished each other a happy new year and went to bed."

HA! Get used to it!!! I am almost 45 and I have a 21 month old daughter. The way you describe your recent New Year celebrations is the way my husband and I have been celebrating them for years now. Even before the baby came along. I guess age is already catching up with us!

If you must do more than that to ring in the New Year how about invite some folks over to your home for a movie or game night?

Happy New Year :)

We typically get together with my college friends...but we all have kids...so we let them play and them put them down for the night and then just hang out and watch the ball drop. We alternate who hosts since we all live at least an hour away from each other. We might not do that this year, long story there, but we are thinking of seeing if my inlaws can babysit so we can get out by ourselves for a change. We also have a sitter we could ask but I am sure she will have plans. I honestly prefer being home for NYE because of all the crazy drunks on the road...

for the past few years my aunt and uncle, who have 3 young girls, have had a kids new years party. if you have friends and family with small kids its pretty easy to get some people together to celebrate. they would have new years themed foods, give the kids noise makers and drop their own "ball" around 9p to ring in the new year for the kids. its a nice way for the kids to celebrate and you can get some adult conversation too, even though it may not be a fun night out on the town :)

we do a new year's day brunch with all of our friends who have kids. you can tape (DVR) the ball dropping the night before and replay it at noon for all of the kids. no need for babysitters, sleeping at others houses, etc... but you still have a fun social event to celebrate.

Since a lot of our friends have kids we tend to get together at someone's house and let the kids play. Our youth pastor will have a party and everyone comes to play games and we sing some worship music after watching the ball drop. This year we've decided to stay home and have a movie marathon. Everyone's going to submit movies (less than 2 hours) that they want other's to see and think they haven't seen. We're putting the movies in a hat and selecting them at random and then we'll watch the ball drop.

J., I see a lot of the responses are the same. We pick a theme and invite a small group of friends over. Everyone brings food that goes along with the theme. It's a really good time. Seafood, Mexican, Finger foods etc...