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What would you do if your child’s birthday falls on a day that clashes with other festivities? This mum is keen to move her son’s birthday as it is too close to Christmas.

A mum has been criticised after reaching out to the Mumsnet community for feedback whether she should officially change her toddler’s birthday date.

Her son was born on Boxing Day and she says this date is ‘inconvenient’ as it interferes with Christmas celebrations.
She felt that her son was “too young to decide” for himself so thought she would go ahead and change the date.

Not Special For Him

She justified her decision saying that because his birthday clashed with Christmas, his special day was overridden by festive events and she wanted to make the day all about him.

“It really was rubbish that we couldn’t do anything special on the day due to nothing being open. The weather was rubbish so we couldn’t even go out for a nice walk or play in the garden.”

She added that Christmas was usually spent at her in-laws and that her son didn’t have any other kids to play with there.

“I felt sad for him as we couldn’t make it special,” the mum added.

Would It Be Unreasonable To Postpone His Birthday?

“Would I be unreasonable to change [sons] birthday to a couple of days later?” she asked. She suggested changing the birthday to 28 December – two days actual his real birth date.

Supportive

Some parents gave her the thumbs up, saying that her reasoning was sound.

“Well you obviously can’t change his birthday legally but you can obviously celebrate it any time you want. Lots of people don’t do a big celebration on their actual birthday as they’re at work/school. Just have a nice family party on the 28th,” one commenter suggested.

Judgy

But others were unimpressed with the mum’s suggestion, saying that the son’s birthday should not be changed but rather their Christmas celebrations should be changed to revolve around the birthday.

“Yes, you would be unreasonable! His birthday is the 26th, it is what it is,” said one judging comment.

“Pretending it’s on a different day will be confusing when he is older not to mention it’s simply lying to him so you don’t feel so guilty,” said another.

“I can’t believe you are actually suggesting pretending to him that his birthday is on say, 28th December. Just do what pretty much everyone else has suggested and have a quiet day on his actual birthday if need be and then celebrate more fully on any other day of your choosing,” one mum suggested.

Is your child’s birthday on an ‘inconvenient’ date? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • i dont know why people would be upset by this.
    When i was a child a friend of mine was born on the 26th of Dec and she hated it because her friends could never come to her birthday party. I told her she should celebrate her half birthday and have a party on June the 26th.
    It got me thinking and I always thought that June 25th would be th coolest birth date as its 6 months from Christmas. blow me down when I had my youngest daughter early and she was born on June 25th.

    Reply

  • As long as their special day is celebrated as well.

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  • We always have my daughter’s party before school breaks up, but the family celebrations are on the actual day.

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  • Just let the child celebrate the day they were born – they didn’t choose the date did they?

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  • This is just ridiculous. You can’t change the date on which they were born. You can change when you choose to celebrate.

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  • I have always celebrate in some way on the day and leave the family party till the weekend. Kids don’t complain as they get 2 cakes and 2 parties

    Reply

  • I’ve never heard of that? Changing the actual day? My daughter’s birthday is “inconvenient” too you could say as it is the week of Australia Day and people are away on holidays etc so hard to plan parties but we still always celebrate and just do her party weeks later once school resumes and everyone is back it has never been an issue. I’ve never thought of CHANGING her birthday though?!

    Reply

  • I think keep the day as his birthday and have another day in January th at is for his celebration that comes just a ritual.

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  • Poor kid. It would suck, especially having everyone i holidays at that time of year. But maybe he cN have his parties before school finishes and then celebrate the actual day with his family

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  • Um… just ridiculous. You gave birth on December 26! Maybe you should have managed that better. Your son’s BIRTH DATE is the 26th December. You can celebrate it for him whenever you choose, but those reasons you whinge about… first world problems!!

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  • You can’t just move your childs birthday……..you can certainly change the day you have parties/celebrate it but changing it…..nope. My sons birthday isn’t near a special day like christmas or easter but it’s on or near the October long weekend so we always celebrate a week or 2 before or after as many of his friends and the family are away.

    Reply

  • Noooo, you can’t “move” your childs birthday, birthday party yes but not the actual birthday. My son’s falls on Easter Sunday this year and I think it’s great. Makes the birthday just that bit more special.

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  • My child’s birthday would probably come first as my kids always do but I may hold party/celebration on a different day if I absolutely had to and I’d ask my child’s permission first as, as far as they are concerned that is their special day that they’ve looked forward to and counted down the days.

    Reply

  • Why not explain to him that on his birthday it’s just going to be a small family affair but his birthday party will be a few days later. He will be so stoked because it will mean he gets 2 birthdays.

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  • Just enjoy the day with family and have a friends party the next weekend to celebrate

    Reply

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