Hi: I just wanted to share our experience this weekend. I have 4 yr old triplet boys that were invited to the birthday party of the 5 yr old daughter of a friend of mine. The party was at a place called "Jeepers" (has arcade games and rides for the 5 and under set).
Before the party, I called my friend to find out what kind of food/cake, etc she was having. I told her I would bring things for Dan...but to please let me know if there were any peanut products so I could steer him the other direction. She let me she had no intention of serving anything w/peanuts. I made my son a cake at home that was like the cake at the party, packed along some safe candy and treats...and off we went. I was a little nervous about "Jeepers" as I imagined all sorts of kids running around w/candy,etc. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. We ate Pizza Hut pizza for the dinner (safe...at least the one in my area is) and then came the Pinata (sp?). I reminded Dan that he needed to bring me the Pinata candy he collected and I would switch out any "unsafe" items for him with the safe ones I had brought. After he collected his bag of candy...he brought it over to me...REALLY excited because he had gotten some Tootsie Rolls. I checked his bag and it was filled with all Toostie Roll products! When I told him he could eat everything in the bag he was so excited he almost started crying! My friend, without me asking, had remembered I mentioned Tootsie Roll products as being safe...and filled the entire Pinata w/an assortment of their products. Also, the take home treat bag contained only toys,no candy!
I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to go to a party where I didn't have to take things away from my son.
I just wanted to post that some people do get it!!! Have a great day!
I've had great experiences too with my daughter's friends' parties. I've never had a goody bag with peanut or nut products in it. Most of the parents are really understanding about the whole thing, and even if they're a little uncertain, ALL her friends know what are "SAFE" treats and bug their moms to read labels and refuse to let their moms serve unsafe food at their parties
We have learned that rather than ask the families to provide a totally "SAFE" birthday cake, we always send our daughter with her own piece of frozen cake from home (McCain's Deep and Delicious is our safe food) or a homemade cupcake or another treat to substitute for birthday cake.
I've even had a mom call me from her cellphone in the grocery store to ask me about some product.
It's nice to hear I'm not the only lucky parent with considerate neighbours and friends! (It helps that my daughter and friends are 10 and 11 and can all speak quite vocally for themselves!)
Bye now.
Linda
Linda