I don’t actually know when my friend’s kid’s birthday is. But if they mention it’s coming up, I’ll engage them about their plans and if they’ve asked for anything in particular for a birthday present.

I’ll bet that protocol is going to vary a lot depending on the age of the children and how close you are with their parents. If you’re related to them, however distantly, it’s probably more acceptable to wish them a happy birthday directly.

I am not close to the kids but friends with the mother so birthday wishes go to her. Happy bday to your son, etc.

Similarly my own mother gives me bday wishes from acquaintances of her I barely saw once in my life. I don’t care for these, I know my friend’s kid doesn’t care about me or my wishes, but it seems to be something mothers appreciate. So, whatever. I just say happy birthday.

I barely wish my friends a happy birthday.

My mom, dad, sister, and wife get a birthday wish, and maybe the 3 people I know who share my birthday.

My friends get a birthday wish if something reminds me that it’s their birthday.

Their kids get a birthday wish if it comes up in conversation or I happen to see them.

Of course I generally don’t even celebrate my own birthday, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I didn’t get the usual birthday card signed by all the coworkers I don’t care about at work.

Nope. And i have close friends I’ve known for about 40 years.

I don’t. In fact, I don’t send birthday wishes to anyone unless they’re really close family/friends. Otherwise it just seems fake, there’s no point wishing someone if it doesn’t come from your heart.

Nieces, nephews & godchildren.

Nope.

If I know the kids and they know me well enough that they call me “uncle”, then yes.

If I remember, yeah.

They get a card

They all have the same birthday, so all the time.