At what age do I let the kids have sleepovers?

KathrynHannah · **At what age do I let the kids have sleepovers?**

My dd (age 6) really wants to do sleep overs. I feel a little nervous about her going and about having kids here all night. I'd rather she didn't have any at all. I told her "not yet" but what is a good age to start?

desertmom · 03-01-2007, 03:07 PM

If your child is well behaved, follows rules and parental direction, I do think 6 is OK, as long as she will do OK away from you - that's the question....

What is causing your hesitation to have kids over at night? I know it can be quite crazy, but maybe she can start with just one. Be prepared that that child may never have been away from her parents, either.

allgirls · 03-01-2007, 04:26 PM

My oldest is 8 1/2 and she is not ready for anyone other than grandma. Plus MOM is not ready for her to be having sleepovers. I would allow my 6 yr old to stay at her best friends house, but I also happen to be good friends with the parents. any other person- NO.

allgirls

Kim · 03-01-2007, 06:48 PM

My daughter had her best friend stay overnight at age 6. The girl who stayed over knows our family well, and her mom said she'd be comfortable staying all night, so it was fine. A few months later dd stayed over there too. We just had another sleepover party with two girls this time (dd is now almost 7 1/2). It went really well, the kids had fun. (Maybe TOO much fun!)

I would suggest starting out at your house with one or two close friends who feel comfortable at your home. You also might want to get a feel from their parents whether or not the kids will have any anxiety about being away from home. You don't want to have to be driving anyone home at 1 am! Only you know your daughter - some kids just aren't ready at age 6, but if she's asking to go she'll probably be fine.

Oregano · 03-02-2007, 08:09 AM

Totally depends on you, your kid, what your comfortable with etc

My kids started sleepovers around 2nd grade. They've never been invited to sleep at a person's house where I didn't know the parents well...so that has not been an issue. My kids really enjoy going to sleepovers and they enjoy having them. Dh goes to great lengths to make things 'fun'...L.OL. Sometimes I go to a hotel.

My older son (6th grade) has a friend at school that is not allowed to do sleepovers. He will come til about 10PM or so and then his parents pick him up. They just are not comfortable with him sleeping at other people's houses and he does not have sleepovers at his house. It's just the way they do it. I have a friend that lets her daughter have and go to sleepovers but not her boys. We're all different.

lesliesmom · 03-02-2007, 08:27 AM

My DD had her sleep over just a few weeks ago. She's 5. Wasn't sure how'd she do, was prepared for that 11p phone call to come get her but she did great and is now asking to have her own sleepover party at our house. This particular sleep over was a party for her whole kindergarten class and then a couple of the girls stayed over night. Worked out well. So, I would say as long as your child is comfortable with it and you are to, 5-6 would be fine to start.

crystalwave · 03-02-2007, 09:08 AM

I would have to agree that it depends on your child and how well you know the family. My ds slept over at a friends house when he was 5, but we go to church with the family and know them pretty well. We were expecting the late night phone call but he did great. My 3 year dd has been asking to have her best friend sleepover but I don't think I am not ready for that. We are really close friends with her parents so I may consider it in a few months.

KathrynHannah · 03-02-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregano

I have a friend that lets her daughter have and go to sleepovers but not her boys. We're all different.

This is my gut feeling but I don't know why. I don't want to have double standards but for some reason I do have them.

Dd is being asked to go over to sleep-over where I don't know the parents well. The kids have been over for a few play-dates. I'm not sure how to get to know the parents first without it looking like I was trying to interview them.

I don't want to be over protective but it's hard not to be. My kids go to summer camp but that seems different because I have total trust of the staff at camp and I just don't know how supervised they would be at a sleep-over. KWIM?