Where Do You Stand on Sleepovers?

I am a huge pro sleepover advocate. I really enjoyed them in my childhood and want my kids to have the same experiences. They have all started having sleepovers around 3 years old. IT is a huge excitement for them. And honestly, I still do sleepovers in my 30's, only it's now called "girls' night out".

I'm ready when they are ready. My son didn't want to until he was 8 or so, my daughters were ready in K!

At school they have 15 minute recesses these days, then the kids are rushed to separate activities after school. Kids need time to build friendships. I allow my daughter to sleep-over whenever she's invited. We have done them here, but space is limited. I've even slept on the couch, so she could have more friends over. I grew up with very few friends, I want her to have time and space for friends. Yes, she sometimes comes home tired, but we deal with it.

I had MANY MANY sleepovers as a child and have very fond memories with friends and I'm still friends with most of the girls I grew up with. I am a plane ticket away from everyone but we still stay in touch via email, text, facebook.

My daughter 18, participated in many sleepovers from about age 5 and up. She too has many fond memories. As she got older, say starting middle school age through high school, there were girls at my house every night of the weekend sleeping over. I have no issues with sleepovers. Most of the time, girls slept over at our house because my daughter had the run of the entire upstairs, everyone had a bed, no siblings to deal with and I liked knowing what was going on. I enjoyed having the safe place for girls to come sleep over.

Daughter slept over at other friends homes often as well as she grew up. She learned a lot about families with other children and the dynamics of other families as well. I think that is a good thing.

I don't understand a "no sleepover" rule and the fear some parents have because of it but if that is how it works for their family, I respect that.

I think there could certainly be some balance involved instead of being so over protective that a child does not get to participate in something that is fun and helps them build relationships.

There are also parents to will say no to sleepovers because they don't want to bother with having children at their house.

I never looked for a tit for tat on sleepovers, etc. I just wanted my daughter to have as full of a childhood as possible. I have been very open minded, kept communication wide open and I have not been one to hover over everything she does. You can't keep children wrapped in bubble wrap and expect them to come out at 18 knowing all the basics, social graces and have relationships with people outside the family dynamic.

So yes, you could say I am pro sleepover, daughter started around 5 and we hardly ever had an issue with sleepovers.

I always loved doing sleep overs as a kid, so I would never deny my own kids the experience. They only have a few friends we trade sleep overs with, and I am friendly with all the parents. The kids have fun and us parents get to trade off having a quiet night to ourselves. Its a win win.

I enjoyed sleepovers as a child, both hosting them and attending them. My boys both enjoy them as well. I normally only allow one or two boys sleep over at time, and limit my boys to only one sleep over on the week end, so that they don't get too overtired and still have family time. Sleepovers are fun for the kids, a great way to get to know your kids friends, and it is good for the kids to see how other people live. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have both boys invited to sleep over on the same night and we get the house to ourselves!

My kids had sleepovers all the time starting at about age 3. Why? Because it's fun for them.

I LOVED them as a child!

Our daughter attended and hosted quite a few.
They were great fun. The girls were always so cute.

I know some kids do not like to sleep at other peoples home, not a big deal. I guess if parents have had bad experiences themselves at sleep overs they could be leery..

They are great. Rule in my house was you had to be 10 years old. Heck I am 63 and still love those overnights with my friends! All kids should have that experience.

I was fine with her sleeping at other people's houses or other kids staying at mine.

Once we get to that age I think it'll be fine as long as there are no sports going on the next morning or family obligations. I always had them with the same 3 girls we took turns staying at each others houses every weekend. But IMO some moms may not want the drama of girls and sleep covers boys I think they are pretty much able to be by themselves more with no drama girls are mainly drama from 10-15

I am pro-sleepover, though neither of my kids has been invited to one yet (they are only 6 and almost 3). I think 1-1 sleepovers or slumber parties are a lot of fun and definitely would allow my kids to go to either one. At 6, I think my son is ready - don't know that I would do it any younger than that.

My two oldest (boy and girl) are 15 and it's rare that they spend a weekend night at home without a friend. They are usually at a friend's house or a friend is here. Usually these go very smoothly and everyone is mature and respectful of house rules.

My two youngest are 7 & 9 and they have sleepovers, either here or at a friend's house, maybe once a month or so. At that age, the kids are a bit giddy and rowdy and so excited to be having a sleepover that sometimes it's hard to get them to settle down and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. I think that by the time my older kids were 12ish they and their friends had grown out of that and sleepovers were smoother.

I have a couple of friends who are a bit crazy protective of their daughters and won't let them sleep over other people's houses - esp if the friend has any brothers - due to the fear that their daughter will be molested or assaulted. That, to me, seems a bit overboard but I have heard that concern from more than one mother.

I see nothing wrong with sleepovers. While I don't encourage them, if asked I will usually allow a friend or two to stay over and also let her stay over at her friend's house.

Just wanted to mention that a lot of you only allow sleepovers with people you know. Keep in mind that most molestations are perpetrated by people the family knows well and trusts. So, if that's what you're worried about, then you should adopt a "no sleepover" policy instead of "sleepovers only with family friends."

I think it depends on the child really, sleepovers are great I think as long as the children involved are happy with the situation and there are clear boundaries on behaviour (like no teasing)

My oldest son never liked going to sleepovers and that is okay, but my younger two loved going to their friends houses for sleepovers or having a few of their friends come over and as long as they are well behaved and the sleepover is not stepping on any other obligations (clubs, sports etc.) then I see no issue myself.

I love to have my daughter have sleepovers. Truthfully I would rather be the hoster of the sleepover than have my kids go to someone else's place. I work outside our home, so I guess I dont like missing more time away from my kids. But certainly we do exchanges with close friends. Growing up I have wonderful memories of having sleepovers and I want my kids to have those memories.

I liked sleepovers as a kid.

My kids enjoy sleepovers, as often as possible. I don't care for the extra work as an adult now though.

I imagine the world will continue to have sleepovers amongst eager participants.

I don't think they are necessary.
Around here there are a small group of families who seem to do sleep overs all the time but most of the kids are either too busy or traveling or just don't bother.

We do sleepovers, but not that often. My daughter (who is now 12) asks for them ALL THE TIME.

I don't mind her sleeping over at a friend's house, that part doesn't bother me. What bothers me is they don't SLEEP (which is the whole point of a sleepover! You don't sleep!) My daughter has always been the kind of child that needs a good night's sleep to be able to function the next day. What we get after a sleepover is a crabby, snappy child that just wants to lay around the house all day.

She has gotten better as she has gotten older, she knows now that if she's is super crabby or lazy the next day that she won't have a sleepover for a while. When I say lazy, I mean that she won't take a nap, but she doesn't want to do anything but lay around and that includes moaning and complaining if we ask her to set the table for dinner.

my kids are 6 and 8 and have not yet had a sleep over. I have no problem with it as long as I know the parents really well. The idea just hasn't come up yet with their friends.

I am generally a no sleepover person. But I think it totally depeds on the kids and the parents and the relationship you have. I wouldn't do a school friend sleepover at this point... I need to know the family and parents well before I'd let my child stay somewhere other than family or a good friend's home. My kids are 5 and 7 and haven't had one. However, I am having two kids over for a night this weekend for the first time for my 7 year old. They are our best friends' children - like family to us. We'll see how that goes.... :)

I have 3 boys (oldest is 8), so we're not exactly there yet. I will not encourage sleep-overs. My kids have only slept over at cousins' houses. I'm probably paranoid, but too much can happen.

I am in the "no sleepover" camp. I had a few growing up and they were fine, but overall I do not think they were needed. My son has some needs that I would not feel comfortable asking another person/parent that I did not employ (sitter or nanny that was trained) or was not family to handle. Heck, some things I do not even allow family to handle.

Parents like sleepovers, because then their kid is not home.
Some parents I know, are like this.

Then, some are not into sleepovers.

Everyone is different.

My daughter who is 10, goes on sleep overs. Only to GOOD friends, whom we know as well.
My son is 7. He does not go on sleep overs yet.
Our rules.

My son has had two 'sleepovers'... these were actually adult friends of ours, whom we know and trust deeply, who offered to take Kiddo for us as a gift to us, the adults.

Our boy is six and no, no social/friend sleepovers for now. Maybe when he is 9, we'll think about it. It would be different if we lived close to my sister and her boys, or my folks, but we are hours away. And heavens, I wouldn't want someone else's six year old-- even the very nice ones!-- overnight at my house... can't see imposing that on someone else! :)

Maybe the parents of the girls are overprotective? Or they won't let their daughters stay if you have a son?

We want to know the families. I wouldn't drop my kid at some random house for an overnight, but if the family is one we know, she can go. I would also be happy to host here sometimes, too. She and the little girl next door are already discussing when they think we parents will allow a sleepover.

I have a stepson and a stepdaughter and sometimes parents of girls would ask if SS would be home. Most of the time he was. If the parents were uncomfortable, we sometimes offered that the girl could stay til 11PM or some time that was later than average but not overnight. Honestly, I understand, but SS wanted to be as far away as possible from SD and her friends and usually hated sleepover nights if he couldn't go somewhere else.

I'm not a fan of sleep overs. I had very few growing up. Most of the time I'd stay late and have my parents pick me up or drive home once I got old enough to drive.
I really don't see a reason for sleep overs. You can have a fun pajama party or something then go home for the sleeping part. Or you can plan an early morning "kidnapping" where everyone is collected up and brought to someone's house for breakfast and fun first thing in the morning. There are so many ways to have fun without it being a sleep over.

My kids are only allowed to spend the night at houses of friends that I know the parents. There are only two friends that my oldest 14 has spent the night with and my youngest 11 has only spent the night away from family once. We don't do sleep overs at my house as we don't have enough room for anymore people in my house plus one bathroom.