Page 4 | To keep my three nephews up all night?

Upfiner · 2026-09-24T20:40:00+00:00

I am having my three nephews over for a sleepover. They’re six, just turned two and five months. The eldest has slept over a few times but not the younger two. Instead of wrestling them into bed I am planning to let them stay up as late as they like. I’ve always done this with the eldest and he loves it and usually falls asleep at about 10:30pm. I’ll obvious have the baby in his crib but I’ve got a huge corner sofa so I’m going to bring the duvets down and we can just have a slumber party downstairs. I told my friend who has two sons and she thinks that this will impact their whole week and their schooling and routine and probably exam results and future careers. I’m not going mad am I? This is fine for one fun evening?

Anywherebuthere · 25/09/2026 19:46

It will be fine, they might be a little grumpy the next morning but they'll get over it and you will too. So will their parents. It would be different it was a regular set up but one night won't do much damage.

Not sure why some people are being so dramatic about it. How on earth do they cope when routines change unexpectedly.

BugJuice · 25/09/2026 19:44

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 16:06

My relationship is fine, thanks.
I have had many many nights out over the past 30+ years. Fewer than 1 in 20 involved me not being able to go home to my own house or function for the rest of the night/next morning.

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Maybe this is the OP’s sister’s 1 in 20?

BugJuice · 25/09/2026 19:40

Goinggreymammy · 24/09/2026 22:39

But it's not "one evening out" is it? It's this modern thing that a night out must extend into the next day. When did this start? Can people not get a babysitter (or fun aunty could go mind them in their own familiar house!!!) and parents come home after their night out, babysitter goes home.

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Of course they could. On this occasion they’ve chosen not to. Which is fine.

TheBlueKoala · 25/09/2026 19:35

@Upfiner Sorry but I think your sister is a bad parent for leaving her children in your "care". You sound very young (16?) or just extremely immature.

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 19:32

Mathair2 · 25/09/2026 19:30

What age were they when you last babysat them

6, 2 and four months. I look after them often.

OP posts:

Mathair2 · 25/09/2026 19:30

What age were they when you last babysat them

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 19:27

Bikergran · 25/09/2026 19:06

Heaven knows why.

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😂 Are you upset because you don’t get nights out without your kids?

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Bikergran · 25/09/2026 19:06

Upfiner · 24/09/2026 21:42

Parents couldn’t care less! They’re just delighted to be having a night child free. They have never issued instructions, they trust me.

Heaven knows why.

JackGrealishsCalves · 25/09/2026 18:43

When my sister looked after ds for me it was her rules (she was a mum herself, albeit her ds was an adultby then).
I didn't dictate food, routines or bedtimes although she would usually ask about it, I didn't insist she stuck to it

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 18:06

Wannabemornighmum · 25/09/2026 18:00

I’m saying you should stay to see how they are the following day!!

😂 I think I’ll have put my shift in the night before. Would love to see my sister and her DH’s faces if I announced I was going to stay with them for 24 hours.

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Wannabemornighmum · 25/09/2026 18:00

I’m saying you should stay to see how they are the following day!!

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 17:59

Wannabemornighmum · 25/09/2026 17:58

Upfiner

op I honestly don’t need to get a grip, I’ve 4 kids, I’ve seen what overtired means!! Maybe stay in the house for 24 hours and see what they’re like over the day, maybe it’ll prove me/ us wrong but your eyes might be opened!!

Why am I staying in the house for 24 hours??

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Wannabemornighmum · 25/09/2026 17:58

Upfiner

op I honestly don’t need to get a grip, I’ve 4 kids, I’ve seen what overtired means!! Maybe stay in the house for 24 hours and see what they’re like over the day, maybe it’ll prove me/ us wrong but your eyes might be opened!!

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 17:44

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 17:39

Op posted expecting everyone to say "you are amazing, such a fun cool aunt, the boys will love you for this". Anyone who has disagreed with her that the 5 month old and 2 year old might not find it so much fun, she has responded to with sarcastic comments. As she says herself, "it's a chat forum, HTH", but why post if she only wants posters who agree with her.

A very deep question indeed.

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Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 17:39

Op posted expecting everyone to say "you are amazing, such a fun cool aunt, the boys will love you for this". Anyone who has disagreed with her that the 5 month old and 2 year old might not find it so much fun, she has responded to with sarcastic comments. As she says herself, "it's a chat forum, HTH", but why post if she only wants posters who agree with her.

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 17:39

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 17:36

Oh no, i am saying over 30+ years of nights out across 4 continents. I go home to my children now. Get a grip.

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Mmm. I hope you don’t drink alcohol and stumble home pissed to your poor kids.

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Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 17:36

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 16:22

So you can have one in 20 nights out where you can’t go home or function the next day, but no one else can? I think it’s disgusting to have more than one in 50 where you don’t go home to your children, personally.

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Oh no, i am saying over 30+ years of nights out across 4 continents. I go home to my children now. Get a grip.

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 17:34

Mathair2 · 25/09/2026 17:01

This would never work for my 2 year old. Once he gets into that overtired screaming phase there is little to console him. But anyway best of luck with your babysitting. And best of luck to the parents dealing with 3 tired boys the day after.

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I’m not looking after you two year old? Not sure why you’re projecting.

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Mathair2 · 25/09/2026 17:01

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 12:52

He’ll be fine. If he screams I’ll stick Peppa Pig on my phone.

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This would never work for my 2 year old. Once he gets into that overtired screaming phase there is little to console him. But anyway best of luck with your babysitting. And best of luck to the parents dealing with 3 tired boys the day after.

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 16:23

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 16:13

I have been going out for many many years. I rarely needed to stay out all night or wasn't able to function the next morning. Perhaps many of you live in inaccessible locations where it isn't possible to go home after a night out.

And, none of my friends ever did this as kids, or with their own children when they were parents. Perhaps it's cultural, I am not in UK, but Ireland.

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Irish children have definitely been sleeping at their grandparents and aunts’ houses for many hundreds of years. Stop being a martyr.

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Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 16:22

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 16:06

My relationship is fine, thanks.
I have had many many nights out over the past 30+ years. Fewer than 1 in 20 involved me not being able to go home to my own house or function for the rest of the night/next morning.

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So you can have one in 20 nights out where you can’t go home or function the next day, but no one else can? I think it’s disgusting to have more than one in 50 where you don’t go home to your children, personally.

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Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 16:21

Wannabemornighmum · 25/09/2026 15:41

Sugar plus overtired before they fall asleep will mean they’ll be cranky, exhausted and feel horrible all day the following day. They’re so young, 9 and 11 I’d get it but that young it just seems cruel!!!

Cruel to feed them pizza and chocolate and let them have fun! Get a grip and stop being silly.

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Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 16:20

Shoobadadoo · 25/09/2026 13:34

Having a breastfed baby overnight just isn’t the same - you aunt having a newborn that was only 2 months old for example

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What are you talking about?

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Overwhelmedandtired · 25/09/2026 16:14

Have fun OP, make the most of being the cool Aunt, sounds like your nephews will develop a lovely relationship with you.

Yes, it may be a slightly more difficult day for your sister/their parents the next day. But it also might be absolutely fine! Not all kids get easily tired and cranky.

It is lovely that you are giving their parents this time to spend together, whilst also creating a fun night for their boys. It always makes it easier as parents when your kids are excited to visit someone who is babysitting for you. Particularly overnight and for free. I would take slightly cranky children the following day in exchange for that. If its a complete disaster for them, I'm sure she will let you know and you can potentially rethink next time, but I am sure it will be a lovely sleepover.

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 16:13

mtobrokeme · 25/09/2026 01:05

Well, it started in 1979 for my mum and dad when my sister was born, carried on in 1983 when I was born and continued, happily, all through our childhoods. God it was lovely snuggling up to our grandparents at their house on a Saturday night, watching lovely films and eating my nannas lovely buns that she made for us. We were often joined by our cousin! She’s even older than us. So, no it’s not a ‘modern thing’ at all, it’s a normal thing in families where parents don’t shun the outside world, take care of their marriages and individual interests and don’t reduce themselves to just ‘mummy & daddy’! Strange you think it’s a modern as the vast majority of my friends experienced the same lovely childhood that we did.

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I have been going out for many many years. I rarely needed to stay out all night or wasn't able to function the next morning. Perhaps many of you live in inaccessible locations where it isn't possible to go home after a night out.

And, none of my friends ever did this as kids, or with their own children when they were parents. Perhaps it's cultural, I am not in UK, but Ireland.