Page 11 | 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?

Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 12:50

Allendeavour26 · 25/09/2026 12:44

If the parents know your plan and agree to it, then that is the only opinion that matters. It wouldn't be my cup of tea for someone looking after my children as I think it is more for the babysitters benefit rather than the children's, but that is why we don't do sleepovers.

I’m not sure why there has to be any competition about benefits for a single night.

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Original poster

Upfiner · 25/09/2026 12:52

CheeryOP · 25/09/2026 12:48

Fine for the six year old. With the two year old and baby..so unpredictable..could be a disaster, could be fine.

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

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dottiedodah · 25/09/2026 12:58

Wow some of these replies are batshit. the odd night watching films, and eating chocolate /sleeping on the sofa in their kind Aunties house. and SS will come calling!(yes like they have nothing else to do! FFS guys lighten up )My much missed (late) friend and her hubby (/both Teachers ),would have late night NYE parties we all went to . DC too.Now all in their 30s with own DC, all been to Uni ,got good jobs No SS involvement! No one is saying this happens all the time, just a one off from a kind Aunty wanting to give her sis a hand and have a fun time with her little nephews !

Dweetfidilove · 25/09/2026 13:13

I believe the children who are 'monstrous ' the next day are generally 'monstrous' over little things. My 17 year old would do this at my sister's, because they're nocturnal people who let her stay up late.

As she git older, we started camping in the front room on Friday nights. Her and my nephew would sometimes sleep in the next morning, or be up early if they had something to do or was being picked her up early.
I knew that she'd be tired, so the following evening was going to be an early night, end of.
Our children go to aunties and grandparents to have fun and often a change from routine. Carry on @Upfiner .

Tryagain26 · 25/09/2026 13:25

Upfiner · 24/09/2026 22:08

I have reported your posts. I am baffled as to how an auntie having a sleepover with three nephews is strange to you though. Maybe you live a very lonely life or had a very lonely childhood?

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Just ignore such nonsense.
You sound like a great auntie, I'm sure the boys will have very happy memories of sleepovers at your house and that their parents are very grateful
They are all very lucky to have you

Shoobadadoo · 25/09/2026 13:34

Catza · 24/09/2026 23:02

And yet it is also somehow perfectly normal for a lot of people. Wait till you hear that I used to spend three months living with my grandparents abroad every summer since the age of two. Or that my aunt had her grandson overnight for the first time when he was two months old. It's called being a family.
What doesn't seem normal to me is the "I have never spent a night away from my baby" when the "baby" is 14 years old. Yet, it is also normal for a lot of people.
So can we just agree that while you consider it uncaring in your specific situation, for others this would be a perfect example of the metaphorical village where everyone is caring.

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

Mymanyellow · 25/09/2026 13:47

Sounds good to me. Pizza, chocolate and a film. Two year old will drop off to sleep, might need a cuddle which I’m sure op will provide.
Give it an hour or so six year old will go to sleep too. Five month olds are a law unto themselves so op will go with the flow.
Carry them up to bed.
My granddad used to look after me and my sister when my mum worked. Choc ice and chips was my favourite dinner.

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!!!

Goinggreymammy · 25/09/2026 16:06

LoserWinner · 25/09/2026 09:15

It’s this kind of attitude that explains to me why there are so many miserable people on MN complaining that their marriages/ relationships are going down the pan. If they were a little less uptight about controlling and overseeing every aspect of the little darlings’ lives, and a little more willing to have a bit of unstructured fun with their partners, everyone might be a lot happier.

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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.

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.

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.

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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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 16:22

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 16:23

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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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 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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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 17:39

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 17:39

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 17:44

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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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 17:59

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 18:00

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

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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