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Original poster

Keeping kids up for New Year

54 replies

SleepingStandingUp · 31/12/2020 18:56

Will you be keeping yours up to see on the New Year? What age?

DS is 5 and will go to bed at usual time, is that mean? It's just us three and a couple of babies, it would be a nightmare keeping him entertained for an extra 5 hours getting increasingly tired and hyper

OP posts:
Camomila · 31/12/2020 18:59

We're putting the baby to bed at the usual time but DS1 (4.5) is staying up as long as he likes - we have posh buffet food, movies and boardgames to play.

I think he'll have a good try and stay awake until 10 or 11 then fall asleep on the sofa.

WaxOnFeckOff · 31/12/2020 19:00

We did a range of sending to bed and keeping them up when they were that young, depending on what we were doing. I'd probably just put to bed this year to be honest, what are they going to get out of being kept up?

As a child we always had an open house so I'd be put to bed and then gotten up about half 11 for the festivities.

Soubriquet · 31/12/2020 19:03

No.

When I was growing up, we used to go to a big party, and kids would be awake and dancing, or sleeping on chairs.

If these parties were still happening, then yes my kids would still be awake.

As they aren’t, and we are not doing anything interesting, it’s normal bedtime for them

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Rockbird · 31/12/2020 19:03

Mine are keeping me up Hmm. They're 12 and 8 and I'd much rather be going to bed!

FestiveStuffing · 31/12/2020 19:04

I don't think DH and I will be staying up to ring in the New Year this year! DD certainly won't be.

Turnedouttoes · 31/12/2020 19:05

I think if I had little ones that young I’d do a fake midnight around 9 and find a countdown on YouTube for them.
I remember never being able to stay awake much past 9 at that age and being so upset the next day that I’d missed midnight! Not sure what I thought actually happened at that point though Grin

AlternativePerspective · 31/12/2020 19:06

Mine is 18 and I suspect he will be up later than I am.

When he was little we used to put him to bed at the usual time, if the fireworks woke him he was allowed to come down to see the fireworks on TV.

I remember the first time I was allowed to stay up I thought something magical must happen at midnight because everyone made such a fuss of it. What an anticlimax. Grin

IamChipmunk · 31/12/2020 19:08

Mine are 6 and 4. The 4 yr old will be going to bed shortly. Probably about half 7.
6 yr old will be able to stay up a bit (but he is odd and doesnt need much sleep!) Not til 12 though. 8.30/9 maybe.

WaxOnFeckOff · 31/12/2020 19:10

We normally have two sets of fireworks, one about 8 for the kids and the other at midnight. Not sure if the early one is on this year as it's usually at the end of the family concert and no concerts are on at the castle this year obviously.

LadyCatStark · 31/12/2020 19:15

Usually we let him stay up and have a little family party but this year, what’s the point? I don’t intend to be up at midnight myself 😂.

Ragwort · 31/12/2020 19:17

My DS is 19 but he's already told me he's not staying up, Grin DH never does, I might .... if I can be bothered.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 31/12/2020 19:22

There’s no way I would keep a 5 year old up! Ours stayed up from about 8 or 9 when we would gather with local friends and all the kids would be together.

doctorhamster · 31/12/2020 19:22

I'll let the 12 year old stay up if she wants to. The 10 year old would never make it and would be grumpy as hell all day tomorrow if we let her try!

unicornparty · 31/12/2020 19:23

My ds is 11 and staying up. Always has done. Its once a year and exciting for them.

AIMD · 31/12/2020 19:27

Mine are 4 and 6. They’ll be up a little later watching a film ‘cinema style’ but certainly not up to bed time.

badpuma · 31/12/2020 19:27

Now they're teens and will switch off the lights when they come up (long after us) but when they were little we let them stay up till 'midnight' but put the big kitchen clock forward by 5 hours and watched a YouTube film of the London fireworks. They were very pleased with themselves and we were all asleep by 10.

Sarcobaleno · 31/12/2020 19:29

Nope, this is when you pretend it's the bells at 9 with a big woohoo and send them to bed.

boomboom1234 · 31/12/2020 19:29

My two year old and four year old are in bed. We had a disco and a nice dinner!

DominaShantotto · 31/12/2020 19:30

Mine are with their grandparents (childcare bubble so I can work) and I think DD1 is determined to stay up (she's 8). I don't think she'll make it somehow but she's determined to try.

missmouse101 · 31/12/2020 19:31

Nope. Never did until they were 13 or so. Really not a good idea.

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 31/12/2020 19:36

I feel awful that he doesn't even really know anything exciting happens at midnight 🥺 I'm a bad Mom 😂

OP posts:
Sarcobaleno · 31/12/2020 19:41

Nothing exciting happens at midnight, especially this year. Pretend it's midnight, they get the excitement and you avoid the meltdown tomorrow.

Smartiepants79 · 31/12/2020 19:43

I think last year was the first time we kept ours up, they were 7 and 9. They were ok and slept late the next day.
I think at 5 sleep and a happy child the next day are more important.
If you had a big family party then that might make the difference.

SimonJT · 31/12/2020 19:44

My five year old insisted he would be staying awake, he has been asleep since 7:15, no staying power.

Doublechins · 31/12/2020 19:46

We always let ours camp downstairs on NYE and if they make it they make it. Even the 2 year old has a late nap so he can try

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