Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Sleepovers with kids - do you avoid?

36 replies

thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 11:47

So last night was the first one

One child fell
All was well she cut her hand
Rang her mum

All fine today thankfully

But I'm exhausted
Very little sleep
House is a dive
My daughter was so badly behaved

Never again

Next time maybe next year we will do park and cake in a local cafe

Anyone else feel this way ?

God it was brutal

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 26/08/2023 11:49

🤣🤣🤣Might you be exaggerating just a tad??
The first time's the worst. Promise!!

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 11:51

No everything went wrong

I imagined it to be so much better

I know I'm being ridiculous

Plus I got way too much food in and then two felt sick

Lovely kids

Collectively hell

OP posts:
Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 11:57

Or in years to come any survival tips ?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Popfan · 26/08/2023 11:59

My advice learnt from experience is one kid at a time, doesn't matter if younger or teenagers! Any more than one is awful. One staying over is OK.

yogasaurus · 26/08/2023 12:01

One at a time. At some point on every one, I’m full of regret, but it passes and then they go back a few weeks later and you get a nice quiet night, plus they love it, let’s be honest.

JamiesTurkeyTwizzler · 26/08/2023 12:04

How old are they op?
I agree with one at a time!

SgtPercyTwentyman · 26/08/2023 12:05

Sounds like a fairly run-of-the-mill sleepover to me. At least you weren't driving a homesick 10 y o back to Mummy and Daddy at 2am.

DinosApple · 26/08/2023 12:09

Sorry OP 😆, they used to be hell.

My strategy these days is only one (approved) friend per child, the sleepover to be conducted on the same night so both DDs have a friend over (no one left out), and not to ruin multiple weekends.
And zero plans for the day after.

It's much more civilized than when they were younger (now 12 & 14), or any big group sleepovers!

They can watch movies/play games, eat sweets and contact their mums on their own phones if they want them and I head off to bed at about 10pm with reminders to not wake me up unless it's an emergency!

User63847439572 · 26/08/2023 12:11

Yes big sleepovers are pretty awful
plus all the kids are tired and grumpy the next day for their parents
I avoid as much as possible!

JamiesTurkeyTwizzler · 26/08/2023 12:13

A tip is to always have a sleepover on a Friday night when they've been at school as they are usually more tired.

Have them turn up around 8 so hopefully they've had a proper dinner at home then just provide snacks.

Strict pick up of 10am or ideally drop them home yourself so there's bo messing around when parents come.

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:24

SgtPercyTwentyman · 26/08/2023 12:05

Sounds like a fairly run-of-the-mill sleepover to me. At least you weren't driving a homesick 10 y o back to Mummy and Daddy at 2am.

I almost had to
But the parents made it over

These are fab all

Yes I know I was naive and underprepared

Day play dates for me going forward 😂😂🤣

OP posts:
loveyoutothemoonandtosaturn · 26/08/2023 12:25

Just had five 12 year old boys camping in the garden! Highly recommend it as I never seen them all evening. Sausage sandwiches outside for breakfast and all away home!

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:25

JamiesTurkeyTwizzler · 26/08/2023 12:04

How old are they op?
I agree with one at a time!

5 year olds

It was a promise I made to my DD as she has never had a birthday party so I said one day we will do a party at home and sleep over if the friends felt up to it

So young still

OP posts:
Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:26

loveyoutothemoonandtosaturn · 26/08/2023 12:25

Just had five 12 year old boys camping in the garden! Highly recommend it as I never seen them all evening. Sausage sandwiches outside for breakfast and all away home!

Love this

OP posts:
Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:28

And the little innocent that fell

I worried all night she would wake up bruised

It was a standard running too fast fall and fell on hand ( all checked over and mum rang etc)
I got so worked up over it

Then the rest of them left her out she was crying too much

Fml 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
BobShark · 26/08/2023 12:28

I hate having sleepovers, I do them as I have an only child but I have established myself as the scary mummy who doesn't want to hear them after 10pm, Loud whispering is ok as we live in small apartment. Any ruckus and I threaten to call parents, usually does the trick 😆
Mines a boy 10, so we have been having the same couple of boys for a couple of years, they know the drill. They are getting louder now as they get older but they would generally be asleep by 9.30/10 with lots of talk of midnight feasts which never came about

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:30

BobShark · 26/08/2023 12:28

I hate having sleepovers, I do them as I have an only child but I have established myself as the scary mummy who doesn't want to hear them after 10pm, Loud whispering is ok as we live in small apartment. Any ruckus and I threaten to call parents, usually does the trick 😆
Mines a boy 10, so we have been having the same couple of boys for a couple of years, they know the drill. They are getting louder now as they get older but they would generally be asleep by 9.30/10 with lots of talk of midnight feasts which never came about

So maybe wait until a lot older

She never had friends over
Covid and living in a shit house until this year but an end to other celebrations

I am a bit clueless and don't think things true

OP posts:
gogomoto · 26/08/2023 12:34

Too young, much easier when approaching secondary age when you can leave them to it

kezziegrey · 26/08/2023 12:37

5 is so young! My ds is 7 and he's not even ready for sleepovers yet, my dd, who is 5 but a lot more independent, would probably be up for it but I wouldn't let her this young. I would personally leave it a few years before attempting another!

JamiesTurkeyTwizzler · 26/08/2023 12:54

Omg op - 5 year olds! I thought we were talking older primary kids or tweens. It's great you want to do that for your dd but it's very young and a lot of responsibility for you as they're still just babies really.

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:55

kezziegrey · 26/08/2023 12:37

5 is so young! My ds is 7 and he's not even ready for sleepovers yet, my dd, who is 5 but a lot more independent, would probably be up for it but I wouldn't let her this young. I would personally leave it a few years before attempting another!

Yes exactly

So the plan was day date at the house and option for sleeping over

All said yes

It's my first time clearly

Maybe next one in year 6😅😅

OP posts:
cuckyplunt · 26/08/2023 12:56

We did pseudo sleepovers: ran riot until 8, then put them in the pjs, warm milk, movie, take them all home by 11oclock.

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 26/08/2023 12:58

cuckyplunt · 26/08/2023 12:56

We did pseudo sleepovers: ran riot until 8, then put them in the pjs, warm milk, movie, take them all home by 11oclock.

Love this

Great idea 💡

OP posts:
Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 26/08/2023 13:03

My dd changes personailty when she has a friend for a sleepover - is rude and argumentative and that is before the lack of sleep!!
Told her never to ask for more than one friend at a time as it will be a hard no!

LivLongAndProsper · 26/08/2023 13:11

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 26/08/2023 13:03

My dd changes personailty when she has a friend for a sleepover - is rude and argumentative and that is before the lack of sleep!!
Told her never to ask for more than one friend at a time as it will be a hard no!

Omg, my DD too! Last time was two friends who were also borderline rude! Fucking hate hosting sleepovers.