to not keep my children up to midnight coz it new years eve

[AuntiePickleBottom]

i think it a crazy idea, they will be tired and grumpy.

Actually, once of my lovliest childhood memories is opening the windows to listen to the church bells ringing in the new year with my granny (long dead). It's one night a year.

It's not a crazy idea if you're doing something exciting. We usually go abroad over New Year and see the fireworks in a different city. We keep the DCs awake because we do something until midnight. When either was too young, they'd naturally fall asleep. If you're just staying at home watching telly...

Well... don't then?

If you put them to bed at a normal time, wouldn't they get woken up by the fireworks and general commotion outside? Or does that not happen where you live? Last year we had people setting off fireworks in the street right outside our windows and generally making a lot of noise.

My DC love staying up until midnight on NYE. They don't get to stay up that late any other time in the year so it makes it special. We play games, watch TV, sing songs and enjoy it.

But no-one says you have to do it if you don't want to.

mine stay up every year now (7 & 8) cos it's one night a year, we always ahve a aprty - all my friends bring their kids and all kids are in their Pjs and get involved for the bells/ They love it. We don't plan much for NYD - sleep in (if they can) and lounge about watching DVDS and have a lazy day - it's fantastic and they love staying up!! Wouldn't keep them up if we weren't 'doing ' something as I'd prbably be in bed too!!

We're generally with family on nye. I always put dd to bed when she's tired but then she's only about to turn 3. She doesn't care about it and the adults have a more relaxed time without her kicking off. When she's older I'll take each year as it comes but I can't see the point in keeping them up just for the sake of it.

Wouldn't consider it for one second. Kids wouldn't cope at all and would be in melt down for the next day or two so it's just not worth it for us. Kids are very sleep orientated and fire works won't wake them. We love/prefer to have quality family time on new years day itself. We have a lovely day planned.

On Millenium eve, we had friends over to stay, with their 3 DCs aged 5 and 4. Mine were 3 and 1, and it became alarmingly apparent that the other mum was determined hers should stay up - don't know why, we weren't going anywhere or having a party.

I'd fondly imagined the DCs being tucked up at 9.30 at the latest, while the adults enjoyed a civilised drink and chat, then watched the fireworks along the river.

As it was, their kids got more and more hyper and I was run ragged getting them drinks and snacks, while ours somehow managed to be swept along with it and wouldn't sleep either.

When midnight came, I was lying on our bed with DD, as she eventually dozed off. Great NY .

I have done in the past ,but if you don't want to thats fine too

I am vaguely considering letting DS1 stay up this year.

I did it a couple of times when kids where little but it's well past my bedtime so sod it. Its just another day.

You haven't told us how old they are, or whther they are exicted by the idea of NYE, or whethe ryou would be keeping them up or simply allowing them to stay up (if they want to).

New Year's Eve is shit anyway.

A couple of years ago we had a small party at home and put baby DD to bed and she woke up about 11.30 and saw the NY in with us which was lovely, but I wouldn't purposefully try and keep kids awake.

Not interested in any way in New Year so I don't keep mine up. DS1 couldn't sleep a couple of years ago when he was 8 and at about 11.30pm we ended up saying he could come down and watch telly with us until midnight which he thought was great until midnight rolled around and he realised how pointless and dull it all was. He didn't ask to repeat the experience the next year!! DS2 is 7 and too young to stay up and hasn't asked either.

As a family, we have got an invite to a party but it is 40 miles away and we would either have to drive home or find a hotel and frankly, both options fill me dread so we won't be going.

YANBU. I don't even keep me up until Midnight. NY is a big nothing in our house. Not interested.

Wouldn't purposely keep them awake, but we're going to a party with several other families and their DCs so they go to bed when they want - whether thats before or after midnight makes no difference to me, its their choice.

Although with my DCs (6 & 12) the later they go to bed the later they get up so a late night has a significant advantage on the lie-in front

It depends on the kids, mine are adjustable and can easily stay up past midnight on special occasions and just sleep in the next morning.

When I was a kid my parents would put us to bed at our usual time and then come up at 5 minutes to midnight and as if my sister and I wanted to see in the New Year.

Some years we said yes others we just turned over and went back to sleep. If we did get up we were allowed to share a bottle of Babysham between us and have a few nibbles before cleaning our teeth and going back to bed within half an hour of getting up.

It was something we looked forward to every year.

YANBU. Children ought to be in bed at a decent hour. Be responsible (if they're under 12 this is) and let them get their 8-12 hours sleep...they don't care that it's midnight. PLus you'll pay for it when they're grumpy on New Years day, when no where is open and everyone is hungover.

gosh, futurepm you're a barrel of laughs

I love the wake up for 30 mins around midnight attitude - that's what my parents do and I hope to do. My DSS has had a combination of staying awake and being woken for the last 4 yrs (he's 11 and that's how long I've known him). For mine, I'd hope to do something similar depending on sleep temperment.