To never let my child have a sleepover again

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It's just exhausting. My two ds's aged 5 and 8 had two friends over last night. They didn't fall asleep until gone midnight then were up at 5.30

Sorry, posted too soon. So YANBU - hope u get some sleep tonight

I don't mind sleepovers. But we only do them during holidays, midterm, etc.

My rule is bed by 4am, and then keep it down. My DDs are 11 and 13. I usually stay awake to hunt them to bed, but I generally stay out of the way except to feed them.

And since they all bring iPods, iPads, smart phones with them, there is also unrestricted access to Internet.

They will usually eat too many treats and drink too much fruit shoots. They do tend to pig out once I'm out of sight.

I tend to do large sleepovers, both DDs having friends over at same time, having 7-8 guests is not uncommon.

But my DDs have a blast, and all the visitors are well behaved.

Top tip is to put a rule in place that there is to be no complaining or bad behaviour because of being tired after sleepover. And future sleepovers are dependent on this rule being followed.

When we were expecting DD my husband heard a story from a colleague we both loved.

A smallish group of parents established a regular meet of their kids, who inevitably pestered for a sleepover. This was arranged at said colleague's house, who made the consequences of bad behaviour crystal clear- parents would be called and the whole thing summarily cancelled.

Kids did not believe him.

They were wrong.

3am came and colleague was awoken to a racket, whereupon he picked up the phone to the (prewarned) parents, and every single kid was bundled off home with a deeply uncomfortable feeling in the pit of their stomachs.

The true value of this exercise became apparent on the next sleepover when the kids were overheard reminding one another that they'd better toe the line..

As a Brown Owl I've run sleepovers with 20+ 7, 8, and 9 year olds so 1 or 2 at home doesn't bother me at all. Especially as DD is one of my Brownies and therefore so are most of her sleepover guests. You don't mess with Brown Owl!

I'm fine with them now, they use to be a PITA. When Ds1 age 7 had his friends over (twins). But now it no bother, I'm fairly relaxed. But never have more than 2 over at a time.

Ds2 10 had a friend over last night. Because it's the weekend they stayed up late then they went to bed with a dvd and snacks. At gone midnight I could hear giggling, So wondered in to say it time to calm down and get some sleep. By 1am I couldn't hear them.

Had ds friend here all day too. No strops from either of them, but the flaked on the sofa for an hour or so this afternoon

Yanbu. Everyone at the sleepovers I went to used to get tired and overexcited. Someone would always end up falling out with someone and cry. I hated them so much. No thanks to hosting one for my DC till teenage years!

i really struggle with sleepovers.. I don't mind having other kids over but I do expect them to go to sleep! DS friends think a sleepover = no sleep but then next day they are a complete nightmare. Luckily DD1 isn't keen on them and DD2 is too wee! Not keen on them at all.

We call them awakeovers in our house and they only happen in the holidays.

First sleepover my son had, I had to ring the other childs parents at 3am to come and get him, as he was inconsolable after a nightmare. My son slept through it all.

The sleepover itself isn't the worst part.

It's when you're lumbered with someone eles's child for most of the next day that i hate.

It's all part of it Im afraid

We all say never again, until the next time that is!

Just wait till they're in their late teens, still living at home, you have no control anymore and find yourself waiting up till 3am to hear their key in the door!

The key to a good sleepover - make sure they are picked up early the next day. I don't mind them staying up late etc but to get up early and then have to entertain them all day - no!

Once had 7 x 8 year olds in a tent in the garden - never again

I prefer having the sleepover at ours since my youngest, who was 10/11 at the time went to a friends after school on Friday and came home Saturday afternoon asking when tea would be. Other family hadn't fed him. He had a small bag of crisps on Friday evening and nothing at all else. The other kids in the family ate an evening meal and a cooked breakfast.