To keep my three nephews up all night?

[Upfiner]

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?

And one of the babies would obviously be with me anyway.

No, that's the point I am making....we don't deviate from the routine because it doesn't work. Even on holiday one of us stays with the youngest whilst he drifts off and the other parent goes out with the others. Divide and conquer approach.

Trying it once was a disaster. Never again.

Very poor parenting to have tried it once. I hope you still read to them that night. Poor little mites no doubt felt very insecure.

Very poor parenting to have tried it once. I hope you still read to them that night. Poor little mites no doubt felt very insecure.

It’s the first ever time they’ve all slept over.

Why jump straight to this? Just a gentle quiet evening following their normal home routine. Get them comfortable and secure and for things to feel as familiar as possible. Absolutely do it with eldest but not the tiny 2.

Then after you’ve had them a few times… then do this big treat.

Does the baby usually co sleep with parents?

Some parents are very uptight and often they create issues with sleep. Your sister sounds chilled. The kids will enjoy it and learn that staying up makes them tired.

More like sensible parenting to try a different approach once, it didn't work out, so back to the usual routine...no harm done.

Nah, the books come along on holidays too. There's no escaping that🤣

The baby is obviously too little to be put to bed without me being there anyway so will be with me regardless.

It isn’t going to be a gentle, quiet evening. The older two will be excited.

Bit of a 180 you’ve done there. Now a late night out of routine actually causes no harm. Who’d have thought!

Will the baby be with you all night? Ie co sleep or on Moses next to you? If the latter… won’t you have to be apart from the older two?

You’ll do it but personally I would say make the FIRST ever sleepover much more gentle and familiar to them.

Id she's never actually tried a different way then you wouldn't know. No one does

Why would having a baby in a Moses or a crib mean I have to be away from the other two?

They’re having a sleepover. It’s not a traumatic event.

At 5 months - very unlikely will sleep in common lounge with everyone very highly excited. They are MUCH more aware of surroundings and noise.

At 3 weeks? Yes.

Oh don’t be so dramatic!

Im not saying that. Have the sleepover. But given it’s the first ever… I would suggest familiar and gentle especially for the 2 year old teeny.

But not going to happen so enjoy. You have certainly spent enough time thinking about it!

He sleeps in his common lounge all of the time.

It is not me being dramatic.

Ah should be ok then.

You think I’m being dramatic by just suggesting that given it’s the first ever sleepover - having familiarity and routine might be better and then sure… ramp it up another time for a big treat.

Just a suggestion

I love a good sleepover and no bedtime. I used to do it with my own kids when they were little. I'd drag my mattress into the living room, order pizza and we'd watch tv, eat pizza and just have fun then fall asleep right there.
They loved it.

mine too
fond memories

But I am guessing older than 2, and our kids were at home with their mum so all vey familiar and comfy.

Don't you think that the children's mother knows what her children can manage? OP, her sister, has been looking after her other children regularly, and she's happy with this plan. It's not for mumsnetters to tell OP not to do something that the children's mother is comfortable with.

Perfectly fine, they will have fun and probably sleep in late in the morning, apart from the baby!

Indeed

but when you in post in AIBU on Mumsnet…. Surely reasonable to expect a variety of opinions and thoughts