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?

As long as you weren’t preventing them sleeping if they wanted to- plying them with chocolate at 10pm or something, I’d be fine with a night movie and snuggle.

Because they want a decent nights sleep, a lay in and a really loud shag.

That's fine then. That's not letting them stay up all night, or sleep all night on the sofa, it's just letting them drop off on the sofa. Perfectly normal.

Sounds like nights when I had my nephews. Never at a time that would affect them at school, but everything different from their normal time at home. They're 27 and 31 now, both have very responsible jobs, own their own homes, and one of them even has a wife and baby. Sleepovers at Aunty's were mentioned in his wedding speech, so I'm fairly sure they werent traumatised. Crack on, and let them make memories!

I only meant if you want to be in the same room at the 5 month old the whole time. By the time mine were that age I put them to bed in their cribs in my room and they slept there alone until I went up to bed later. Technically that’s against the sleep guidance which says 6 months I think. If I was looking after someone else’s kids I would probably stick more rigidly to guidance.

Neither of mine by 5 months would sleep in a crib in the living room whilst there was tv, lights, noise going on. That went out the window when they left the newborn phase.

Ok so many parents wouldn’t be happy with this arrangement but also many parents just need a night off for their sanity! People talking about contacting SS are absolutely clueless about the hideous lives that many children live who definitely need SS intervention!
This scenario would not be on SS radar for any reason. The children are safe,fed and loved .

I am now actually in the jail. Sharing a cell with my sister who is also guilty of neglect for leaving her children cared for whilst having a night out.

Oh bore off 🥱

Having one evening away from your children is not a crime.

Yes.... because 2 year olds need "something to scream about" and if you let them "do as he pleases" they wont cry at all. Have you ever actually cared for a 2 year old before? It sounds like youve only seen them on TV. Toddlers cry because they are tired, lonely, overwhelmed. Or sometimes for no discernible reason. Letting them do as they please isn't going to help with those.

Because she’s away to stay at a country pub where she’ll drink lots of wine and enjoy a good shag, I should imagine.

Oh honest to fucking christ, what is wrong with some of you

I don't see a problem as a one off. Movie night with treats and cuddles sounds like a delight. I think you are being a little optimistic that the 2 year old might sit and watch a full film though, good luck with that.

I think he’s got such a loud household he tunes the noise out!

I couldn’t leave him in a different room, I’d be too paranoid. I’ll just keep him downstairs with me.

Cracking up at some of these responses! I had my three second cousins who live at the other end of the country to stay a few years back at ages 6/8/13 and we did basically exactly this except with Descendants not toy story (and appreciate they're a bit older than your nephews). The six year old insisted on taking one of the fluffy unicorn shaped cat beds to bed with her and proudly told her parents the next day that she'd slept in the cat bed 😂

I said there was no fixed bedtime, the two younger ones conked out well before midnight and the thirteen year old managed about another half an hour before being sound asleep. My cousins (their parents) were delighted with a childfree night to catch up with my mum, and the girls still all talk about it now so I think your plan is perfect!

This post is completely bizarre - what is the actual point of it? OP you’re clearly looking for reactions but for what reason? It’s not exactly a dilemma since you’ve clearly made your mind up judging by your replies. And as for all the ‘oh it’s fine, I did it with my kids and they were perfectly okay the next day’ you must be away with the fairies thinking that the disruption doesn’t screw up their sleep patterns and turn them feral in the meantime -all so OP can get her kicks playing ‘fun aunty’ for the night. Never mind her, or the parents, it’s the kids I feel for in the long run.

But it's not "one evening out" is it? It's this modern thing that a night out must extend into the next day. When did this start? Can people not get a babysitter (or fun aunty could go mind them in their own familiar house!!!) and parents come home after their night out, babysitter goes home.

The situation you describe is totally different. OP is minding a 5 month old and 2 year old.

Yes, I have had looked after the two year old many times and the eldest even more. It does seem unusual for a two year old to be up screaming all night because their father is looking after them, and that must have been difficult. But I feel quite confident my nephew will be okay.

You need to put down your phone, turn around, and engage with the next real life person you see.

My grandchildren are monstrous after a late night so unless you are looking after them all the following day too, I think it's a bad idea if you actually like the parents.

He’ll be excited and then be stone out of within the hour.

You’re hardly keeping them up all night, just letting them fall asleep on the sofa with some movies and treats on a Saturday night. They’ll probably not last much beyond 10pm. Sounds perfect to me. Enjoy ☺️

Oh give over 🤣🤣

I thought my friend was insane and that no one else could think the same way. But lo and behold!