sleepover party HELP and ADVICE please

[KangaMummy]

DS is planning his party for his 10th birthday we are going to do FROGS masks

Thinking of combining it with sleepover, DS has never been to one and we have never had one here.

DS has a bunk bed with a settee/double bed underneath, it is a settee now that he has got old enough to be on the top bunk/bed.

His best friend is a girl [not girlfriend, she is a tomboy]

How many children do we invite?

Do they sleep, him on top bunk one/two on bottom bunk/double bed? Another matteress on the floor?

Or do we put the double matteress and maybe borrow more matteresses and put matteresses on the floor in sitting room and they sleep on top in sleeping bags?

I mean how many children sleeping in sleeping bags do you have for a sleepover?

How would you feel about boys and girl [tomboy] in sleeping bags in same room?

I feel a bit weird about them sharing the bottom bunk which will be a double bed BUT they will be in the next room to us rather than downstairs in room underneath us.

What time would you have them arrive and then what time would you have them collected in the morning?

They are a very close class of 26 and we have previously had the whole class to parties apart from last year when we did a swimming party and it wasn't safe so we only had 14 [I think it was]

Any tips for getting them to sleep? It will be a saturday night.

TIA

bump

As a kid I used to go to a lot of sleepovers.

First don't invite too many, four or so is usual (if you have the room) If not then only one or two. Kids usually sleep on the floor of the childs bedroom in sleeping bags, don't worry about matresses. That way you don't have to worry about sleeping in same bed/sharing a matress etc. Any girls that come over let them get changed in a different room from the boys, bathroom, different bedroom, your room, that way you keep some kind of decency, especially at that age they need to start learning some, even if they don't think about it.

We used to go over at about 7 o'clock, then eat something like pizza at about 7-30 to 8. Let kids play till usual bedtime. then they go through the usual bedtime routine, teeth, toilet etc.

Do not expect them to go to sleep before 11, we never did. If your child has a tv and video in thier room and they don't share with younger child let them watch a video. They will eventually go to sleep, but try to keep a curfew.

In the morning they will probably be up early, make sure you have planty of stuff for breakfast. Again the tv comes in useful for early risers, tell them you don't want any one up until 7 or 8 (depending upon your own habits). I would let them be collected at about 10 am.

Hope this helps

thanks cleankittycat,brill tips

I think maybe we will have DS and 3 others. girl can change in bathroom like she does when swimming here.

DS has his own room but no tv or video although we could put one in for night.

I haven't got children nearly old enough yet - but I see those cute rollaway kids sleeping bags / beds avertised anywhere, and it might be worth asking the kids invited whether that have their own special one they want to bring?

We've had loads of sleepovers and invariably the kids like to sleep on the floor in sleeping bags or makeshift beds (not necessarily mattresses though). I wouldn't have a problem with sleeping in doubles either and would be inclined to let the girl's mum know the situation so she can decide on her own feelings about 1 girl/several boys situation.

Thats a good idea catbert they may have their own bed thingy, they will need sleeping bags for the school trip next year anyway.

We have not got a sleeping bag yet got to buy soon.

Jampot The girl is so much like a boy she plays with all the boys goes nowhere near the girls! She has been DS best friend for about 4/5 years. Of course though I do want her and her parents to feel secure and happy.

I thought about them just sleeping on the floor but it seemed a bit cruel The floor in DS room is linoneum so not carpet. [It makes it easier for lego also for his asthma.]

Jampot do you think it is easier with 4 or 6 children, as it will be hard for DS to choose who to invite and who not but I don't want it to get too much out of control. IYKWIM

Did this last weekend - 9th birthday, my dd and 3 friends. IME expecting any of them to be quiet before 12 on a birthday sleepover is asking alot. We went out for movies & pizza & didn't come back til 9:30. Then went to room and put a vid on (moved spare tv in specially). That lasted for 1 hr, when they came downstairs to play with dds pressies. 11:00 was cocoa and then up to bed. 12:30 was dh going in to quieten them down - 2 girls asleep, my dd & best mate (who can both talk for England) still going strong. 1:30am - I'm woken by racket, go & threaten to take them all home (Very angry mom voice). No more noise (should have done that at 12:00 methinks). All up at 8:00 next morning, leisurely breakfast, pack up & go home by 10:30ish. All girls wanted to stay longer, so couldn't have frightened them too much. Turns out the racket I heard was 3 girls chucking pillows at dds best mate to try & shut her up! All girls were shattered for the rest of the day, but early bed soon sorted that out.
Sorry for the long post but thought you may like to know what we went through. Not the easiest night on the parents, but will def. be doing it again (don't think I've much choice). Mine all slept on matresses on floor in sleeping bags - watch out for the inevitable sleeping bag race that they seem to think you won't hear (herd of elephants coming through the ceiling ).

Kanga - it doesn't really matter how many kids there are as long as you have an even number in total IMHO especially with girls though. DD had 2 of her friends to stay over one night and got left out . Boys on the other hand do tend to play better than girls in uneven groups. Be prepared though for a late night and high spirits generally. You'll all have a great time

thanks berries sounds like fun for them We do realise that we won't get any sleep at least until the early morning.

One of the boys talks on and on about nothing in particular. Also is a very forceful character so maybe we will see if he gets invited perhaps not He gets very cross if he doesn't get his own way.

jampot that is one of my worries because we have only had his friends here for tea one at a time as I would be so upset if he was left out.

That is why I was wondering about having 5 + DS rather than 3 + DS.

What I am not sure of is whether more children is easier or alot more difficult.

As we are doing FROGS masks we need an even number anyway.

I guess in that case Kanga it would be better with 5 + ds as there's always the option to "work the crowd" as it were. Sometimes more really is less

thanks jampot

sorry about your dd sleepover that is awful

BTW the duplo is a huge hit

Buy (or ask the guests to bring!) cheap camping mats which will avoid the hassle of heavy mattresses. Agree with Berries-if necessary put on your angry voice; they WILL expect you to draw a line under proceedings at some point, and it won't spoil their fun. Try to do this about 40 mins before you really need to get to sleep yourself. This builds in enough time for a "final bedtime countdown". 10-10.30 is a good pick up time as it allows them and you to have time to assemble all their odds and ends mislaid the night before. One final piece of advice: unless you have any real hooligans coming, set out a diy breakfast the night before. It might buy you some extra minutes the following am

AS they have been together since nursery class [6 years ago] they know DH and me quite well

so DH or me putting on "angry voice" will probably work we have used it before with parties etc.

Perhaps like you say they may even be relieved for us to say OK go to sleep.

I think 10am pick up will be enough time they can then paint their masks if they want that morning

A DIY breakfast sounds a good idea as well. Although DS has a weird breakfast but I guess he may go more conventional with his friends.

When is your party Kanga?

about the duplo. Still don't know what the blue thing is!!

Everyone is going to think me completely mad but it is at the end of MAY 2005 !!!!!

I know, I know ........ but I like to have it planned early

Actually FROGS post about the masks got me thinking about it, and also DS has started going to the class party season for class 5. One last week another next week.

Well it will soon come round Kangamummy Its best to be prepared! At least once you've organised it it'll be out of the way.

that is a kind reaction jampot

I know it is really mad of me but when I get it organised in my mind

then I can talk it over with DS but I wanted to check out what happened with sleepovers with other mumsnetters I didn't want to suggest it happening to DS and then find out that it wasn't feasible. If that makes any sense

Kanga don't worry about it. dd's birthday is in August and she is already planning her next party!!! I think she starts the day after her birthday, thats when I get her christmas list anyway. Ha Ha

She wants a sleepover for her birthday, but I said no she is too young (she will be 8 next year). Major tantrum.