Can I have your top sleepover tips please?

[sinkingfast]

I've never done a sleepover and have my first one coming up for DD aged 8.

Can I have your best tips and any do's and don'ts?

TIA

Don't do it.

farm out younger / older siblings becuse they won't get any sleep

Ha ha that's what I was going to say

Noooo don't say that!

Oh god! It's one other child - is that better?

Sorry that wasn't helpfull. My little monster is only fuve but when her friends sleep over we have from the afternoon onwards and take them out somewhere that will use a lot of energy i.e. soft play.

They then come home and play more energetic games i.e. wii, dance games etc.

After that we have a carpet picnic and then a dvd with popcorn.

They are allowed to watch videos in bed but after 11 the tv goes off.

Buy wine. Lots of wine. And earplugs.

OK, have got DVD and popcorn, can't go out because of other siblings being dropped back. I suspect they'll just do their own thing but was wondering about having some ideas up my sleeve for games or suchlike?

What about buying a few bits of cheap kids make up and let them do makeovers on eachother?

Doooooon't doooo iiiiit!

Seriously though, what I do is this: I decide a "sensible" sleeping time (maybe 9:30 if they usually go to bed at 8? or earlier if they go to bed earlier). Obviously this has to be later than normal bedtime or it kind of scuppers the whole idea of a sleepover. Tell your daughter what that time is. Let them watch a film timed to end half an hour before that bedtime. Send them up to bed half an hour before the expected sleeping time, telling them that if there is ANY noise after EST (expected sleeping time) you will remove your daughter and have her sleep with you. In my experience, this quietens down the whole party very quickly. If there is any noise after EST, remind them of your promise.

Honestly, my daughters have been to sleepovers where no sleep was had at all because the host parents did not intervene even when the party was still in full swing at 3am (the girls were 11 at the time). It's a good way to ruin an entire weekend ime, as involved child is too tired and grumpy to do anything the next day.

don't allow a midnight feast. I did with my dd age 5.5 and nephew age 8. My dd refused to wake up at the agreed midnight feast time (9pm) so I duly ate her feast bowl (crisps and iced gems). She then woke at about 2am demanding her midnight feast and proceeded to scream the house down. She was unconsolable . I had to take her downstairs to calm her down as she was so bad. I was absolutely furious with her as she had woken EVERYONE up and in a fit of anger told her I had eaten her feast. The wail could be heard three streets away. NEVER again

Aah, these are good "don'ts", thank you. Anyone else have anything that went down well and the kids enjoyed?

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decide what time they are goign to stop giggling. Agree this with them, then enforce it.

Thank you!

Movie, popcorn, give them some space but enforce what's to them a late bedtime but still civilised for you (varies with the territory).

Ime girls of that age like to stay up a bit late, whisper, giggle, write things in notebooks but apart from that aren't much trouble PROVIDED they get SOME sleep.

I had 2 extra girls for dd1's first birthday sleepover, she had just turned 8 too, they were amazing...I didn't give them any rules or 'you must be asleep by..'I put them in the spare room all three on the double bed with separate sleeping bags they had lots of board games, popcorn, juice then hot chocolate and a small tv/dvd...they came in at 10.30 said goodnight and I didn't hear a peep until 8am.....amazed, still! Think i got off lightly next time will be different

Don't expect too much enthusiasm from your guests for the 'sleep' section.

we have them frequently, my ds18 has at least 1 friend over several times a week do you still call it a sleep over at that age !!) they are no bother, playing on the playstation and watching movies,coming down for food at intervals. at least i know where he is.My other dc are 10,I don't provide too many snacks as they usually come armed with supplies,as they are quite young i would enforce a shut down time, before midnight !!! and threaten seperate rooms if you have to keep going in, also make sure the Visiting child phones their parents mid evening to say good night.We have had one incident where we had to call a parent at 2am as their dc wanted to go home.Sometimes it is easier with a few of them, rather than one guest. My dc do have several friends who are not allowed to go to or host sleepovers. 8 is quite young.