AIBU to think aged 7 is a but young for a Sleepover birthday party

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So dd is 7 soon and has her heart set on a sleepover birthday party. It should be fine as we have spare air beds and room for about 4 to stay over but I’m just thinking they’re a bit young. I know a couple of her friends mums quite well so think they’d be ok with it but the other mums I don’t know. Just wondering if others think 7 is a bit young to have a sleepover party as I’m not sure how I’d feel about dd sleeping at someone else’s house yet?

Has she had sleepovers before? Have her friends? I would definitely be starting with one child at a time before having multiple kids to sleep over.

Depends how well you know the family your child is staying with - and how far away her friend lives. (Like are they 10 minutes walk away, or 10 miles away?)

My 2 DDs started going to other peoples houses/her friends houses at about 9 I think... And they were a stone's throw away. Well, maybe 5 minutes walk.

Age 7 seems a little too young for sleepovers IMO.

I think we started about age 9 or so.

Too young imho. My dd asked last year but I think she's not ready (she still comes into my bed at night). I reckon 10-11 sounds more like it.

Are the others 6 or 7? I'd be happy at age 7, DS went away with cubs etc at that age.

We did it at about 6.

I vowed never to do it again! 😂

Mine has been to a few sleepovers from 6 almost 7 onwards. I thought it was too young but she was happy!

I agree it’s better to start with child. Some kids are perfectly fine but other ones end up wanting to go home. Dd had sleepovers at that age but with a family we are close to and she knew the parents well.

With one child

We had a sleepover birthday party for DD2 for her 8th birthday. We had 4 to stay, plus DD2 and her sister. It was absolutely fine but no one got much sleep!

Consensus seems to be year 3 here. We've told DD she can do one when she's slept in her own bed all night for a whole year!

I went to my best friend at 7 to sleepover but it was just the two of us.

We’ve had them from about 7 with close friends. The problem we’ve had is on 3 occasions (across different dc) I’ve had to run a child home/call the parent when they’ve got upset. They have great fun until they actually have to go to sleep then sometimes it’s too much. Obviously depends on the child and the majority have done fine but something to think about.

given my time again I’d start around 10.

We had our first friend coming for a sleepover at three and a half!! But she was in our Nct group, knew me well and was very familiar with our house.
We've had regular sleepovers with school friends since the end of reception. Aged5.
So yea I would have four for a 7th birthday (in face it's being discussed - not for birthday as they are now 7 but just for fun in the holidays)...

A friend of mine used to do sleepover themed parties instead, where the kids wore pjs, toasted marshmallows, told spooky stories and then snuggled down to watch a film. Then they went home 😁

Certainly not, definitely no mixing of genders, only one best friend can stay, one at a time not 7 at a time, they'll run rings round you.

My (just turned) 7 year old is away to beaver camp for two nights at the weekend, so I don't think it's too young as such, BUT I wouldn't be having multiple 7 year olds at my house!

We've had one friend at a time sleep over but we know the parents well, I wouldn't really want any more than that at a time.

Perfect idea!

YABU

When my daughter was young, most of the children in her class started to have sleepovers when they were in Year 1.

Guides and scouts start sleepovers at the age of 4.

they work really well but they are probably more planned and all adults attending are DBS checked and 1st aid trained

Not a fan of sleepover parties - put it off as long as you can!
invariably they get over tired/over stimulated, the hosting parent has to get cross at some point and tell them to shut up and go to sleep then they’re all horrific the next day for their own families and the whole day is a write off, sometimes Monday morning too!

DSs each had their best friend for a sleepover for their eighth birthday. DS2 we had agreed two friends but one didn’t want to stay. DS1 we’ve known the other family for years and he’d already stayed at their house but I was more surprised that there was no concern at all from parents for DS2’s. DH is a teacher, which may help? That said, I’d let DS2 stay over (if he wanted to) at a friend. He’s been away with Beavers and is off on his first Cub camp in a few week’s time.

Personally I would never allow my children to sleep over at anyone's house regardless of age and I wouldn't ever do sleep over parties. I just think they are a bad idea - children are so vulnerable and whilst most people are good people - the reality is that some people aren't. To answer your actual question though - 7 feels young.

This is why MN is so weird. And why children end up weird.