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Original poster

Straw poll - sleepover for a 9 year olds birthday?

39 replies

Plonker · 03/01/2009 22:32

Yes or no?

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scienceteacher · 03/01/2009 22:33

We have done this but it is a royal pain. I have never come across so many picky eaters.

Bink · 03/01/2009 22:36

Yes, I would.
Parents of dd's friends had clever wheeze - take them swimming - extra effort at the pool, but come bedtime they were out like lights. (And I imagine, shattered & ravenous, they ate anything put in front of them.)

LoveMyLapTop · 03/01/2009 22:38

Head says no. Heart says yes.
Ds1 wants one for his 9th birthday.
Will prob give in

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drinkmoretea · 03/01/2009 22:40

Yes, we had one for dts 8th bday, 6 of them altogether in one room!

It actually went really well, all asleep by 10.30ish and didn't wake up before 7. Just did pizza and bits for tea.
The only thing I would say is don't leave it too long the following morning for parents to collect as I thought the morning was harder and kind of dragged out.

Tommy · 03/01/2009 22:42

I can't imagine anything worse

when were sleepovers invented? We never had them as children [grumpy old woman emoticon]

piscesmoon · 03/01/2009 22:43

I would have one friend-but then I am mean!

Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 22:59

Love the swimming idea Bink - but I won't go in and I think it may be a little unfair to ask dh to take 5 kids swimming

Dd wants 4 friends, so there would be 5 of them including her. Would ship my younger dd's off to my sisters for the night as I have a feeling that they wouldn't get much sleep at home ...

Is 5 nine-year olds too much?

Does that q need answering ...

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memoo · 03/01/2009 23:03

Don't do it!!!

I did it last year for DD's 9th and I swear to god I nearly had a nervous break down.

The icing on the cake was the friend who ate so much popcorn she threw up on DD's bed at 3am.

DD is 10 in a few weeks, I'm taking her and a few of her friends to the cinema and then for pizza.

drinkmoretea · 03/01/2009 23:09

Mine were all brill but I did have a mix of boys and girls so don't know whether that helped?

Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:13

Hello you!! Not 'seen' you in ages!

You wouldn't recommend then, lol. Not even if I don't provide popcorn

Can't believe your dd is almost 10 already, OMG where did that go?!
Was thinking of cinema or bowling, or even Chill Factor, but besides the fact that dd really has her heart set on a sleepover, we're really skint after Christmas and can't afford to actually do something, iykwim.

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Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:14

Oh Dear God, don't mention Boys to dd!!

She thinks they're all smelly, disgusting and rude and long may it last

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happynewgoatlegs · 03/01/2009 23:15

yay
cheap, cheerful and talked about for months1 i can't wait til mine are old enough for sleepovers. my 2 y o dniece stayed over recently and she and my 3 yo dd gabbed for about an hour . i can't wait

memoo · 03/01/2009 23:19

hello Haven't been on much recently, not had chance and can never get on the bloody computer for kids!!! DP has 2 DD's that stay with us loads so I have to fight 4 kids to get a look in!

If she has her heart set on it then go for it just don't make the same mistake i made and let them eat sweets and popcorn all night!

Know what you mean about being broke after xmas, it was DS's b'day on 20th dec too!

We we're both a bit rubish when we planned our DC weren't we! should have aimed for summer babies LOL

mloo · 03/01/2009 23:21

Yes, but keep to just 2 guests. Lights out by 9pm (but give them torches and don't expect the nattering to stop that early).

Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:24

Yeh, we were never good at planning

Great to see you again ...and wrestling with the kids is no excuse - you'll have to MN at night like me

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Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:27

Eeek only 2 mloo - not sure she'll be able to choose only two!

Have already told her that if this goes ahead, I'm setting firm limits

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memoo · 03/01/2009 23:30

good to see you too! [hug emotion]

Am TTC at the mo so if get BFP this month it would be due sept so a bit better than one either side of xmas!

Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:44

Oh good luck matey!

My littlest dd has her birthday in July - I envisioned bouncy castles in the garden and BBQ's galore! Fat chance - it pissed down for the whole month

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pocketmonster · 03/01/2009 23:49

No, no, no and no - don't do it!!

I did it for DSD's 9th birthday (6 girls) and it was a nightmare! DD2 was only 3 months old and they were so noisy and wouldn't do what they were told and didn't settle down until about 1.30am and weren't quiet and giggly awake until then but full throttle gobby.

DSD didn't really enjoy it either because of the couple of girls who behaved so badly.

Original poster
Plonker · 03/01/2009 23:53

that doesn't sound good!

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pocketmonster · 04/01/2009 16:28

It wasn't! And I haven't done it since. I think sleepovers are ok for 1 or 2 friends but anymore and it doesn't work (or not at that age).

stinkymonkey · 04/01/2009 17:21

Hosted a 9th birthday sleepover recently and it was grim in places, but over all DD loved it and it was a good cheapo birthday celebration. The worst part was needing a medicinal glass of wine, but having to stay sober in case anybody needed running home.

You might want to give invitees the option of whether to stay or not - not all 8/9 yr olds like sleepovers. We had one who didn't stay, though this caused a few problems because I think she felt a bit left out. Another one had to be taken home at 1am, so we had 5 attendees but only 3 left by the morning. I agree with getting them home early-ish, you will have had enough of them by then. Our lot didn't go to sleep until midnight and were up again at 8am.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 04/01/2009 17:26

My DDs tend to have sleepovers most holidays and half terms. I have two six year olds sleeping over tonight and a nine year old tomorrow night. I have never found them particularly stressful, tbh. Four extra is my limit though. The upside is then your children get invited back...

OHBollox · 04/01/2009 18:42

I would but the numbers will be limited to 3, so 4 including DD and swimming sounds like a fantastic idea.

Original poster
Plonker · 04/01/2009 20:28

Righto - I have took on board what you have all said and I'm going to let dd have her sleepover.

Only 3 friends and dd though, so only 4 altogether.

Younger dd's will stay at Dsisters so noise won't be a massive factor. Have told dd that I refuse to allow her to be awake all night and will be imposing bedtime at around 11pm

Oh, and no food after 8pm

Can't do swimming but would like an activity to tire them out - any ideas?

Oh yes, and the bonus is that they all have to be somewhere at 11am on Sunday, so I get rid of them early

Thanks for all your input

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