Sleepovers

[Petlover]

I put it in this section because I mean kids of about 5yrs and older. Do your kids have sleepovers? or do you prefer not too let them?

DD is 5 and amongs all the friends its 'can we have a sleepover?' I feel I am happy for DD too go if I know both parents and not just know them but have the right feeling (I go alot on my instincts, not much to go on with stuff like this!). For example there is one lovely friend who keeps asking. Her Mum is lovely too but I have only met Dad very breifly and while I am sure he's ok I haven't had a chance to get the right feeling yet so don't want DD to go. I also feel a bit bad about saying no - a bit rude. I worry I am over protective sometimes. What about you guys?

[Mrs Potts]

My DS is 8 and aside from one time with a friend, the only sleep overs he's had were staying with neighbours, or with his cousin. But being family that started reasonably young.

That being said, if he had an invitation to a sleep over, and he was keen to go, as long as I knew one of the parents reasonably well I'd be happy for him to go.

Perhaps an alternative for you at this stage could be for your DD to have a friend to your place instead? It might be a way for you to get to know the other parents better, and they could reciprocate down the track.

[jag5000]

hmm.. trying to remember DD's first sleepover? .. maybe grade 2, so that's what? 7 or 8? these days I am happier for her to go.. she is a confident and sensible girl and if worse comes to worse she knows she can call me at any time

[LuvMy4Babes]

My 2 older kids have both had 1 sleepover at a friends house (my daughter was 8, son was 10) and apart from that, they aren't allowed to sleep anywhere apart from home, cousins house and grandparents houses.

The 2 younger ones have never slept at any 'friends' houses and won't for a while.

[JabberJaw]

My DD has asked to have sleepovers but i said no. She is 6 and i am happy for her to sleep at my friends house (who has kids) but not other peoples houses.

My son, 5, wouldn't even ask to have a sleepover because he wont sleep anywhere but home with his mummy :goodvibes:

I dont let my kids travel in other peoples cars, so that is hard to explain to some parents as they brush it of, where as my GF understands and wont drive around with my DD, she just calls me and i go pick her up.

My eldest DD 12, does have sleepovers but refuses to invite her friends to our madhouse to sleep :laughing:

My son has also had a friend over, but that was more me babysitting his mate than a sleepover.

[Hokey Pokey]

My 6 y/o had her first sleep over just the other day, I work with both parents so felt 100% fine with it and DD had a blast!:yes:

[Cicho]

Maybe you could offer to have her friends have a sleepover at your home so you can
1. Keep an eye on them yourself and
2. Give yourself time to gauge the parents you aren't sure of...

This is how I solved the problem of having my DD ask to sleep over someone's home I wasn't sure on.

I am only too happy to have her friends here so at least I know what they are up to :yes:

[Petlover]

Yes, I am more than happy for her to have friends sleepover here. Like I say I'll feel a bit rude when I say no sorry but your kid can stay here ! Their Mum is probably unsure of me :laughing:

Its nice because I now feel I am not overprotective as others with kids of the same age don't do sleepovers either. Mrs Potts, DP is like you, he is happy for her to go for a sleepover if I know one of the parents quite well. He says if you get a good feeling off the Mum it should be enough but I dunno...I'm a lot more cautious about people than he is.

[spiritualmama]

I am so over protective of my kids...I dont like the idea of them having sleep overs I would much rather thier friends come here. Although my girls are 7 and nearly 11 I would never forgive myself if I let them go and somemthing happened. I dont let my eldest go to camp with school either.....I know cotton wool kids

[Petlover]

Today the little girl (that visits her grandma's next door) is here playing and when her Mum collected her asked if my DD5 could come back and stay the night. She is a lovely lady and lovely kids but I said no. I said just as a general rule I don't let DD have sleepovers unless I both know the parents well and know their house/home too. I said I hope your not offended and she said she understood.

I still feel a bit worried that I am being overprotective. Just thought I would comment again as I am coming across this situation a bit lately and am still keen to here more opinions.

[jag5000]

I try to organise a playdate with the kid and the mum as a first step (well, I did when DD was little). If you say "I'm happy to do the travelling, we could come to your house" most likely she'll say yes. Then you can get to know both before you let your DD sleep over.

[sweetseven]

Well, last year, I had my 7yo daughter asking to have a sleepover with twin boys in her class. She described which one would sleep on the left, and which on the right, and she would sleep in the middle.

I didnt think this was a good idea, and was ever so glad to discover that it was all the kids idea, and their mother was blissfully unaware.