What age did your child go to a sleep over?

[Spinning]

My DD is 7 and in first grade. She was invited to her first sleep over birthday party.. I know both parents. Not close but the mom is our brownie troop leader and dad is the other home room parent with me. Part of me feels it is too soon but i know DD really wants to go.
So any thoughts? When did you allow your kids to go on over nights?

 

[binny]

Do you let your child play over at the house without you present?

Thats usually my guide.

DS stayed over at a friends house at 5 once because our friends ( who watched him) watched him for our anniversary so we could spend the night in a hotel.

I think that was a little early but now that he is 8 he sleeps over a fair amount and has kids here once in a while.

If you are comfortable with the parents and know them well, and your dd wants to go, I say go for it!

Let us know what you decide and how she does

 

[ChiTownZee]

DD had her first sleep-over this year at 5 1/2. The same girl had spent the night here once and they both handled it very well.

 

[bsnyder]

I'm probably the wrong one to ask. My daughter has never, ever turned down a sleep over!

She's been spending the night out since she was an infant....at first just with grandparents and cousins, but by the time she was 3 she was spending the night with the daughter of my best friend (and visa versa). She went to her first slumber party (with more than one other child there) when she was barely 6. She went to sleep away camp for three weeks last summer when she was 8. She's going back this summer, and has already started packing her trunk!

I know there are a lot of children that wouldn't be comfortable with all that at such a young age, but Allison is extremely outgoing and very confident about being in new environments.

I'd take my cue from the child. As long as you are comfortable with the other family, and your daughter wants to go, why not let her? Why would it be too soon?

 

[Pooh93]

DD (7) has been to two sleepovers. The first one when she was in kindergarten at a birthday party for the Brownie leader's daughter and the second this year at a friend's house. However, we have yet to have anyone over here. I know I need to do it, but just keep putting it off. Why??? I don't know... I need some encouragement. (not on your thread though. Wouldn't want to be accused of hijacking. )

 

[Pop Daddy]

at 4 she started, and still going strong at 10

 

[disykat]

I'd say if she has the opportunity to go and you trust the parents - go for it. If you're anything like me you'll be saying no a lot other times - when you don't know or trust the parents. At that age though, I'd check and see if the parents have some sleep planned otherwise the next few days could be pretty miserable!

Stay near the phone if you're nervous, but it sounds like she's ready.

 

[tiggerlover]

My son was 6-1/2 when he went to his first (and only) sleepover and that was a couple of months ago. I say if you trust the family then go for it. I was nervous too and DS had a wonderful time and I made it through the night without worrying too much.

 

[jfulcer]

DD just went on her first sleepover last weekend - she's almost 6. Mommy was more nervous than anything - Daddy was more sure everything was going to be ok. And it was.

 

[Spinning]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I still have to think it over. I guess I just hate the kids growing up so fast! I really didn't think she would be invited to any over nights since it is almost the end of the year and everyone had their parties!
Chances are we will let her go. I do know the family and no the house is safe.....But OH My! My baby is growing up! LOL!

 

[swanmom]

For several years, my DD did sleepovers that she didn't 'sleep over.' The first couple of times she went for a sleepover, we'd get a call around 11:00 p.m. to get pick her up. We used to joke that she went to "almost sleep, almost overs." She was almost nine years old before she finally made it through a full night sleepover!

 

[KiminChicago]

Both my DS6 and DD4 started sleeping over at the grandparents' houses when they were about three months old. The grandparents loved having the kids to themselves and we appreciated the evening out. Now it's very common for our son to get invitations to sleep over at his friends' houses.

I heard somewhere that children who go on sleepovers often are more resilient and better able to adapt to changing environments, so it's a good thing, even if it is hard on Mom!

 

[ByTheSea]

I think the first sleepover for DS was in Kindergarten, or the summer after. Several more in 1st grade, now by 3rd grade it seems like once a month he's either sleeping over at a friends house or has a buddy sleep over at our house. I was nervous too, but as long as you feel comfortable with the family I think it's great! Free babysitting! We always leave our cell phone number and go out for the evening when he's at a sleepover.