What age would you let your child have sleep overs?

August 4, 2008 4:10pm CST
My son is 5 and his friend who is a girl is 5, she has several older brothers and sisters and this evening whilst over and about to leave said no she wanted to stay and sleep over, I said no not tonight as I wasn't organised or anything, I just think maybe its to young, I worry if something happens in the night and my son doesn't always slep through as it is. I spoke to my mum who said I was about 8/9 when I had my first sleep over, what do you think am I being to OTT or not? My friend has had 5 kids so I guess its different for her and she no longer worries as much, am I being silly or is 5 too young? What do you think?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@michelled (326)
• United States
5 Aug 08
my daughter was not able to have a sleep over till she was 9 so no i do not think you are being silly at all. To me sleep overs are stressfull enough, and i wanted who ever spent the night to be able to handle the situation. i agree with you i think 5 is way to young , to be spending the night or haveing someone spending the night. My son is 4 now , and i know when he is 5 i will not be allowing it either.
5 Aug 08
Thank you for your comments it has put my mind at ease quite a bit, everyone is different but I'm not sure I want to be responsible for another child yet who isn't mine!
• United States
5 Aug 08
you are very welcome, i know being responsible for someone elses kid at that age can be a challange there in to everything, thats why i agree with you no way , wait till there older , and its a liitle easier to handle the situation.
@zeny_zion (1283)
• Philippines
5 Aug 08
hahaha. for me, theres no problem of kids who want to sleep over in my house. but if my daughter wants to sleep over with friends. nope!it cant be. not that i dont trust my child, it just that i dont trust people whom i didnt know personally. im too strict with regards to my daughters welfare. shes my only child. getting home late makes me worried how much more sleeping in other house.
6 Aug 08
Yeah my son is my only child, thanks for your rsponse.
@Lxandra79 (1535)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Im thinking no ur not silly for lettin a 5 year old sleep over ur house....the normal age for a kid to sleep over is 8/9. Thats when i had my first sleep over...and my son who is 8..had his first sleep over last week....so no ur not bein silly
5 Aug 08
Thank you, you've made me feel a bit better!
@ZonieB (13)
• United States
4 Aug 08
My daughter was 4 when she had her first sleep over. Quite a few girls attended...if I recall correctly there were about 6 from her pre school there but I think 1 or 2 did decline because of their age. I think it depends upon how well you know the parents.
5 Aug 08
Yes I think you are right about how well you know there parents.
@pam210 (344)
• United States
4 Aug 08
You are not being silly. Sleepovers are stressful enough when they are older. I think 5 is way too young. Your son may think it would be fun - but you are right, what if he wakes up in the middle of the night and gets scared. Or what if he wakes up first thing in the morning and everyone else is sleeping. My 5 year old won't even stay at my moms house because she doesn't want to away from her bed at night. I would let him go over in the evening but then pick him up - maybe later then normal. There is no need to spend the night at that young age.
5 Aug 08
Thank you, my son will happily stay at my parents but no one elses, he did have a friend sleep over on holiday but our friends were literally 10 doors away from us so it was ok and the boy was 7. I'm glad I'm not the only one!