Kids Sleepovers.... Where do the kids sleep?

Question

I'm sorry but these kids are up all night. I can't do it! I am totally burned out the whole next day. What are your secrets to kids sleepovers? We don't have bunkbeds. The kids are sleeping on the floor in their sleeping bags. Can anyone help? I want this for my kids .... but it is killing me!

Answer 1

Limit the amount of children coming over, set aside a room where everyone can sleep in sleeping bags together (that's part of the fun).

Instruct them early on that at a certain time it's lights out, which means no lights, no TV, no loud noise etc etc. Explain to them that it's their choice whether they go to sleep or not at this time but with having to keep it quiet and no lights, eventually they'll go to sleep.  Sleep-overs usually have little or nothing to do with actual sleep.

As long as you set up boundaries (no kitchen unsupervised, no tv, noise or lights after a certain time) You can have a good nights sleep the same night.

A trick I learned babysitting is to get the kids into pyjamas and ready for bed well before they have to go to bed. If they're watching two movies that night, before the second one (so an hour or hour and a half) or in the middle of the only movie (45 minutes-ish) tell them to go get changed and brush their teeth, then they can start the second movie or finish the first. That way there's a smoother transition from what they were doing to sleeping time. Plus they don't see pyjamas and teeth brushing as an immediate sign that they have to go to sleep, and therefore fight it.

Answer 2

The key to this is PLANNING!

Don't do sleepovers during the week and only do them when your kids have done something to warrant a reward and make it an option for the good deed.

Make sure you have plenty of rest the night before, and if possible, get a nap in before the other children come over for the night.

Another key is to limit the guests. I know your child has friends he/she wants to have over, but more than 3 or 4 additional children can add to the noise and stress levels of a sleepover.

Set some ground rules with your child BEFORE you let them have a sleepover. Let them know that after a certain hour, there has to be a noise level reduction in the house. Although kids sleep in sleeping bags on the floor doesn't mean they can't abide by house rules. If they can obey at their parents' house, then the same rules apply at yours.

Set an hour for the noise to go down to a dull roar, and stick to it. If it rises above that, start by taking away the things that are keeping them up i.e. television, video games, etc. Once the source of entertainment is cut off, then they will have to rely on one another for fun. After about 20 minutes or so of this, they will eventually get bored and go to sleep.

This is all I have but it seems to work for my kids!

Answer 3

Establish and enforce some rules...or don't have any more sleepovers...

Answer 4

they sleep on a stratcher. In bed at 9.30 and I say lights out and no more talking at 10am. They need to sleep. I get sleep (except when my sons friend woke me by vomitting in the hallway at 1am...vomit bounces very far I learnt)

Answer 5

my mom just tells us we can stay up as long as were quiet and she gives us snacks n sticks us n a room wit a tv crayons and paper and we were good 2 go :]

Answer 6

Well you could always buy an ai mattress and let some more kisd sleep on the couch. But it really depends on how many kids are there. make them go to sleep bye 11:00 p.m. or later as long as there quiet. If they go to sleep late then they sleep late sooooooooooo you have time to make breakfast that will most likely be almost ready by the time they wake up.

Answer 7

belive it or not they do want to sleep they just need to be told just lke they would at home. give them a late curfew one you can cope with. then all lights out and everyone to bed.  they will be cool with it bcus anytime after thier normal bed-time is still late. so depending on age i would say start at 12am  and work ur way up.

Answer 8

have a room big enough to fit all of them with their sleeping bags on the floor and establish a bed time depending on when all the kids get to your house i would say tell them then when bed time is or when its time to winde things down for the night tell them then.

Answer 9

I AM A SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR.  I FEEL FOR YOU, IT CAN BE HARD TO GET KIDS TO WIND DOWN, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE EXCITED.  I FIND IT BEST TO STAY IN THE ROOM WITH THEM UNTIL THEY ARE ASLEEP.  IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE LEFT THE ROOM THEY WILL START ACTING UP AGAIN.  IF THEY START TALKING OR GIGGLEING I USE 2 SIMPLE WORDS...GET QUIET.  MY RULE IS ALSO THAT THERE ARE TO BE NO FLASHLIGHTS OR CAMERAS (WITH A FLASH) AFTER LIGHTS OUT.  IF I FIND A CHILD PLAYING WITH ONE AFTER THE ESTABLISHED LIGHTS OUT TIME I TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK WHEN THEY GO HOME.  

HANG IN THERE AND GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 10

My daughter is 10 and has been having sleepovers for a few years now.  

-Only 1 friend sleeps over  (unless it's for a party)

-They sleep in your childs room and if they keep you up put your child in another room.

-Have you and your child make a list of games/activities and rules for the night.  If they don't stick to it then ban them for having or going to sleepovers for a period of time.  ( I did this to a misbehaving friend and it worked a treat).