My Son Wants to Have a Sleepover

Depends where and with whom. I left my DD with my sis for a night to go on an overnight business trip and she had a blast (at age 3). But it would not have worked with a friend whose parents she barely knew...
If he wants to stay somewhere where he is really comfortable like a cousin or grandparents house I would say go for it... otherwise hold off for a few more years.

This is an attractive idea for this age (my kids begged for them from this age on) but they don't understand what they entail. I would let my son "sleep over" in my daughters room and vice versa. We also have a nephew my son's age and she would drop him off for the weekend for "sleep overs."

If there are willing grandparents or aunts/uncles, I would see if any of your close family members are willing to have him over for a sleepover sometimes because he's been asking to try. If you have any relatives that say yes to this, offer that option to him. He can sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house, or cousin's. I would tell him he has to wait unitl he is older for a "friends" sleepover. Everyone's opinion differs on this, and everyone's child is different. So there is no right or wrong answer, it depends on the kid. Some people do have successful sleepovers for younger kids with close friends, but it doesn't always work out. Personally, in my family, we did cousins or grandparents house only until about age 8-9.

my daughter tried her first over nighter a week ago shes 4. yes i got when she called scared at 9pm. maybe have a friend come over whos a little older or even a cousin. but if you really want to try you can let him sleep over somewhere else but be prepared to get him in the middle of the night.

Who does he want to have a sleepover with? Generally, I think that three year olds are too young to have a sleepover. Most of them are not ready to actually spend a night away from parents and stay at a friend's house. Does he have a specific friend in mind? When my daughter was young, she really wanted a sleepover too and she would have been totally fine to spend the night away from us but most kids are not ready. A good compromise at this age - a mock sleepover. Invite a friend to come at dinnertime in jammies and with a sleeping bag and stuffed animal. Give the kids pizza, then let them watch an age appropriate movie in their jammies and have popcorn. Have the parent pick up the other kid by bedtime.

I would invite one or two friends over of your closest friends, ones that are very familiar with your home and are comfortable. Otherwise it can just be a pajama party with them staying up late and watching a movie with popcorn.

I've had my friend's kids (5 and 3) over for sleepovers several times. It's always been fine. It depends on your kid and who he's with.

So does he want a friend over or does he want to go to a friends or does it matter? Three is young, but if it is close and he is very familier with the family and their home it might be ok. Be prepared to pick him up in the middle of the night. Also the same is true if it is a sleepover at your house, be prepared that his friend may want to go home in the middle of the night. We had a sleepover at our house, our neighbors little boy, with my daughters who were his babysitters. He wanted a sleepover. We were both prepared to walk him across the street home in the middle of the night. He brought his sleeping bag, his tent (LOL) and his favorite toy. He slept through the night, got up early had breakfast and wanted to play we had to finally suggest that we walk across the street to see his mom.
It worked just fine. He was about 3 years old also!
Good luck and I think it will be alright, if this is someone that he is very familiar if he goes to their house and if the child comes to your house, they are familiar with you and your house. And most importantly both parents are comfortable with the situation.

Is he begging for a certain person to sleepover or he just wants to have a sleepover? If he has a certain person in mind i would talk to there parents and see how they feel about it. If he wants to just have a sleep over maybe you could invite a cousin or an older friend. If you start now you will let him know he can hve fun at your house, so as he gets older more of the sleepovers can be at your house and not someone elses.

I think if it were me......I'd wait until he's a bit older.
He probably got the idea but doesn't have any idea what it actually entails.
Once the child is there & ready to spend the night, he may not like him in his space all night long.
Plus I don't see them getting adequate sleep at an adequate time.
And at that age, sleep is important. So are routines.
I'd wait.

With who?

If he has older aged cousins, who are potty trained and know your family really well, then go for it.

If you have similar aged Pre-K friends, forget about it.

Maybe when he has developed a really good friend and they both want this. Otherwise, you'll be calling parents at odd hours with a crying, unhappy child who wants their mommy.

let him have a sleepover with grandparents.
if you have no close friends or family with whom he'd be totally safe, or who can be trusted to soothe him or bring him home if he misses you, tell him no.
khairete
S.

At 3 he's a bit young. I'm all for sleepovers and my oldest has been doing them since age 4, but 3 is still baby-ish enough for there to be lots of problems, scared to be away from home, etc. Now if he's just going to spend the night at grandma's -that's different -but going to a friend's house or having another 3 year old friend over -that could really be trouble! I would tell him to wait until next year and try it with a really good friend whose parents you know.

Right now -tell him you're going to have a fun sleepover and put down blankets or sleeping bags in the living room floor, watch fun movies, eat popcorn and sleep there. Build a fort. Pitch a tent if you have one. He'll probably have a great time having a sleepover with mom (or mom and dad)!

My son asked to sleep over at my parents house when he was 23 months old. He told us to go home and he was staying to sleep there. We did! He was fine and will sleep over any chance he gets. YEAH! Now he will sleep over there with his 17 month old brother. He tells the baby that he is there in case baby misses mom and dad. Too cute!

My son has also slept over at his cousin's house but not at a friend yet.

Where? And with who? Grandma's house? I'd let him try. Friend's house? Eh...not yet.

Hi, K.:

Say: No, honey.

Can he have a conversation about what a sleep over entails?
If he can, ask him all kinds of questions about a sleep over.

Make a pretend sleepover somewhere in your house.
Just a thought.
D.

Too young,,,I'd hold off for a few years,

What's the history with this request? Does he have a sibling that has had sleep overs? Does he have a particular friend or even adult relative he wants to sleep over at their house?

Chuckle. My grandchildren have had sleep overs at my house since they were babies.

Ask him what he'd do at a sleep over. Perhaps you can have a sleep over at your house with just your family, if it's to sleep on the floor in the living room or your room.

too young! Wait until he's 5 or 6....at least school age.

Um, tell him he's too young? Or if you think he can handle it... invite a friend over for the night. Up to you!