Sleepless Nights and Slumber Parties

For kids, slumber parties are events to look forward to, but for parents, slumber parties equal sleepless nights and potential stress. In addition to staying up half the night worrying about what the kids are getting into, you often have to clean up the mess and deal with a crabby, sleep-deprived child the next day. Of course you want the kids to have fun, but you don't want to spend the entirety of the next day recovering on the couch. Fortunately, these rules for saner slumber parties can help you avoid the sleepless nights and stress involved with your child's sleepovers.

Keep it small

Slumber parties get infinitely easier to manage when you keep things simple. You might be able to handle 10 to 20 kids for daytime birthday parties, but slumber parties are a different story. Limit your child's guest list to just a handful of close friends. This lessens your stress and helps ensure that the fun doesn't get out of hand.

Set rules and stick to them

Nearly every parent wants to be the "cool" mom or dad, but slumber parties aren't the time to try to act like one of the kids. Other parents have placed their trust in you, so it's important to take your role seriously. From the onset of the party, set house rules with confidence and follow through with consequences. Kids are bound to test the limits, but they secretly want to know that the adult is in control. They'll sleep easier this way and be less likely to cause trouble.

Establish lights out

For kids, part of the fun of slumber parties is staying up late, but this doesn't mean that they should have free reign of the house all night long. Establish a lights out time, at which everyone needs to be in their sleeping bags with the lights off. You might let them continue talking after lights out, but don't allow them to make lots of noise or get out of their sleeping bags, with the exception of using the bathroom. Chances are, they'll nod off pretty quick, and then you can get some sleep too.

Plan for the next day

Many kids are early risers, even when they stay up late the night before, so it's a good idea to create a quiet zone away from the sleeping bags, where those who wake up first can come for a snack or some quiet play time while the rest of the party continues to sleep. This also helps ensure that no one is knocking on your door at 5 a.m. asking for breakfast. But do make sure all the kids know they are to wake you up in an emergency, any time of day or night.

Even if you follow these rules, everyone is bound to be a little sleepy the day after a slumber party, so don't plan for too many activities. A quiet afternoon around the house is probably best, and even then don't be surprised if your little one is a little cranky.