Moving to Atlanta.. Where Do I Begin??

Wow. My kids are 5 and 7 - the 5 yr old was just ready to sleep over at other homes about 6 months ago. Now it is great and they both do sleep overs together here and at neighbors. I would never have done it before 4 yrs though. I've had 5 and 6 yr olds fine the entire night until bedtime and they start crying and I've had to call parents. Would never even think about younger kids - you are super brave to even consider it :) If you have cousins, that might be a good starter.

My 5 year old recently went to her VERY best friend's house for a sleep over. I assumed it would be fine b/c they spend just about every day together, and my daughter has been in her friend's house tons of times without me being there. I got the call at 11pm to come get her! She was almost crying and needed to be home. If you do decide to do this, maybe the other mothers should sleep over too!

You might be bringing the 2 year old back home. Even though it sounds great and the kids are into it when it comes time to go to sleep they might be up set and miss mommy or daddy

Hey T.~I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when I read your question. Then I read everyone's responses because I just wanted to see if they were on the same page as myself, which is that 2 years old is just too young for a sleep over, let alone a memorable one. It's a very sweet thought, but I don't remember anything from when I was two, do you?? You sound like an awesome mom who wants to do something really nice for your daughter, but in my opinion, (mom of 5, ages 20yrs.-23mos) I would shoot for a play date at the park or something a little less stressfull for all involved. Good luck with whatever you decide. God Bless, B.

Hi, T. - I think you are brave to plan a sleep over for 2 year olds! I'd have one child if it were me. The little ones may not be ready to sleep away from home; you could wind up with a bunch of unhappy babies on your hands!

And, how many 2-year olds' mommies will be there to help you? Do you really realize the work that you do with the one 2-year old that you have? If there are more of the same age, you'll need additional people to help play with, feed, and put them to sleep, etc. etc. It's your call to have a sleep over, but I'd suggest that you just have a 2-hour pajama party and send the rest of them home with their own mommies.

Just a something to think about....my 6 year old tried a sleep over and the mom called me at 11:00 at night because she wanted to come home. Luckily they lived 2 doors down.

I have 3 girls (8,6 and 2) and haven't even considered having more than one child here at a time. I'm on my own most of the time - maybe you have more patience and FUN in you than me! Have a fun party :-)

Hi T.,

Sounds like FUN! I'm usually all for girly girl fun; however, I'm thinking that at age 2 this would be a daunting task. A pretend sleepover for this age group would be cute, then maybe consider waiting a few years for the real thing.

My daughter was 9 before she had her first sleepover and it was at my Mom's house with only a few cousins. They had a BLAST! This followed her birthday party, was naturally they were already in the mood for even more FUN!

If you consider the pretend sleepover, just have them come in their pj's, have a craft activity, maybe watch a very short movie w/popcorn and juice(most 2yo's do not have a long attention span), play a game or two, give them their goodie bags and let them go home...sweet home :o)

Your daughter will be happy and so will you!!

Have fun~

You may know the kids very well, but nighttime is another country for children this young. They're at the age of starting to have nightmares, being frightened of strange shapes in the room even if the lights are on, and wetting the bed if they're starting to potty-train.

They need their routines and familiar places. You may know them well, but if you are not that last face they see before they go to sleep every night and the first face they want to see when they wake suddenly in the night, then you're asking for trouble.

And your daughter won't remember this sleepover or appreciate the specialness of a sleepover as different from any other kind of party, not at this age. Why not have a party with lots of play and dress-up during the day instead?

Some people think you are brave, but I think you are nuts! (Or you will be when the night is over!)

Please reconsider. 2 is too young. Wait until the kids are 8 or older. Ours didn't sleep over at anyone's house until they were 12. (And they don't sleep at sleep overs...)

I'd invite the friends over for a movie night and then send them home to sleep. Or invite everyone for breakfast in their pajamas or something.

Wait a few years... You'll be glad you did.

I hope that when you say you know their parents really well you mean that you know them well enough to call them at 8 p.m. to pick up their screaming toddler! Just teasing, but seriously save the sleep over for when your daughter is about 8. This is WAY TO YOUNG for a sleepover. I can't think of a single parent that would drop their two year old off at someone's house for a sleep over no matter how long they've known someone.

You might rethink your idea, perhaps having a pajama party mid day with some movie and a popcorn and their parents in tow would be more appropriate.

Didn't mean to sound too harsh, good luck.

Not meaning to be rude or ugly, but HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?

Just how much do you remember from when YOU were two? It won't be memorable for anyone except you. It even may be traumatic for the other kids if they are that young also. Most children that age want to be at home with their moms and dads. They usually have a certain routine for going to bed at night. And since you're a single mom, you won't even have any help.

I am a mother of three grown daughters, with four 1/2 grandchildren, and I NEVER would have thought of having a sleepover at that age. It was hard enough when they were older (around 12) and we didn't have the issues of potty training, or diapers, and talking clearly. If I was the mother of one of these children you're planning to invite, I would not allow my child to come.

Please do not take this the wrong way. I'm just trying to help you prevent a very trying and chaotic night.

Having hosted many a sleepover at my home, I will say that 2 is definitely too young. We did our first at age 7 & even then, there were several kids for whom it was their first night away from home. Even kids who know you very well may have a great deal of difficulty when it comes to falling asleep-most 2 yr olds have well established bedtime routines. Why not have them come play, have lunch or dinner or whatever and have a set end time? If you really feel strongly, limit it to 1 friend over night, preferably one where you know the mom well & you can have a girls' night, including the other mom in the sleepover.

I think 2 yrs old is too young for a sleep over , even if the other kids do know you really well it will be a whole different story once they are expected to go to bed and there mom's are not there! I like the other suggestion of just having a playdate/party for them and then call it a day & have them go home to sleep.

Have fun!

Personally I think a two year old is far too young for a sleepover. Would you let your 2 year old sleep at someone else's house? I have a 2 year old and I would never do that, nor would I want to have other people's 2 year olds sleeping at my house. If you want a fun activity for your child, have some kids and their parents over for a playdate. Sleepovers are inappropriate at this age.

I think you might reconsider a sleep-over and just have a daytime party. I'm not sure two is old enough to sleep over at a friends house, I wouldn't allow my child to do that so early. I guess I'm way to overprotective, but I wouldn't expect a parent to drop a kid off for a party at 2 yrs of age - I would invite the kid and parent.

Good luck w/your party.

Hi T. -

Have you spoken to the other parents? Are they willing to let their 2 year old stay over without them? 2 is way to young. At 2 they are still babies and need their mom's at night. No matter how well I knew someone I would never let my 2 year old stay the night. I think that the suggestions for a pretend sleep over were really great. I like all of the other posters think that you should reconsider this. I also would never want to put myself in a place of resposibility for someone else's 2 year old.

I really do not think you should have a sleepover for your two year old. You are setting your self up for a restless nice. Not even sure parents would be comfortable leaving their toddlers at someone else's house. Now if you have a relative with a child the same age it may be okay for that child to stay there.

I have had LOTS of sleepovers for my 2 daughters....not sure if I will have any more :-)

We didn't start having sleepovers until they were older though (about 7 or 8). I would definitely keep the group small with 2 year olds. Maybe invite 3 or 4. Will you have any help (other adults)?

My daughters always like art & crafts, get some kid friendly snacks, and a good movie right before bedtime. Most of the time kids just do what they want no matter what you have planned...so leave it flexible.

If you come up with a theme that could help you plan. Maybe your daughter's favorite character and plan activities and foods around that.

Good Luck!

L.

T.:

Do not take this personally - but you are insane to consider a sleep over for 2 year olds! Not only are you a single mom, but you would be having multiple kids over - some of which probably aren't potty trained and have never been away from their parents for the night.

Sleep overs usually happen when kids are five or older. I would suggest a late-afternoon playdate instead of a sleep over - maybe from 5 to 7 PM - have pizza and dress up and let the kids go home.

Most kids will not retain memory of this specific event. Long-term memory doesn't start until a little later in life (say 5 or six) - yes they will talk about the event for a while, but when it comes down to it - they will not remember it for life.

Take care!

Cheryl

we have had sisters stay before because i as babysitting them but they are the same age as my then 2 year old too. we just did everything we usually do and the girls had fun playing dress up and just together. for the other two girls it''s a treat to stay here because i let thm stay up late and run free as here at home they have to be in bed at a certain time and could only play in their living room. but you could do somehing like make sugar cookies and let them decorate them, color, watch a movie if they enjoy that yet. i woul only have one posibly two girls stay the night but only if the two friends were also good friends. i wouldnt want anyone feeling left out. they still dont play well with just one friend at that age and two friends might make the fighting double when they get tired and all three want to hold elmo. good luck!

I know you're excited about this, but I think that you're pushing things too young. I would say that 8 might be the earliest a sleepover would go without a hug hitch... 2 year olds don't sleep well in places other than home, and mine has a 6:15 bedtime, so no staying up late!!!

If you really want to do something fun and are set on the sleepover theme, try a "Sleepless Sleepover", which is what my 6 year-old has done on occasion (but this might even be too advanced for the 2 YO crowd). All the guests arrive in their p-jams, have dinner and a video, and exit in time to go to bed at home.

Better idea for a 2 YO party is to have bubbles, cookies/cupcakes and juice and maybe a wading pool, all to last about 1 1/2 hours, which is about as long as they can handle being around other children.

Coming from the other side, if my two-year-old was invited to a slumber party I would think A) the host/ess was nuts and B) no way! That age is way too young for something like this. An alternative pajama party or something else already suggested is much more appropriate. Also, realize that parents will be attending.

If they are a few family friends it might be all right. I wouldn't do something like that myself unless the kids were potty trained, and were over separation issues. Will anyone be embarrassed if anyone wets the bed? Will it get late and all of a sudden they want Mama, their favorite teddy bear and their usual bedtime routine? 6 or 7 might be old enough. How much can you remember from when you were two? Most people have trouble remembering anything under the age of 7 except for a few flashes here and there. Watch some Disney movies. They might not know how to play Twister or Hungry Hungry Hippos yet. When I was growing up, we didn't do sleep overs till we were teenagers and could fuss with our hair, listen to records and play around with makeup.

I think she is too young unless the child is family or much older. Most children won't be to happy spending the night at your house for the purpose you are thinking. It would be more of a childcare situation not entertainment for either child. That is more of a 5yr old thing when they not only know the child but are Actually friends. (children at 2yrs old are more playing near each other and cooperating than playing with each other)

Hi T.,

Personally I wouldn't even attempt a sleep over for 2 year olds. My almost 3 year old would NEVER be happy at this point sleeping at anyone else's home. But that is just me. I have you asked the other mom's are they open to the sleepover idea?

Good luck, S.