What do you do to ensure your child’s safety at a sleepover?
< 1 min read
I have neighbors who enjoy hosting sleepovers for kids every other month. My toddler hasn’t attended any of them yet because I felt she was too young to be left in someone’s care. Plus, I’m always curious about the safety elements present in their home, and to be honest I find it a bit strange that they like to have kids sleepover at their house so often, if you catch my drift. Something came up, and I need to be away this weekend, which coincides with this month’s sleepover. I feel like I should take advantage of it since I won’t be able to get a babysitter at the last minute, and my sister isn’t available either. But I can’t say that I’m not super nervous about the whole arrangement. I’m worried my daughter might be uncomfortable being in another parent’s hands for several hours, especially overnight. But the potential of having a great time with her friends is high. Do you let your kids go to sleepovers? At what age did you find it safe for them to attend? What questions do you ask before allowing your child to attend? ![]() |
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Answers (4)

Yes agree with the above, if you are feeling unsettled about the idea, its probably best to trust that and wait until you feel like your child is ready and will cope being in a different environment with different people overnight. I also love the idea of the protective behaviour teaching with kids as mentioned above by talking about what feels safe for them in terms of touching, proximity and adult behaviours.


It sounds like you have some instincts here telling you something. Trust them. If you aren't 100% sure about who the people are and why they have these sleepovers then i don't think its a good idea, especially since your daughter is so young. You have clearly said that you are not comfortable with it so i would just say no for now. Goodluck.

Hi Lauren,
I totally get where you're coming from. I think 3 years old might be a little young for your daughter to go to an overnight sleepover with someone that she isn't related to or has a close relationship with. Also, I wouldn't leave your daughter in someone else's care without you being close by just in case something happens and you might need to go get her. It would probably be a better option to leave her with someone she is already comfortable with and knows very well.
Hope this is helpful.
Heather

Personally, I think toddler age is too young for a sleepover except with a close family member that has had a lot of interaction with the child and you know they won't get upset in the middle of the night without mama or daddy around, such as your sister.
However, for older kids, you never know really what other parents are like behind closed doors, but talking to your kids about things like inappropriate touching, alcohol etc. and what to do when faced with these issues provides them with a good foundation to protect themselves.
And always make sure they have a fully charged cell phone to contact you if anything feels wrong or makes them uncomfortable.
