Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that so many of you think that 7 is not old enough for a sleepover. This is a big developmental step that YOU, the parent, are not allowing your child to make. When WILl you cut the cord? Is 9 old enough? What if your child is "sensitive"? Then how about 12? 16?

Calling it a sleep-under or whatever such nonsense is ridiculous. Call it a pajama costume party and knock it off.

There's a big difference between a sleep-over with one friend and a sleep-over with a group.

And kids have radically different sleep needs. My dd could stay up until midnight at that age, no problem, while my son would be a wreck if he couldn't be in bed at 9. Developmental differences, maybe, but not a result of me not cutting the cord.

If someone sent an evite that said "pajama party", I would wonder if that meant "slumber party". I think you should either have a sleepover, or not have one at all. I think 7 is too young, although my DD went to her first one at age 7, and for years there weren't any until age 10. The girls were too young, and my DD later told me she was scared and the bday girl was scared.

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that so many of you think that 7 is not old enough for a sleepover. This is a big developmental step that YOU, the parent, are not allowing your child to make. When WILl you cut the cord? Is 9 old enough? What if your child is "sensitive"? Then how about 12? 16?

Calling it a sleep-under or whatever such nonsense is ridiculous. Call it a pajama costume party and knock it off.

Putting so much emphasis on a slumber party as a developmental step is just weird in my opinion. Why do you feel so strongly about this? You sound wacko.

Yeah, if it's a "pretend" anything, your daughter will get some teasing.

It's fine if you don't want to host a sleep-over. Just don't make it pretend.

I cannot believe that so many of you think that 7 is not old enough for a sleepover. This is a big developmental step that YOU, the parent, are not allowing your child to make. When WILl you cut the cord? Is 9 old enough? What if your child is "sensitive"? Then how about 12? 16?

Calling it a sleep-under or whatever such nonsense is ridiculous. Call it a pajama costume party and knock it off.

RE the terminology "pajama party:"

I still think of this as a sleep-over. I think of the two as synonyms.

I have heard (from a friend in Boston) that they call what you are talking about, OP, as a "sleep-under." IE the girls come over, have some pizza and popcorn or whatever, maybe watch a movie, have some kicks and giggles, and then the parents pick up the kids at whatever set time you have decided upon.

I definitely think you are on the right track to not have a full sleepover for a 7yo party, though. My DD is 6.5 and she has not had a sleepover yet, and I don't think she or her friends would be ready for this yet! But they would adore the idea of a "sleep-under' type of thing. Good luck!

Just talked with a friend about the disaster that was her 7-year-old's slumber party. Interspersed with all the fun were homesickness, bickering, and tears. Makes me think that a pajama party is a good substitute!

I'm not completely opposed to sleep-over parties at 7, but I think you have to know your own child and his/her friends. One of my kids totally enjoyed sleep-overs at that age, the other wasn't ready. Plus, it's a huge responsibility for the parents.

Pancakes for dinner! Kids loved it

I just did this "all but the sleeping, slumber party" for my DD's 7th birthday. It was a huge hit. We did a pajama fashion show, pizza, a movie, and painting nails, and a little free play in the basement. The girls are NOT ready for a slumber party (nor am I!) and they all totally got the concept of the evening party. Kids in our school do not do slumber parties this early and I wouldn't really want a house full of 6 and 7 year olds sleeping over. This was all the fun, without the midnight antics.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Seems weird to me. Why not just have a real sleepover? My son started having sleepover parties for his 7th birthday. All of the boys who came had had plenty of sleepovers before.

OP here. None of my DD's friends have done sleepovers before. My DD has never slept over at anyone's house (although my DN sleeps over at our house). That is why I was asking about this. I did mean pajama party (don't know why I put slumber party instead). I may talk to the mom's (there are only 5 girls my DD would invite) and see what they think. I can make a decision about whether to do a pj party or a slumber party from there. If a slumber party I would just do a movie and some smaller fun activities with a pancake breakfast the next morning.

Seems weird to me. Why not just have a real sleepover? My son started having sleepover parties for his 7th birthday. All of the boys who came had had plenty of sleepovers before.

Agree - call it a pajama party, put the start and end time on the invite, and have fun. I thought about doing this for my 5-year-old's birthday party, since she's still too young for sleepovers but likes movies and other sleepover-type activities.

My kid would think it's left and wonder why it's not just a regular sleepover. Call it a pajama party and just let them do the same stuff they'd do at a regular house party.

That's a pajama party. Put that on the invite. If you say "slumber party" parents will think their kids are supposed to stay over.

Is this a good idea? I figure with some kids being 6 and some 7 that a mock slumber party that starts at 6 and ends at 9 would work best. What type of activities should I plan? I was thinking movie or finger nail painting, cupcake decorating type of things. Any other ideas?