I suggest age 7 or 8 is old enough to start sleepovers, but every child responds differently to the exciting (and sometimes anxious) experiences of a sleepover. Some families have a strong trust with others and they have confident kids who are bursting to hang out with their friends, so 5 or 6 might be ok.
There are no hard and fast rules about the right age: some 6-year-olds might be ready to sleep away from home, some 11-year-olds might not be. So it's important for parents to assess each opportunity individually.
There's no set age when it's okay for kids to begin having sleepovers, and children vary greatly in terms of when they (and their parents) feel ready. For many children, a sleepover at a friend's house is their first time away from home.
6-12 years old: should go to sleep between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. 13-18 years old: should go to sleep around 10:00 pm. Bare in mind that once puberty hits, it will be difficult for teenagers to fall asleep until around 11 pm.
There is no age limit for sleepovers. Especially when there's a friend coming from far away or even out of state, that could be considered a sleepover. Where else would the friend stay otherwise? The activities may change over time, especially as they get older.
Sleepovers are traditionally one-gender only, but nowadays lots of people host fun sleepovers where everybody is invited. They can be a little tricky to pull off though—you have to convince your parents that it's okay first!
Is my child too old to be co-sleeping? Dr. Basora-Rovira says there is no specific age that is “too old” for co-sleeping. She encourages parents to not begin practicing co-sleeping in the first place.
Some parents find sleepovers contribute to behavioral problems or family disruptions and simply aren't worth the recovery time. Others worry their kids may be abused or exposed to abuse while sleeping at someone else's home, a fear especially potent among parents who are survivors themselves.
What time should a 10 year old go to bed on a sleepover?
Set a specific bedtime.
Some kids think sleepovers mean that they get to stay up all night, so it's a good idea to give them a time for "lights out." But expect that they'll talk and giggle for a while after – that's the fun part! At this age, 10 p.m. is a reasonable bedtime.
Should an 11 year old still be sleeping with parents?
Experts say there are no major issues with a parent co-sleeping -- sharing a bed or room -- with their child if the arrangement works for both parties, but parents co-sleeping with babies and infants should keep safety precautions in mind.
A 12-year-old should ideally get 9-11 hours of sleep. If your nearly teen needs to wake up at 6:30 am for school, aim for an 8:15, at latest 9 pm bedtime. Of course, the onset of puberty can affect your child's bedtime pattern and routine.
