Grandchildren 'Sleeping Over'

We’ve got one little boy who goes to bed as good as gold, sleeps all night, but if he sleeps past 5.30 I consider myself very lucky!

I am literally just about to make a kind of old-fashioned bolster so my granddaughter doesn't roll off her low bed. Would that be useful to make your double feel like to singles?
I wish I'd bought a baby monitor when she first started sleepovers here.
Audio-books?
Definitely a water proof mattress protector?
We gave a toy to go to bed with that stays at Nana's
PS Even though it goes brilliantly, I'm still exhausted the next day

Craftycat

We have up to six, the cousins all love staying over together, and infact, if you’ve got two, you may as well have six!

The middle ones are allowed little midnight feasts (not at midnight) with tooth brushing after, it’s all part of the fun

Hope it goes well, Lyndiloo! Arrangements sound good. I do echo waterproof mattress cover - and spare bedding handy in case anyone is sick in the night. Happened here once, however dd was also staying that time so at least two of us to do the necessary.

We will have our two, recently four and will be just three, coming for three nights in July, gulp, while their M and D attend a no kids wedding abroad.

They will also share a dbl bed, a sofa bed upstairs, very low with no arms, but they're not good sleepers and I'm fully expecting one of them to end up in bed with me or dh, while one of us will end up in the sofa bed with the other. I will leave the hall light on, which should be plenty.

We will also have another guest staying for two of the nights, but she has been warned!! and said she'd stay anyway.

I dare say we'll be on our knees by the next of it, but it will be the first proper break, with lie ins! that dd and SiL will have had together in over four years.

I can guarantee they will take a while to 'settle' down to sleep! All a bit exciting new and different. Be prepared to end up falling asleep on the bed with them!

No, no to the sweets Candelle even before teeth cleaning time
Most young parents (rightly IMO) discourage sugar, sweets, soft drinks etc, both for reasons to dental hygiene but because many children experience a “sugar high” even after a few sweets, not advisable at any time, especially at night.
My DGC have been coming for “sleepovers” since the eldest, now 9, was a matter of a few months old and I have found sticking to their home bedtime routine is always best.
One piece of advice though ,if others have not said so already, is go to bed yourself as early as you practically can.
That way you might get some sleep, but be prepared for an early start!

You sound like a lovely Mother and Grandmother. Have a snooze before they arrive as you might not sleep too well that night (I mean anxious rather than the children keeping you up). Nightlights in room are great along with a cuddly toy.

Lots of cuddles and reassurance along with stories. Not too much sugar or drinks near bedtime.

Enjoy!

Fully agree Gill - such a joy having them over ?but follow that with a nice chilled out day for yourself- you will love it. Yes, you must have a stairgate for the 3 year old, and keep the landing light on. Have fun !!

Definitely a waterproof mattress protector 'just in case' and one of those little steps in the bathroom for little ones to be able to reach the loo quickly and easily. And a night light in the hall. Enjoy. You'll have a great time and so will they.

Our 6 stay over with us a lot. Usually in 2x3 but on odd occasions we have had all 6 together. The older ones rarely need to come now.
It is such good fun- yes they will take ages to drop off but generally wake up late to make up for it.
The only bit I find stressful is breakfast- especially when we had all 6 as they all wanted something different! Funnily enough the 3 smaller one all refuse to eat eggs at home but insist on having them here every time- mostly boiled to play the ' do you want another egg Grandy?- I can't eat mine' with the empty shell. I can't believe they are still playing this game!
Enjoy having them- magic times & you are making memories for them.

Agree with all other posters, it's a joy to have grandchildren sleep over. Just don't plan anything strenuous for the following day!

My grandchildren were really small and had a sleepover some times I just swapped houses as it was easier. I went to sleep at the children’s house with them and the parents went out then returned to mine to watch a film and have a late night as they could sleep in in the morning . It saved transporting loads of things that small children need to my house. The parents said it was nice to be away from home for a night and was more relaxing. Once they got to about 3 sleepovers have been at mine and we all love it. Fortunately we live quite close so easily arranged.

As usual, Gransnetters have come up with great ideas.

My contribution would be to tell them that they can have a 'midnight feast'. This is a selection of small sweeties in a small bowl. Served, not at midnight, of course but shortly before bedtime (thus not omitting teeth cleaning!).
We let them stay up a little later so they felt it really was midnight.

One grandson, now in now in his mid-teens, still has fond memories of the 'secret' midnight feasts (secret from mummy and daddy..... or so they thought but not really!).

Our grandchildren were always beside themselves with glee regarding the anticipation of the forthcoming treat.

Oh, I shouldn't really add this but when ours were several years older than your grandchildren, I ensured that cereal was left out for them on the kitchen table and that they knew how to turn the television on! I don't do well with 6.00am early starts!

When ours were very small and stayed over, DC used to bring the monitor and set it up for us. The 'moon/sun' clocks are a good idea as they knew they shouldn't get up when the moon is still showing.

You sound as if you have everything sorted out. The two of ours who stay most frequently start off in different rooms but quite often the little one would come and stand by the side of my bed in the middle of the night and stroke my face - making me jump out of my skin! Then I'd ask if she wanted to get into the double bed with her sister and she would settled down there happily.
(Older sister likes to have the double bed to herself, so they start off like that!).

Make sure they bring any cuddly toys etc which usually go to bed with them
Be prepared for 'just one more story please' - but I'm sure they will be fine.

If you have to use a double bed I think it would be helpful to have a bolster down the middle and a single duvet for each child. they could bring their own duvets from home so that each side of the bed is personalised as advised by previous post. Because of the likely hood of puberty being earlier than in our generation it would, I think be unwise, to consider a double bed for more than 3 years. This is just a thought. I have not looked anything up.

But do enjoy the kids at your place whilst they are young .

I can't see much more you can do to prepare you seem to have it all in hand. Dim light, stair gate, doors open. They'll think of it as a bit of any adventure. If you're anything like me you probably sleep lightly that night and hear them if they move. I would make it clear to them if they do wake up and need anything it's ok to shout for you.

As others have stated, I would really recommend a CD type player for stories Lyndi, it's a nice way to get them off to sleep. We have a collection of Roald Dahl's and a firm favourite is a David Walliams' one where farts unfortunate bodily noises of the rear end nature are prolific throughout I didn't buy that one.

Ours stay over every other week-end more or less, they tend to share a double bed in our guest bedroom although they could separate as we have another room available, but addicted to annoying each other as Sara has already stated, but also a lot of giggling too.

Most of the time it's okay and we don't get woken up too early these days.

Can I suggest they bring their own pillows as well as a soft toy. A familiar scent and pillow they are used to might help them settle. Also if they are sharing a double bed I used to put a long bolster between them to prevent the constant cries of "he's kicking me" etc. Hope all goes smoothly for you OP.

Up until recently, we’ve had two nine year olds sharing a double bed, it’s been a nightmare, they annoy each other all night, I’m always having to go in because one of them has all of the covers, or is taking up too much room

Just had another bedroom decorated, and I’m just about to order single beds!

We used to leave the shaving light on in the bathroom so they could find their way if they woke up and were disorientated. You'll probably not get a lot of sleep, it being the first time they've stayed but the main thing is for you all to enjoy the experience. Stories made up by grandad went down a storm and I used to kiss them through the stair balustrades on each step they went up - that was great fun.

Ours often stay and we have two singles - it works quite well. I bought a small throw and cushion to put on each pillow, with the favourite characters of each child, and sat a teddy on each bed. They were thrilled with this 'pesonalisation' of their beds, and you could perhaps do the same with two little cushions and maybe throws folded on each side of the bed?

Happy memories AuntieFlo

As others have said, enjoy the visits.
Our GC lived too far for any regular sleep overs, but on the odd occasion when they did, I would wake up, (you know the feeling when someone is staring at you?) and see a little sleepy head waiting to climb into our bed for a cuddle.
She is a mum herself now, to an almost 2 year old. How I love them all.

I agree with all the previous comments, try to relax and enjoy having them to stay; the last things you need is the GC picking up on your stress. You could turn things around and tell them they've come to stay to look after you

It's a good idea to get the children familiar with sleeping away from home as you never know when circumstances could dramatically change and you are asked to have them at a moments notice.

Make it an adventure for the little ones.

Mine always sleep well here but play their parents up at home.
Definitely a waterproof mattress cover. Otherwise enjoy!