I know some of you were a little surprised when I chose not to let my daughter stay at the sleepover last weekend, and I thought I’d take a moment to explain why.

First of all, let me say that I totally get why sleepovers are fun! As a kid, I loved staying up late with my friends and feeling like we were having our own little adventure. And I know my daughter was really excited about the idea of spending the whole night with her buddies.

But as a parent, my top priority is making sure my child is healthy, happy, and well-rested. And the truth is, when it comes to sleep, our kiddos need a lot more than we might think. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, preschoolers should be getting 10-13 hours of sleep per day, and school-aged children should aim for 9-11 hours.

Now, I don’t claim to be a sleep expert, but I do know that when my daughter doesn’t get enough rest, she’s a lot more irritable and prone to meltdowns. And when she’s had a solid night’s sleep, she’s much more likely to be cheerful and engaged throughout the day.

So, while it was a tough decision, I ultimately decided that the sleepover wasn’t a great fit for my daughter right now (age 10). Instead, my daughter had a blast at the daytime portion of the party, which lasted for more than five hours. She got to hang out with her friends, play games, and eat way too much sugar (hey, it’s a party!).

Here is my response … get ready because it isn’t popular

That night, she crawled into her cozy bed a little earlier than usual, and before I knew it, she was sound asleep. In fact, she slept for a full 12 hours, which is pretty unheard of for her! When she woke up the next morning, she was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to tackle the day.

I know every family has their own approach to sleepovers, and that’s totally fine! But for me and my kids, it just made more sense to prioritize rest over late-night giggles. And I’m happy to report that it was definitely the right choice for our little one.

If you’re looking for support in your parenting journey, whether it be holistic strategies, more confidence in your decisions, and even in co-parenting, then reach out to me for my complimentary Instant Confidence Boost. Click here to grab your spot: https://calendly.com/amanda-irtz/30min.