# Sleepovers

**Should we allow sleepovers?**

Whether your child sleeps at other people's homes, and under what conditions.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: None; Known homes after screening questions; "sleepunders" with late pickup; Freely allowed. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: school age.

- Area: Safety, risk and independence
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: School age
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/safety-risk-and-independence--sleepovers

## Sleepovers: what are the options?

1. **None**: The child does not sleep at other homes.
2. **Known homes after screening questions**: The child stays only with families you know, after you ask about supervision and safety.
3. **"sleepunders" with late pickup**: The child joins the evening and you collect them before bedtime.
4. **Freely allowed**: The child may sleep over wherever they are invited.

## Sleepovers: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

A growing share of parents decline them; no outcome data

Sources:

- [University Hospitals](https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/05/are-sleepovers-right-for-your-child)

## What else is worth knowing?

Sleepovers are a childhood ritual for many and a worry for some parents. Concerns include supervision, older siblings, guns and screens in the other home. Some families ask questions first or collect the child before bed.

## Questions to ask each other

- Did we go to sleepovers and what do we remember?
- What would make us say yes or no?
- What questions would we ask the other parents?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=safety-risk-and-independence&topic=safety-risk-and-independence--sleepovers