Your Call
For many families, whether to allow sleepovers for kids isn't always a black and white issue. You may decide to allow your little one to spend the night with family and very close friends, but nix slumber parties or casual sleepovers. Or, you may decide sleepovers are harmless; no one can gauge your child's readiness to spend the night away but you.
Banning slumber parties doesn't have to mean no late-night friend events. If you're hesitant about sleepovers, plan late-night pajama parties that don't require a sleeping bag, or get creative with other riffs on the age-old tradition.
In any event, trust your intuition and don't be afraid to make an unpopular decision. Parenting is always going to be tricky; the best you can do is get the facts, weigh your options and choose what's best for your kid—without worrying about what other parents think!
