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AIBU?

to let my children sleep in their clothes?

259 replies

greenbananas · 03/04/2014 23:10

It's a bad habit I've got into while we have been having building work done. We spent about three weeks without a washing machine, heating or hot water. But now, children sleeping in clothes has become a kind of routine. Putting them in pyjamas seems like a pointless hassle, when they are far more comfortable just going to bed in whatever they are wearing (minus shoes, socks and anything bulky).

Obviously, I remove anything that is food-stained or dreadfully dirty. They are only 17 months and 5 years old, so they are not very smelly yet (although my 5 year old is a bit muddy sometimes).

My children are loved and cuddled, and have plenty of play activities and attention.

My instinct says that it's okay to save on washing and stress by letting them sleep in their clothes. But sometimes I wonder if I am being borderline neglectful.

What do you think? AIBU?

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CoffeeTea103 · 03/04/2014 23:14

I think yabu only in that you are stressing over nothing. Why are you even justifying that they get lots of cuddles and attention.
Who are the people you are concerned about that will think you are neglectful?
Be more confident in your parenting. These are tiny, insignificant non issues you're making a deal of.

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racmun · 03/04/2014 23:18

Are you leaving them to wear the same clothes the next day? As otherwise I can't see how it saves on washing. In which case do you bother changing their underwear?

And are you saying you send your 5 year old to bed in muddy clothes -
I think it is just laziness on your part .

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phoolani · 03/04/2014 23:18

I put mine in jammies because it's part of the 'it's bedtime!' routine. But really, who cares? If this is the worse thing you ever do to your kids, you're doing pretty well.

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mustbeabetterwife · 03/04/2014 23:19

I think it's a bit odd, tbh, what type of clothes are we talking about? Does the 5 yo sleep in his uniform? That's grim and if they are wearing the clothes all day, I think that's a bit yucky.

Jeans, jumpers - that's not very comfortable, would you like to sleep in your jeans and jumpers?

Breathable, cotton, pj's are the best for turning over in, sweating in etc overnight.

Really, really can't see how whipping their clothes off and sticking on some pj's and a babygro can take more than 10seconds max.

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trashcanjunkie · 03/04/2014 23:22

I don't think it's ok, because part of the 'programming' for good sleep is a bedtime routine, which for me includes getting washed, teeth cleaned and putting on pjs. Also, removing underwear that at your dcs age, may be a lightly soiled, and allowing the nether parts a bit more fresh air. Also the clothes have been played in, sat about all day in and aren't as clean.

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greenbananas · 03/04/2014 23:22

CoffeeTea, thank you, that's that answer I was looking for Smile

Just mumsnetting late at night, and wondering idly if this is really okay.. I was thinking how it would sound if DS told his teachers that he slept in his school uniform every night (although they probably wouldn't be an eyelid because they know we are having building work done).

Some children at DS's school are really neglected, left for hours on their own, barely fed and rarely washed and changed (we live in an area which is technically 'deprived' and lots of families are under a lot of pressure).

I suppose I know really that sleeping in clothes is hardly a big issue. It's just that I was raise with an image of children smelling of Johnsons baby powder every night Grin

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MysweetAudrina · 03/04/2014 23:22

Its a good habit for them to get into for when they are older. Do you change all their clothes in the morning? It is lazy and as they get older they will get smelly and not have good habits. I bath mine and put on clean fresh jammies each night. It is a good routine and they good to bed clean and fresh.

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Only1scoop · 03/04/2014 23:23

I wouldn't do it....you've only got to change them again in morning. Nice to keep their bedtime routine going amidst all the mess.

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AuditAngel · 03/04/2014 23:24

DD1 aged 7 often chooses to sleep in leggings etc. in fact we go on holiday next week, taxi arriving at 6am. I am seriously considering putting girls to bed in clean knickers, leggings and t-shirts then lifting them straight into taxi. I have in the past put them in the car to go on holiday in pj's planning to dress them at the airport, but they chose to go to Spain in pj's!

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Preciousbane · 03/04/2014 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MysweetAudrina · 03/04/2014 23:25

That is rank, sleeping in his uniform. Do you change his socks and underwear daily?

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DragonMamma · 03/04/2014 23:25

I wouldn't. You can't sleep in jeans and a jumper.

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/04/2014 23:26

Some kids sweat a lot in bed at night. There shouldn't be an issue with the lack of washing machine. Just keep a set of PJs to wear a few nights on the run and let them wear their daytime stuff a few days on the run as long as not grubby. There really is no reason for them to be sleeping in their day clothes.

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Preciousbane · 03/04/2014 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HaroldLloyd · 03/04/2014 23:26

I sometimes sleep in something I've had on in the day, eg I'll chuck on bottoms on and keep a cotton t shirt on.

I am a bit of a minger though but I do keep clean.

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Casmama · 03/04/2014 23:26

I think it is pretty horrible tbh and while not any cause for calling ss it is a bit grim and I would judge if I heard a kid say they slept in their uniform.
Jog gives and at shirt would be one think but uniform must be so uncomfortable!
Do they put on fresh clothes in the morning?

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mustbeabetterwife · 03/04/2014 23:26

" I was thinking how it would sound if DS told his teachers that he slept in his school uniform every night"

Oh that's rank - you let him sleep in his uniform because you can't be arsed to change him in and out of it, yet you're wasting time on MN. It will smell, he must be roasting sleeping in his uniform - you sound very lazy.

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greenbananas · 03/04/2014 23:27

I do clean their teeth and make sure DS1 does his inhalers every night. There is a bedtime routine, it just doesn't involve putting pyjamas on at the moment.

I take the point about sleeping in jeans being uncomfortable. I slept in jeans often as a student (too cold to take them off) and it was not good.

DS1 has a choice: "do you want to put on your pyjamas?" and he always says no. So he is uncomfortable in jeans that's kind of up to him. School trousers are thin and pretty comfortable.

Really interesting to read the mixed responses. Yes, I am probably being lazy!

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Wigglebummunch · 03/04/2014 23:27

I wouldn't do it, my DC wear the same set of pyjamas for a week unless they get dirty. They also change out of their school stuff as soon as we get in. They wear their after school clothes for 2 days as long as they are not dirty. Hardly much extra washing is it? Also I think it's a bit lazy. I wouldn't like to sleep in my clothes.

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5madthings · 03/04/2014 23:27

Have you ever slept in your clothes op? It feels awful! Every now and then I fall asleep putting my toddler to bed and wake u hours later, I always want to strip off and get into pjs asap!

Surely some nights they have a bath so are undressing anyway? So you put pjs on then?

They put clean clothes on the next day if they have slept in them? Please say yes!

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AncientBallerina · 03/04/2014 23:27

Put your kids in their pyjamas FGS. Do you seriously mean that your child goes to school in his uniform, sleeps in it all night and then goes to school the next day without anything being changed? How on earth is that sav

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Casmama · 03/04/2014 23:28

Joggies and t-shirt

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/04/2014 23:28

Blimey, no need for a nightly bath! Not good for young skin and anyway, OP has already stated that got water is an issue.

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/04/2014 23:28

HOT water

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AncientBallerina · 03/04/2014 23:28

...saving on washing? A pair of PJs isn't going to get that dirty if

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