Staying over at a friend's house as a kid has always been a rite of passage.
You're over-nighting at your mates! It's a big deal. You're basically an adult now, without, of course, the full-time job, stacks of bills and crushed dreams.
But a growing worldwide moment has seen parents limiting sleepovers to just teens - or banning them entirely.
"Sleepovers often provide the right opportunity for kids to get into things that are way over their heads, whether they intend to or not," child psychiatrist and dad-of-six Dr Larry Mitnaul told The Project.
"There's less adult supervision. There's a group of kids who may be doing more impulsive things or doing things they wouldn't otherwise do under the careful gaze of a loving adult."
The 'no sleepovers' movement doesn't seem to have hit New Zealand. In fact, experts said that sleepovers here are tending to start younger and younger.
But determining what age they're appropriate depends on the child's level of development.
"A good rule of thumb is thinking about when your child is at the age and stage where they're able to be assertive when they go over to someone's house," Parenting Place family coach Sheridan Eketone told The Project on Monday.
"When they're able to express their needs and maybe let someone know they're feeling uncomfortable."
Eketone said sleepovers can be a good opportunity for kids to learn how to manage themselves well.
"They learn how to pack their bag and, hopefully, they remember the toothbrush. It's a chance for them to build some resilience."
However, parents need to be prepared to ask the tough questions ahead of time.
"Know where they're going to be sleeping, who's going to be home," Eketone said.
"And if you want, get some certainty around devices or what movie they might watch."
She said mums and dads have to be brave and have those often difficult conversations with other parents.
