When is it okay for kids to join the New Year's party?

Carrie Stetler By Carrie Stetler The Star-Ledger
on December 30, 2008 at 10:41 AM, updated October 05, 2009 at 3:45 PM
At what age did you let your kids stay up late on New Year's?
For young grade-schoolers, nothing says "big kid" like staying up past your bedtime. On New Year's Eve, they can't wait to join the party and count the minutes until midnight along with the grown-ups.

"I remember bugging my parents to do it, wanting to stay up with my older brother and sister," recalls Margaret Hendrix, 43, of Monmouth Beach.

"We watched 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' on TV and had those little metal noise-makers. My parents would make frozen hors d'oeuvre appetizers, and they'd sit up and watch with us."

Her own children, however, aren't ready to party into the wee hours, says Hendrix. At 5 and 7, they're still too young, she says.

"My daughter usually has an emotional breakdown at around 10:30 or 11, and we know she's crashing. When we hit the car, she's fast asleep," said Hendrix.

At around age 8 or 9, children become more interested in all-nighters, and many have the stamina, according to Michael Seyffert, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

Typically, grade-schoolers need eight and a half to nine hours of sleep, and a set bed time is crucial. But it's fine to bend the rules for a special occasion.

"New Year's Eve only comes once a year," he said. "There's a general sense of celebration. Parents don't need to be rigid in saying the kids can't stay up. Kids are going to want to be a part of that. Parents shouldn't try to shut them out."

Jean Maher, another Monmouth Beach mom, celebrates the New Year in her homeland of Ireland. There, her three kids -- ages 8 to 10 -- stay up until 3 or 4 because of the time difference. But even if she stayed in Jersey, she'd let them stay awake until the ball dropped.

"I let them because it's fun. They love it, and after the oldest one started, it was easier to give in,'' said Maher.

Others, like Hendrix, take their kids to an early celebration where they can enjoy the festivities without a meltdown.

This year, the family will go to Dos Caminos, a local Mexican restaurant that has a party for families at 6 p.m., complete with noisemakers and a mariachi band. They ring in the New Year long before midnight and still get plenty of rest.

If you are going to let your child stay up, Seyffert has some tips:
* Don't rush them to bed at 12:01. Allow some time to wind down.
* Stick to a few routines, like tooth-brushing and a short bedtime story or reading period.
* Don't be worried if it takes them up to an hour to fall asleep. After all the excitement, that's natural. ''You don't need to get out the Benedryl,'' he joked.
* If they manage to sleep in the next day, let them. And plan a lowkey New Year's Day so they can recharge.