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Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

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Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Gifted and talented

How long does your g & T child sleep every night?

55 replies

user789653241 · 14/12/2015 19:01

I read on something that one of the characteristic of G & T child is sleep less hours than normal kids.
I know it doesn't apply to all the gifted children, but it does certainly apply to my ds.

I calculated if child slept 3 hours less than normal child everyday, 3 X 7 = 21, 21 x 4 = 84, 84 x 12 = 1008 hours a year. 1008/ 24 = 42 days.
So in 8 years, 42 x 8 = 336. That means in about 8 years time, the child who sleeps 3 hours less than normal child had 1 year of extra wake time.
I started think it's no wonder they are advanced.

But at the same time, I worry, does this have some impact on their growth?

My ds sleeps about 7~ 8 hours every night, and he is never tired. How long does your child sleep? Does anybody has info about consequences of sleeping shorter time as a child?

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YeOldeTrout · 14/12/2015 19:06

mmm... I think it's linked to early dementia, if I'm honest. Saying that as a 'gifted' child myself.

So what... I can live with it. We are what we are.

Artandco · 14/12/2015 19:09

Nope. Dss both sleep 9pm-8am daily. So 11hrs. When toddlers they were sleeping about 15-16hrs a day (12 at night and 1-2 naps a day). As small babies they only really woke to feed and back to sleep, so maybe awake 45mins, asleep 90mins, awake 45mins kinda thing

user789653241 · 14/12/2015 19:14

So, YeOldeTrout, is it a bad thing? I don't want my ds to have early dementia!

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SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 14/12/2015 19:16

I started think it's no wonder they are advanced.

I don't understand how this is evidence they are more advanced? Sleep deprived maybe...isn't more sleep healthier?

TurnOffTheTv · 14/12/2015 19:18

DD1 and 2 are both awful sleepers, never needed much which stressed me out when they were smaller.
DD 1 about 8 hours
DD 2 about 9 hours

They are night owls and I'm often asleep before both of them.

DD 3 is showing signs of being the same way, quite happily got to bed at 9pm when all her friends are asleep for 7pm

I think the British are obsessed with an early bedtime though, I'd rather have the lie in!

YeOldeTrout · 14/12/2015 19:19

I don't know how you make somebody sleep.
Just support them in ways you can.
early = long after you have died. Think of Margaret Thatcher. Her mind wondered so long before her body gave out. Maybe that was linked to her notoriously short sleep periods. In her early 70s which is relatively early but still after a rather full life, wouldn't you say?

var123 · 14/12/2015 19:22

Ds1 has chronic (i.e. long term not awful|!) sleep problems, but I am not sure that they are linked to his IQ, rather its about melatonin production. Its been hard work to get on top of the issue. He would lie awake for hours stimulating himself awake by thinking, but getting stressed if he felt bored.

We learned about the impact of blue light, and production of the hormone melatonin but what really helped was obliterating every chink of light from his room.

DS2 has no problems at all.

OddBoots · 14/12/2015 19:34

I think there are a range of sleep patterns and needs among G&T children (as with all children) but both my DC need more sleep than average to function effectively.

user789653241 · 14/12/2015 20:01

Thank you every one. It's very interesting, but seems like it's not really linked with giftedness. I thought it was because it was mentioned somewhere.

Thank you YeOldeTrout. Yes I think I just have to support him as he is.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers, I thought if they have more wake time, they have more time to engage to something, and learn new things. Thing is, my ds is never tired. He doesn't act like he is sleep deprived at all. Never had nap as a baby either.

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Greenleave · 14/12/2015 22:26

Irvine, I think its important to have a long and good night sleep, complete dark too.

I remember your son is the same age as my daughter, have you thought of register him for ukmt junior maths challenge(just knew about it today as my friends' son won a gold medal for london ukmt maths challenge this week, not too sure what year he is as I am not so close to my friends. So tempting to know more about it though and if my daughter could try

user789653241 · 14/12/2015 22:59

Greenleave, I know he needs god night's sleep! He is actually a good sleeper, doesn't wake up during night, falls asleep as soon as lights out.
Only problem is that he doesn't sleep long enough. He gets up without problem in the morning as well.

As for ukmt, I think it's for slightly older children. There is primary challenge recommended by other posters.

www.primarymathschallenge.org.uk/

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user789653241 · 14/12/2015 23:03

ukmt junior is yr8 or below. It's quite a long way!

www.ukmt.org.uk/individual-competitions/junior-challenge/

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BackforGood · 14/12/2015 23:10

I agree with those who would say there isn't a correlation.
All 3 of mine are school registered G&T (I personally wouldn't call them 'gifted' as such) and they each have different sleep patterns.
My middle one needs far more sleep than either of her siblings.
I have to say though, I've never had one of those babies that sleeps from 7 - 7 that you hear of!

Blipbip · 14/12/2015 23:15

Not true in DS2s (6 yo) case, he sleeps about 11 hours a night and loves his bed and bedtime. But if he wants to stay awake he can seem to prevent sleep For a long time with very few ill effects.

steppemum · 14/12/2015 23:16

well, I know quite a few children who don't sleep as much as other kids. Some of those kids are sleep deprived and don't learn or concentrate as well because they are lacking sleep. Others are fine with less sleep.

My oldest 2 are at/going to a super selective grammar. They have both always slept well. dd sleeps a LOT.

So I don't think there is a link.

user789653241 · 15/12/2015 09:10

Thank you everyone.
I was sort of hoping to get some reassurance with children who doesn't sleep much, but growing ok kind of thing, but it seems like my ds's case is not so common.
Anyway, I can't make him sleep longer. Hopefully it might change when he is a teenager!

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TurnOffTheTv · 15/12/2015 12:51

What time is he actually going to bed and waking up?

R0nJ0n · 15/12/2015 13:07

I have a nearly eight year old non g and t registered child who sleeps very little. She goes to bed at around 7.30pm, but is normally up reading or doing other quiet activities long after. For example on Sunday night, after having had a very busy day, she came out of her room at 10.30 looking for a book she'd bought that day as she'd just finished another book. She normally gets up around 7am.

She's healthy, growing normally, eats fairly well (she has a small appetite but happily eats fruit and veg), doesn't seem to get tired in the daytime, does well academically and isn't unusually moody, In fact compared to most of her friends she's very even tempered. I can't force her to sleep more than she does and as she doesn't seem to suffer any ill effects from it I just let her be.

user789653241 · 15/12/2015 13:42

Sound like my ds is similar to your DD, R0nJ0n. He doesn't show any ill effects either.

He normally goes to bed between 9:30- 10:00 but reading until around 10:30- 11:00. Gets up at around 7:00 or little bit earlier. We tried to put him to sleep earlier, but didn't work. He just twists and turns and still up anyway. But as soon as he's ready to sleep, he turn the light off and fall asleep straight away.

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user789653241 · 15/12/2015 13:47

And sometimes we find him sitting at the dining table reading book or playing with lego when we come downstairs in the morning! And I normally get up at 6:00!

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Lonecatwithkitten · 15/12/2015 16:21

There is a link with twice exceptional children (G&T and SPLD). Research has shown that their melatonin production is not stopped in the mornings and can be part of the SPLD.
My DD has really high CAT scores and is dyslexic and had real trouble sleeping. Wearing blue glasses at specific times has helped her sleeping and has helped with her concentration at school, though processing speed is still low.

BackforGood · 15/12/2015 17:44

That's similar timings / sleep pattern to my dd2 (dc3). She's never slept more than that - I just think it's normal now, tbh - I assumed you were talking about someone only sleeping about 3 - 4 hrs a night

she's 14 now and hasn't gone for long lie-ins like my older two did in their teens.

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user789653241 · 15/12/2015 18:00

Link with twice exceptional children makes sense. My ds is not diagnosed but has traits of ASD, although it's getting less and less. But he doesn't seems to have any concentration problem.

BackforGood, it's really good to know someone has similar child. He has been like this since... I can't remember. But if he slept only 3-4 hours, it would make me insane!!

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var123 · 16/12/2015 09:41

Lonecatwithkitten - Ds1 is also 2e, (dysgraphia which is in the dyslexic family, as you know). DS1 had difficulty getting to sleep, rather than staying asleep.
We tried lots of things over years: no blue light (TV, ipad etc) for 30 mins before bed, a regular bed time that we don't allow to be changed except in extreme circumstances (9:30pm), Melatonin (posted from the USA) and a darkened room. What worked in the end was a simple eye mask!

Holstein · 16/12/2015 09:51

My gifted child needs 10.5-11 hours per night, always has. My really able utter genius child needs about 9 (he's only 6 though).
My brother sounds like your DS OP. He needed 6 hours only as a child. He was allowed to read in bed until midnight, even in primary! He got up at 6am every day without fail, no tiredness. He is quite short though!
He gets about 4-5 hours a night as an adult ( his own choice).

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