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Anyone got a DC that needs little sleep?

13 replies

dashoflime · 13/12/2013 23:35

I am beginning to think I have a freak-baby.

DS (18 months) starts bedtime routine at 8pm and goes down for the night at 10pm.

He sleeps through till 7.00 or 8.00am. Usually has a nap at midday for 1 1/2 hours. Sometimes has a brief nap at 6.00pm (not always)

Not grouchy, not fractious. Just not tired.

Recently got back in touch with a mother from my antenatal group. Her kid goes down at 6.00!!

Anyone else got a kid that doesn't need a lot of sleep?

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Jinglejohnsjulie · 13/12/2013 23:58

2 naps is unusual though. I'd be aiming to keep him up when he's tired at 6 and start the bedtime routine instead. He might wake earlier though. Mine went down at 7 but usually woke at 6.

joosiewoosie · 14/12/2013 06:27

Yup. My 17 month old goes down at 7.30/8, is up for a cuddle at 11, more often than not at 2/3ish (sometimes full of beans and wanting to play for an hour or so) and awake again for the day at 5.30. If we do something physical in the day, we may get a nap of 1 and a half hours just around lunchtime, but otherwise she is the Duracell bunny!

I am not ashamed to say I nap with her if I feel the need! DH is good tho - much more of an early bird than me, so does the 5.30 shift so I can get another hour to get me thru the day. (Pre-children, my family called me bagpuss, because I need a decent amount of sleep to function!).

I learnt in while exclusively bf before weaning that 4 hours was my minimum functioning sleep requirement, but also that getting only the minimum frequently, sets me on a downward path emotionally. So I try and have an early night a couple of times a week to keep me strong!

I feel your pain!

Slavetominidictator · 14/12/2013 08:19

My 18 month old will only go down between 7 and 8pm if I limit her nap to an hour at lunchtime. She wakes at 7am. When I let her nap for 2 hours at lunch she won't sleep till 9 or 10pm.
She gave up her second nap at 14 months. Basically, I'd get her to nap at 10 and if she went down then, she wouldn't nap again before 4, which threw bedtime till about 11. So gradually it got later and later and is now at 12 ish.
I was forever being told she was over tired and needed more sleep, and she is a sleep fighter but I've eventually come to the conclusion that she's just someone who needs less sleep than most. The books etc I've read suggest she needs 14 hours of sleep a day (split by approx 11 at night and 3 in naps), but since I've accepted she sleeps less, we are both happier.
I actually think she is just v nosey and has what my sister calls FOMO - fear of missing out.

minipie · 16/12/2013 11:02

One year old DD has 12 hours total sleep in 24. She's "supposed" to need 14 to 15 hours.

So we get 8pm-6am (that's if she sleeps through...) and then 2 hours in the day. Or maybe 7.45-6am and 1hr45 in the day.

I think she needs less sleep than most, but on the other hand I do think she'd do better with a bit more sleep. I think she needs 13 hours instead of 12. No idea how to persuade her of this though Grin she clearly thinks sleep is boring.

I weep slightly when I hear of 1 year olds who sleep 7-7 and need 3 hours of naps as well...

MrsTittleMouse · 16/12/2013 11:04

A warning: I have two!

(was convinced that we couldn't possibly have another one... is a major reason why we don't have 3 DCs :))

Jinty64 · 16/12/2013 14:23

Yes. Ds3 (7) goes to bed between 9-930 and is up between 6-630. He doesn't nap! I need more sleep than he does.

minipie · 16/12/2013 16:53

Nooooo MrsTittleMouse that can't be true

I have earned a 15 hour a day child

MrsTittleMouse · 16/12/2013 19:45

Ha! Child two was/is worse. Grin

Mind you, you do notice it less with a second child, as your first non-sleeper is now a toddler/preschooler and won't nap anyway, so you've given up any idea of a rest during the day.

Will ignore the topic of 6am or worse starts with an overactive toddler after endless nightfeeds!

melonribena · 16/12/2013 20:19

Joosiewoosie, you have described my 16 mth ds to a tee! Right down the the exact night wakings and morning wake up and length of nap! It's tiring isn't it!

minipie · 16/12/2013 20:57
fififrog · 16/12/2013 22:06

The only thing to do with these DC (i have one similar) is decide whether to take the hit in the evening or the morning... After 18 months of exasperation we accepted 10-10.5 hours a night was all we were going to get (plus 1-1.5hour nap) and adjusted the schedule by brute force so that it ran about 8.00-6.00 rather than the brutal 7.00-5.00.

that said i agree with jilted - a 6pm nap doesn't sound great...

Haahoooo · 16/12/2013 22:13

We start DD's bedtime routine at 7pm and she's asleep by 8pm (sometimes a little earlier. She wakes between 6am and 7am, so gets something like 10-11 hours. Plus 1.5hrs during the day.

So not great but a vast improvement from all the night wakings and early mornings we had until she was 1yo (she's 15 months now). Hoping the improvement will continue! DS is due in April so fingers crossed.

BeaWheesht · 16/12/2013 22:16

Ds used to sleep 10pm- 1am and then 4-7 and 11-12 until he was two. It was shite.

Dd slept LOADS it was an entirely different experience!

Both now sleep 7-7 aged 3 and 6.

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