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

[user789653241]

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?

"He is quite short though!"

Holstein, that's what I'm worried about. I think he is average height now, but not getting all those growth hormone released during sleep...

Irvine - maybe you should speak to a paeditrician as this is a health matter not a G&T one? FWIW I think young children need a lot of sleep, just like they need water. It doesn't matter if they aren't tired or not thirsty, their bodies still need it.

I agree, var. Thank you.

Irvine- he's always been small, he was on a v low percentile at birth, and stayed tiny throughout childhood. Ate small amounts as a child, but eats normally now (he's v sporty). My DS (who needs less sleep) is small too, he doesn't eat either. He's also the spitting image of my brother!

Thank you, Holstein.
It's good to know there are people like my ds and have a normal, happy life.

I spoke to HV when he was a baby for not having any nap during the day, but they weren't concerned. As a toddler, even when he had busy day running around, he never seemed sleepy. Never fell asleep on car seats or on push chair either.

It's not like he refuse to go to bed. In the past, we told him to turn the lights off and try to sleep, but he just can't seems to fall asleep.
We tried eye mask as well, but it as too uncomfortable for him. He just lay in the complete darkness quietly, thinking about something, still awake two hours later. Finally we gave in. He reads until he's tired and he falls asleep. We never need to drag him out of bed in the morning either.

But I might ask GP or other doctor when we see them again.

Let him read, please. If he is tired, you can say lights out earlier, but it's what my brother needed. He is like a robot- switch off at midnight, switch back on, raring to go in the morning.

Thank you, Holstein. I think we will just let him read. Worried, yes. But make him lay in the dark while he can't sleep feels like torture, so we just let him be him.

I remember you mentioned your son like staying put in a room and could stay long infront of the tv. He might not be tired physically. Children who eats well and sleep well normally are active or very active during the day so they are tired in the evening(physically active). Going for long walk in the afternoon(breathing lots of fresh air helps too) if he isnt very active(in terms of he doesnt like playing in the playground too much) simple thing like help withthe house work, get out of the house as much as you could etc might help. My second didnt nap well either(I am much more obsessed with my children eating and sleeping rather than their education), I remember waking in the park for hours with her in push chair, try thousands ways, it was hard but she has naps now(touch wood). My 8 years old now was told to be in bed and light out at 8.30 and I know lots of time she doesnt sleep till much later, its worse for nights before any events like holiday she just couldnt sleep(I read this in her diary and we have a monitor in our room). She still has to go to bed at 8.30 though. I firmly believe in sleeping better and longer to be able to focus and be angaged, creative and grow

Thank you, Greenleave. He is actually a very active boy. He loves bicycle and scooter rides, doesn't stay still for a moment.

At home, he loves cooking, washing up dishes etc., so he isn't glued on screen at all. He loves computer, but screen time for him is normally less than 2 hours everyday.

I wish he slept longer, but we learned over years that it's just impossible. I really get worried when I hear other parents talking about their children goes to bed at 7. I think there's just so much he wants to do in a day. Once he admitted, that he doesn't want to go to bed because he doesn't want to miss out anything. I just can't see him struggling to stay up, he is always very alert. If we let him, he would stay up until midnight, and haven't got problem getting up next day.
And I just can't see there's any cure for this, rather than drug him to sleep, which I am not so keen to do.

Actually, on the weekends, he does want to stay home and work on some project rather than going out, we can/should do something about that.

My dd is five and she sleeps for between 11 and 12 hours a night but rarely sleeps through.

Yeah all mine are like that and i was too. I think there is research into this, not just an urban myth, but i've always just thought the key was 'are they tired?' If not - they have had enough sleep.

Thank you, ottothedog. It's good to hear that!

My 'gifted' 8yo sleeps 9-5 at the longest. He will often read later, and will get up in the morning and either read or do crosswords or workbooks.

No matter what combination of threats, moving bedtimes, exercise, diet - he just doesn't seem to need anymore sleep.

Growth-wise, he's off the charts btw. He's over 150cm and wears size 5 shoes, so no worries about growth restriction here.

My 8yo gifted DS has only ever slept beyond 5am twice in his life. He just doesn't need much sleep, despite us putting him to bed by about 730 on a school night he stays up reading / writing stories. Changing bedtime had no effect whatsoever.

When he was atiny baby the HV said that little sleep was a sign of a very bright mind though they do have a tendency to spout rubbish

If so then I agree leave him to read so he goes to bed once he is tired!!! What a joy of being a mom, so many things to worry about!!xx

Reread my post above I meant I remember your son loves computer and could spend hrs (didnt know why I typed tv), sorry

Yes he spend lots of time on computer, on weekends, and especially if he's doing some sort of project. But It's not like he sits in front of computer all day. Now he is really into making Christmas decorations! [santa]

Week days he run around in the playground, then scoot/ bicycle home.
He is not sporty, but quite active child. Still, he doesn't sleep.

Hello OP

My dd doesn't sleep very well, never has even from being a baby.
It is far better these days, but still not good.
We found it improved when she was being challenged after she started at her new school for G&T children.
She has had normal growth during puberty and has gone from sm/average for her age to quite tall for her age.
She can go to bed at 10pm and be awake again at 3am raring to go, but I believe at school she sleeps a full 8 hours.

Thank you NewLife4Me.
Good to know your dd had normal growth, fingers crossed for my ds too!

I was quite worried at beginning of this thread, that no one seems to have child like mine.
I am really happy to know there are similar children out there, without any ill effects of little sleep.
Thank you!

Can you make sure there's no screen time 2 hrs before bed in case that's keeping him awake. So for 9pm in bed, no tv/ computer after 6.30pm ideally. Then he has 2+ hours to slow brain down with reading/ puzzle/ eating/ bath. In bed and say 30mins reading then lights out.

Thank you for your advice, Artandco.

He doesn't normally watch TV or use computer later in the evening.
Most nights he spend time doing things like scrabble or playing darts with daddy, and long baths(30mins) before bed, after dinner.
Also this problem started long before he even started using computer.
He only started to get obsessed with computer last year or so, and he rarely watches TV now. He is not allowed to use ipad upstairs, so I really don't think it's to do with screen time.

But I will try to limit reading for 30 mins., and see how it goes. Thank you.

DD, just passed three grammar tests including at superselective levels and has always been ahead. Her vocab and maths is off all the school scales. She is described as 'quirky' by most who know her. She loves her sleep. As a baby 12 hours a night but was then 100 miles an hour when she was awake. It was like her brain couldn't cope without the sleep. Now aged 10 she still likes her sleep but more like 9.5 or ten hours a night. We have to be meticulous in banning iPads during the week or at the very least within an hour of bedtime as it can affect sleep patterns. Close screens emit a glare that interferes with melatonin that TV at a distance doesn't produce.