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Sleep

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Original poster

Sleep issues, is it because we have sparky, lively spirited babies?

26 replies

sedgiebaby · 19/02/2011 17:06

Just wondering if the character of the baby is working against us. My dd is lively and interested and alert. Everything is a distraction, she is sociable and loves people. She has a tendancy to be excitable, very vocal (you could say - loud) and essentially loves life. All very nice but not conducive to sleeping methinks.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Just wondering.

OP posts:

PukeyMummy · 19/02/2011 18:02

I think it is, my DD is the same. Too curious to sleep!

One friend of mine had a shock with her second DC because first DS was so chilled out, slept loads, but second DS the complete opposite (like our DDs).

Another friend has a DD and a DS and thinks it's a girl thing. But would love to hear what others think!

CountBapula · 19/02/2011 18:13

Yup, that's my DS to a T. Big cheesy grin, never stays still - like trying to cuddle a ferret, huge beady eyes constantly looking around, taking everything in. People have been commenting on how alert he is since he was a week old. Doesn't 'do' drowsy - is either awake or zonked. Hates going to sleep - screams the place down almost every time.

I am knackered ...

Original poster

sedgiebaby · 19/02/2011 18:43

hmmmmmm just as I suspected, partly because this is my character, my mother is the same and we are not good sleepers either (too boring). Perhaps we're doomed.

OP posts:

DesperateHousewife20 · 19/02/2011 20:09

Same here, really looks at everything, its like hes always buzzing and cant come down to a calm state thus getting himzelf overtired and restless.

DesperateHousewife20 · 19/02/2011 20:09

himzelf? himself!

jazzandh · 19/02/2011 20:25

Yes, my DS (4 months) is the same. Everyone has also said how alert he is from days old, fascinated by everything. Smiles at everyone, wants to interact, very vocal.

I think they get overstimulated by it all, don't want to sleep.

My first DS was the same although he found his thumb and managed to calm himself down that way! I think DS2s first word will be "thumb"!!

doricpatter · 19/02/2011 20:32

My first was like this, it was brutal. I took solace in the advice that "you never get two the same". My second's exactly the same

PukeyMummy · 19/02/2011 20:39

Nooo....don't say that, Doric, am pregnant with DC2 now, really hoping for a good sleeper this time!

Mind you, my Mum says I was a great sleeper and I am obviously very intelligent and inquisitive.

COCKadoodledooo · 19/02/2011 20:47

I dunno you know. Ds1 was/is very curious, completely ants-in-the-pants-y, and yet slept like a dream (though we still complained when he 'only' did 6 hours at a time at night until he turned 13 months ).

Ds2 is a very similar character but is a bloody nightmare when it comes to sleep. During the day he just doesn't. Even as a newborn it'd be 45 minutes twice a day absolute tops. Now (15 months) it's nothing.

NonnoMum · 19/02/2011 20:50

What age is your DC?

doricpatter · 19/02/2011 20:54

Pukey don't worry, resignation makes it easier second time around!

pipplin · 19/02/2011 22:37

Same! DS has been like it since he was tiny. It must get better mustn't it?

blueshoes · 19/02/2011 23:09

2 non-sleepers as well.

Some children are better at shutting out outside stimuli to settle themselves to sleep. That would be me as a baby, great sleeper, even now. But in my waking time, I can blank out a lot and don't notice as much of my surrounding as my ... dh

who is a terrible light sleeper, even now. The dcs take after him. But they are all quite observant and engaged with their surroundings, so find it harder to wind down, I suppose.

Orissiah · 22/02/2011 10:24

Going against the grain a little here - DD was alert and lively from birth but slept like a log right from the beginning. She's a toddler now and bright, confident, chatty, always on the go from morning to night (no longer naps) but then crashes at 7pm and sleeps through to 7 (sometimes 8).

katiecubs · 22/02/2011 10:31

DS is the same - hates to nap and always has done from the word go, though is improving slightly now at 6 months. Sleeps 12 hours solid at night though - i think because he is so knackered at being awake all day nosing around!

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 22/02/2011 10:32

yes, like doric i've had a couple of these now
with both my DDs, strangers always commented on how "alert" they are/were.

dd1 has grown into a calm and lovely 4 year old, but she still has that real intensity about her - always asking searching questions, picking up on everything around her.
dd2 (16 weeks) is another alert, tense little thing who doesn't like sleeping, and needs a good shout before she drifts off.

narmada · 22/02/2011 11:04

ohhhhhhhhhhh yes, like doric and charlotte, I've had a couple of nosey-parker sleep-is-for-the-weak babies. Eldest DD nearly 3 and also intense, you cannot get anythin past her at all. I also took solace in the promise that the second vavy would be diffrerent. Ha!

narmada · 22/02/2011 11:05

errr, baby, not vavy - what's one of those??!

molejazz · 23/02/2011 02:34

Same here - very alert and sociable DS who spent the first 5 months of his life overtired until I realised what was going on. There should be some leaflet for it right: the 3rd time someone describes your baby as 'alert' don't be pleased, get them into a napping routine right away!

Pidgin · 23/02/2011 05:19

Mine is just like this too. Everyone says how alert he is - very smiley and engaged, totally incapable of putting himself to sleep, sleeps badly and lightly at night.
Molejazz what nap routine did you end up with? DS rarely sleeps more than 30/40 mins at a stretch in the day, so I make sure he gets 4 or 5 of these naps, but I am worried he is over-tired.

GotArt · 23/02/2011 05:24

DD use to snooze, that's all, never really sleep. Snooze and graze. Then about 18 months old, she started sleeping longer through the night and now at 2 + 2 months, usually sleeps the whole night through, 8 to 7 with only minor wakes because blanket has come off or dolly has fallen out of bed. She goes right back down though. Naps have teetered to 1 hour now though, 1-2pm which can sort of be good but now if I want a nap, I can't putter on MN before taking it.

molejazz · 24/02/2011 08:35

pidgin - at 5 months DS was having about 3 random daily naps, 40 mins max, either on me or in the pram. I introduced a pre-nap routine and took him for walks at times following the 2,3,4 pattern. I would walk around the park until he fell asleep, find a bench and read my book, and then walk him again at around 30-40 mins to try to extend the nap. After a couple of weeks of this I could walk around the block and then come home - he would then sleep for at least an hour, often more! Now working on naps in cot, with limited success!

Pidgin · 25/02/2011 13:54

Thanks molejazz that's really helpful to know. I think I'll work towards something like that when DS is a bit bigger - prenap routine sounds like a good place to start.

NinkyNonker · 26/02/2011 20:29

Yep...yawn.

greensnail · 26/02/2011 20:47

Yes, DD1 is very shy and cautious and has always been a good sleeper. I think she was several months old before she realised the outside world existed as she was always asleep!

DD2, is bright, alert and sociable but she just doesn't sleep. Bit of a shock to the system after her sister.

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