Why do some sleep and some don't

[peachandpear]

I would like to know why some babies sleep through the night really early without much effort on the parents behalf and some do not go through the night for ages and ages even with a lot of efforts on the parents behalf! Is it a neurological development thing? Is it a luck of the draw thing!!? Why can two babies at the same age, who weigh the same, have the same routine and eat the same amounts sleep so differently at night? Does anyone know?!

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definitely luck

Given your parameters (babies same age, same weight, same food, same routine, etc) my only theory would be that the parents of one of them are so knackered by night time that they can't really hear them crying.

There is some evidence, I believe that it is partly genetic. Some people wake at night and some sleep right through. I have to confess to being a waker. I almost NEVER go to sleep then wake the next morning without stirring/going to the loo/turning over and wondering sleepily what time it is. Both my kids have been rubbish sleepers - despite dd starting quite well.

It aint that simple MT.

I would stand well back if I were you!!! I am waiting with baited breath to see the response you get! This could get interesting!

Chandra - you did make me giggle.

my theory is that some kids are natural 'self-soothers'. They quite happily seek comfort in an inanimate object; muslin,dummy,thumb etc.

My DS just will not use anything to settle himself. 9 times out of 10 I can BF him back to sleep, but often he just lies in my arms before he nods off again.

here

I really do think a great deal of luck is involved. DS has always slept very well at night. Much as I would like to claim it was due to brilliant mothering on my part, I think I just struck lucky.

If a baby gets used to being put down awake which is pretty easy early on, if s/he has been awake for a stretch and has been fed I'll wager you're fasttracking your way to uninterrupted nights.
People have written books on this. Ferber, for starters. If anyone deserves millions, it's him.

My dd used to be put down awake - and then she wouldn't do it
She even used to sleep through. NOt any more.

OH, FFS. DS - didn't sleep, and aged 8, still finds it difficult to get off to sleep. DD - always slept well, and still goes off quickly. They have always had the same good bedtime routine.

Me - finds it hard to get to sleep. DH - off to sleep at the drop of a hat.

See a pattern here? It's a lot of luck. Though I'm sure if I had 2 like DD I'd probably take a lot of the credit too.

Sorry - should have said - the last post was directed at the inane comments by MT

Mind you, my ds who used to be rubbish, sleeps really well now (4). He still has a dummy though!

I think it's luck.

Mine have all waited until they were at least one to sleep through the night. I think my attachment parenting style is largely to blame.

Partly down to good bedtime habits but mostly luck, I have determined recently.

dd, ds1, ds2, ds3 - brilliant sleepers and never any problem getting off at night, and napped well in the day.

ds4 on the other hand is a little bugger. Fine going to bed. I can put him in his cot wide awake and he'll settle down no problem. Oh, but come 3 in the morning wide awake and looking all cute ready to play! Bugger to get off to sleep again and a very light sleeper to boot. All the others I have assembled furniture right next to their beds and they've not batted an eyelid, but ds4, well, let's just say I'm about to sell him.....no, make that give him away!

Never thought of that. You are right we do all sleep differently so I suppose kids/babies are the same. I love my sleep and will sleep 12 hours solid if allowed, my DH on the other hand will stay awake til 2 am and get up for work at 7 am and be none the worse for it. (have to say he complains at C3 waking him up though! and grumbles at doing nite feeds!!) C1 takes after me and loves sleep, C2 awful sleeper and always has been and C3 seems to be the same! C2 recently announced that "sleep is boring mummy, there is so much I could be doing!"

So yes, Luck I think. Shall I write a book now and make my millions!!!????

I think some babies/children just don't need as much sleep as others. Ds1 (now 5) hardly slept at all as a baby/toddler and also rarely napped in the day. Ds2 (2.9yrs) is considered to have a good night if he is asleep by 11pm. If he falls asleep any earlier he will be wide awake and raring to go at 3am. No long naps for ds2 either.