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Sleep

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Original poster

Are subsequent children worse sleepers?

18 replies

DrDoobs · 29/03/2010 11:23

I have a theory - based on my small sample of 3 - that subsequent children wake more at night. I'm guessing that it's because they get fed less during the day as you have to do more running around. I know my no3 is always getting cut short to do the school run etc.

Has anyone else found this?

Sorry if it puts off those still on no1 DC!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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belgo · 29/03/2010 11:24

I'll disprove your theory! DD1 was the worst sleeper, crying at night for months. DD2 and ds have been far more contented at night time, possibly because I co-slept with both of them.

MinnieMalone · 29/03/2010 11:25

Not the case with mine. I only have two, though.

No.1 didn't sleep through the night until he was 2.5 yrs old.

No.2 slept 12 hours a night from 6 weeks old!

Poledra · 29/03/2010 11:28

DD2 was waaaaayyyy better than DD1 - she was the sort of child who liked to be put down to go to sleep on her own where DD1 wanted you to stay with her all the time. My mum says DD2's the only child she's ever seen 'compose' herself for sleep.

DD3 took much longer to go through the night than the other 2, but I co-slept with her and she got used to having a quick feed through the night till she was about 12months. She was consequently a bit pissed off when this was withdrawn . Also, she then seemed to get every cold and snotty nose going all winter.....

Rockbird · 29/03/2010 11:30

Please God no!

bloss · 29/03/2010 11:33

Message withdrawn

olivo · 29/03/2010 11:36

Oh God, I hope not. DD1 didnt sleep through till well after she was one. DD2 is, let's say, having a few wibbles at the moment but on the whole, is probably better....so far

belgo · 29/03/2010 11:39

I think if you have a first child who is a bad sleeper, your expectations are set very low for any subsequent children. None of my children slept through the night before the age of one but to me that is not a criteria for a good sleeper. It's the night time crying that really gets me down; I don't mind feeding at night as long as they don't cry.

sazlocks · 29/03/2010 11:47

DS1 didn't sleep through until he was 1.
DS2 did it at 7 weeks.
Don't think I did much different with either of them - they are just different people.

bibbitybobbityhat · 29/03/2010 11:51

That was certainly my experience. DD was regularly sleeping through by 6/7 months, DS it was more like 10 months (after a couple of nights of controlled crying).

I think children who naturally learn to sleep through the night without any crying whatsoever are extremely rare.

Original poster

DrDoobs · 29/03/2010 11:54

Oh no - can't just be me! would mean I haven't learnt anything over the last 6 years....

DD1 slept through from 8 weeks, but was fed to sleep until 12 weeks. DD2 was much better at going to sleep on her own, but didn't sleep through until I stopped feeding her at night at 7 months. DS is waking way more often so am not expecting him to sleep through either.

OP posts:

MinnieMalone · 29/03/2010 11:55

It was a complete fluke with me. Nothing I did or didn't do.

belgo · 29/03/2010 11:56

DrDoobs - 8 weeks is very early to sleep through - 7 months is more average but compared to my children, that is still very early.

But sleeping through is not a measure of how successful you are as a parent (if it was I would have failed totally!)

ToccataAndFudge · 29/03/2010 11:59

disagree totally

DS1 - never slept for more than 1hr at a time until he was 6 months old (and then I'm afraid I cracked and did CC with him - which improved things dramatically). He also wouldn't sleep unless he was being held/attached to breast/in pushchair so he "co-slept" (I use the word loslely as we were awake more than we were asleep) . He still doesn't sleep an awful lot now (he's 9 1/2yrs).

DS2 - gave the fright of my life when he was 3 week old, I woke up at 5am, he'd gone to sleep in his moses basket (a bit of a revelation following DS1.......) and I woke up and thought he was dead......flew to the end of the bed to find him sleeping happily with his little mouth open catching flies. He still loves his sleep now (he's 6)

DS3 - sort of in the middle of the 2.

gillhugh · 29/03/2010 11:59

my first born is and always has been the problem sleeper my second has always been a great sleeper .

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 29/03/2010 12:01

Oh phew, I'm glad to see the consensus here.

Original poster

DrDoobs · 29/03/2010 12:04

Belgo - never said it was - after all it's such a small part of their life. just interested to see if there was any pattern in birth order....

OP posts:

Original poster

DrDoobs · 29/03/2010 12:08

and remember those with 2, that you haven't got 3 yet!!

OP posts:

JackRabbitBauer · 29/03/2010 12:17

I have to disagree, DD1 is stilla rubbish sleeper, DD2 is brilliant, and they share a room.
DD2 did drop her naps a lot earlier, at about 18 months, but sleeps 7-7, DD1 napped until she was 3 and now (at 4) sleeps half 7 until 6am with waking in between.

I also had to do PUPD with DD1 at about 14 months when she just wouldnt settle, took a good 3-4 months for it to work 'properly' DD2 has happily gone down and slept through from about 6 months with no 'training' or anything.

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