A woman cuddles her child as he sleeps peacefully in her arms. She casually peruses the noisy grocery aisle 5, reading labels and putting items into her cart. Another woman in aisle 7 is moments away from her baby’s nap time. She speeds through the aisles so she can get home on time, lay her baby down in a perfectly cool room, no light or sound.
The distinction between the two women isn’t what one is doing right or wrong; the difference is babies have different temperaments that affect sleep habits and patterns.
How Temperament Affects Sleep Styles
The concept of temperament has recently lost visibility, but it is at the forefront of much current research in infants and younger children. Temperament is made up of nine traits: activity level, regularity of biological functions, adaptability, sensory threshold, approach/withdrawal, intensity, distractibility, persistence and mood. Understanding your child’s temperament can help your child sleep better.
Specifically, a child’s traits of reactivity, sensory sensitivity and adaptability are key to a child’s sleep habits. For example, a child who has the trait of strong reactivity will do better with sleep training methods that soothe or appear gentler rather than the Ferber “extinction” method. However, some children with easy adaptability will also adjust quickly to a structured sleep method, such as Ferber. In contrast, a baby who is less persistent with low distractibility may thrive with flexible sleep methods.
For example, if parents find that their child is sensitive to stimuli, they will intuitively create a quiet sleep area with no sound and dim light. It may take more time for that child to settle down at night, so the bedtime routine requires more scheduled quiet time before sleep. If the baby is easy going, she may be the one who sleeps through the movie, grocery store run or preschool pick up. Outside stimuli may affect her very little. Again, the differences in temperament are not created by the parents, but the differences are inborn and make each baby special. Each trait has its superpowers, as well as occasional obstacles.
Balancing a Temperament With Parenting Styles
One challenge, once parents understand their baby’s temperament, is that it may clash with their parenting style. Permissive or easy-going parents may struggle with firm structures and rigid bedtime routines. Similarly, authoritative parents may need to learn flexibility. However, parenting style is adaptable while your child’s temperament is a set part of their personality.
As parents, helping our children get a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things we can do because the facts are clear. Healthy sleep will benefit your child. Children will grow better, have stronger immune systems, improve memory and experience less irritability with restful sleep.
Parenting is a journey that provides joy, as well as growth.
For more information on assessing your child’s temperament or questions on sleep habits or methods, contact the Family Life Education Office at familylifeeducators@avera.org.
Learn more about children’s care at Avera.
By the Avera Family Life Educators
