Obviously each kid has his own personality. I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm wondering if, when they're older, I'll be able to look back and find out that certain aspects of their personalities were apparent in their different ways of falling asleep.
Wm screamed himself to sleep from 6 months through nearly 4 yrs old. You might think I'm exagerating, but I'm not. Please ask my mother in law who after two nights visiting us in Manila said, "I finally figured out what is different about this house. Wm goes to sleep without screaming. What a difference it makes!" I concur having lived through over three years of a minimum of 15 minutes (and norm of 30 to 45) of top-of-the-lungs screaming. We tried many methods, finally concluding nothing worked. My guess is that it was his way of relieving a day's stress. I'm glad he's found other ways now that he's older.
#2, on the other hand, loves sleep. Still does. Until he was about 3, going to sleep was a breeze -- as a baby, once we changed his diaper, put on pjs, and showed him his bed, he would dive for it. We'd have to be paying attention or he would lean out of our arms toward the crib so strongly, he might fall out of our arms missing the crib. While he still easily goes to nap, bedtime right now is a bit of a struggle - but if he has a book and a little light, usually he'll "read" until he's ready.
I'm still trying to figure out the baby. He hasn't fallen naturally into a nap pattern, unlike the big two. Which means no pattern at bedtime, either. Some nights he'll nurse to sleep. Some nights he needs a swaddle, paci, and Greg swaying for 20 minutes, not wanting me anywhere near.
Tonight was different yet again. Greg is at the airport dropping off Bagwelle, so I have all three at bedtime on my own. Wm and Patch were getting a little out of hand, so I turned off the lights and put Ian in his crib to tend to the other two. I could hear him making noise - not really crying, but not really happy either. Thirty minutes later, with big brothers settled, I went to check on him and found him peacefully asleep.
My prediction? #1 will be strong willed with committed emotions. #2 will be easy going and chill. #3 will be constantly looking for the new and different. Perhaps I should print out this post and put it in their baby boxes - and when they have kids of their own, see how my predictions turned out.
Wm screamed himself to sleep from 6 months through nearly 4 yrs old. You might think I'm exagerating, but I'm not. Please ask my mother in law who after two nights visiting us in Manila said, "I finally figured out what is different about this house. Wm goes to sleep without screaming. What a difference it makes!" I concur having lived through over three years of a minimum of 15 minutes (and norm of 30 to 45) of top-of-the-lungs screaming. We tried many methods, finally concluding nothing worked. My guess is that it was his way of relieving a day's stress. I'm glad he's found other ways now that he's older.
#2, on the other hand, loves sleep. Still does. Until he was about 3, going to sleep was a breeze -- as a baby, once we changed his diaper, put on pjs, and showed him his bed, he would dive for it. We'd have to be paying attention or he would lean out of our arms toward the crib so strongly, he might fall out of our arms missing the crib. While he still easily goes to nap, bedtime right now is a bit of a struggle - but if he has a book and a little light, usually he'll "read" until he's ready.
I'm still trying to figure out the baby. He hasn't fallen naturally into a nap pattern, unlike the big two. Which means no pattern at bedtime, either. Some nights he'll nurse to sleep. Some nights he needs a swaddle, paci, and Greg swaying for 20 minutes, not wanting me anywhere near.
Tonight was different yet again. Greg is at the airport dropping off Bagwelle, so I have all three at bedtime on my own. Wm and Patch were getting a little out of hand, so I turned off the lights and put Ian in his crib to tend to the other two. I could hear him making noise - not really crying, but not really happy either. Thirty minutes later, with big brothers settled, I went to check on him and found him peacefully asleep.
My prediction? #1 will be strong willed with committed emotions. #2 will be easy going and chill. #3 will be constantly looking for the new and different. Perhaps I should print out this post and put it in their baby boxes - and when they have kids of their own, see how my predictions turned out.
1 comment:
I wonder if having three data points helps make the prediction come more easily. I often say that I have no idea what my one child's personality is going to be, but I'm certain I will look back on it when she's older and see all the signs of it. I imagine that being able to make comparisons provides a better frame of reference.
In any case, I'll be eager to see if these prove true for yours.
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