My DD has been incredibly active and is a terrible sleeper - we have worked on this lots by having a bedtime routine that helps her to wind down. She is so active, I think she finds it hard to switch off. She is learning and it is easier now that she is older but as a small baby, it was torture!
DS is a little more placid, but I still wouldn't say entirely placid and he is an excellent sleeper and has been since the day he was born. We haven't had to teach him to settle and go to sleep, he naturally just settles himself and goes to sleep when he is ready.
We have always had to have DS in bed by 6.30 -7.00 every night or the tantrums begin. DD would party on till after midnight if we let her. Her stamina is amazing.
I think it is partly genetic and partly environmental. I think you can teach an unsettled sleeper good routines to get their brain ready for sleep and I think if you provide too much of an unsettled environment, a baby that is born knowing how to sleep could probably be unsettled quite quickly. I think the key is to have good routines established and meet your child where they are at.
Nai; what you said rings true with me - i used to suffer quite badly from insomnia as an adult (sleep from 1ish(am) til maybe 6) and Lachlan is not a great sleeper. although getting better (his father is a FAB sleeper and a FAB snorer to boot).
Also my mum said as a baby/ child i was terribly difficult to get down to sleep as i didnt want to miss out on anything - lachlan is identical. sometimes it feels like i spend my ENTIRE day trying to get him to sleep as i read the better they sleep during day (regardless of length etc) the better they sleep at night. and that works - if i can get him down for at least an hour or two during day he'll sleep from 9ish..... 11.30pm (dream feed) until 7 sometimes closer to 8.
Yeah, I'm not so sure about this theory. Active kids might wear themselves out a bit more, but they are so active its hard for them to relax. More placid children might find it easier. My DS is very active, and will fight sleep very hard as long as there is an opportunity to play some more- and then he will hit a wall and crash!
Nai, I'm not sure its like that for us- I wish it was! DH and I are great sleepers... DS is not so fabulous. Hm, maybe the good sleep gene doesn't kick in until later!!
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