07/08/2025
Temperament and Sleep
"Babies aren't blank slates that we write a personality on. Being active or quiet or unpredictable is as built-in as being curly haired or long-legged or round-faced....As you get to know your baby, you'll realize that you can shape who she is a little bit, but you can't change who she is. Becoming a family is all about fitting your personalities together, day and night".
- Sweet Sleep
Most of the time, a baby is born with a certain temperament, however, it is also affected by sleep and predictability in daily routine. It is so important to fully accept your baby's unique personality and to recognize baby's strengths and the areas where they need more support. For example, spirited babies will need more stimulation and distraction and lots of opportunities to burn energy. They have a harder time tolerating change and will protest loudly when things don't go their way. Quiet, deep thinker babies need calm, peaceful routines with less stimulation. Easy going babies will go with the flow and tend to be more happy but it is important to connect and talk about feelings as they grow as these children will often times not discuss frustration or emotions because of their easy going nature. You may also notice that your child may be highly sensitive and have huge reactions and big feelings to the world around them. They may be bothered by certain sounds, changes in temperature, light and darkness, textures (often picky eaters) and will really pick up on parents mood and stress. It is important to fill their sensory bucket, add less stimulation before bed, use darkness and white noise and use deep pressure if applicable to them.
With that said, the 3 common types of temperaments are:
Easy or flexible
Spirited, active or feisty
Deep thinker or cautious
I have an easy going/highly sensitive child and an active, spirited, feisty tempered child. What is your child's temperament?
❤ The Sleep Sisters
Information credit: Isla Grace Sleep Course
