All Babies are Good Babies and a Baby who Doesn't Sleep Through the Night is Still a Good Sleeper

[amileegirl]

Is s/he a good baby?

Egads, I hate this question!   All babies are "good" babies.    They have basic needs and as they grow they only want to learn and please.   A baby is NOT bad if they require more attention, or has a crying fit if someone doesn't seem to understand what they need, or get upset if they aren't velcroed to mommy's leg, or wake at night to eat/pee/be comforted.  Babies are who they are.  They are primal creatures.      A better question is "how are you enjoying your baby?"

Does s/he sleep through the night yet?  Is s/he a good sleeper?

Honestly, what is the obsession with this quiestion.    Ninety-nine percent of the time the answer will be no.    Define "all night"?     In the adult world 7-8 hours is a night of sleep.    Some people do fine on 6 others prefer 9.     Yet, no one calls them "bad" sleepers if they wake up to pee, get a drink of water, roll over, or kick off their socks because they are hot.      For babies, a "sleep through" happens at about 5 hours.      Waking up to eat or for a diaper change and then going back to sleep until the sun comes up and the designated day begins is also a perfectly normal, healthy sleep cycle.          What is the definition of a good sleeper?     A baby who sleeps when they are tired, and wakes when they are rested.    A better question is:     "How are you adapting to motherhood?"

[hillmom]

May. 12, 2010 at 6:11 PM

That is why when people ask if he is a good sleeper, I say yes! His sleep patterns are perfect for him =-) And Co-sleeping is great!