Light Sleeper

If it works, why stop using it? Lots of adults need white noise to sleep...some people just are sensitive that way and don't outgrow it. If it's not broke, don't fix it...keep on using white noise.

I say if white noise helps him sleep, go for it! I know adults who sleep with a fan or soft music so I don't think it is a problem at all. A cranky toddler is no fun! Best wishes :)

I think you should stick with what works for him. My father is approaching 70 and has been a light sleeper his entire life. He now sleeps with white noise, and it has made a world of difference for him. Daddy is NOT going to outgrow his need! As he grows, white noise could be just from a fan or something. Personally, I need to have the sound and motion from a fan (and I love the cool) to sleep my best.

People are different when they sleep, and I think being a light sleeper may just be how your son is. He sounds totally normal to me. This is just something he needs!

he's still a babe...i'd do it forever if it helps him sleep...what is it harming?

A. - My philosophy is do what works to make your child and you happy! A well rested Mommy and child is much more important. My kids (5 & 9) still go to sleep with their radios on. I set the sleep timer, but I would keep doing what you are if it works. Maybe when he is older he will grow out of it.

Good Luck!

D.

I have to sleep with a fan or my noise machine. My son sleeps with a fan. Why don't you want him to sleep with noise if that's what works for him? I think some people are light sleepers n other are heavy sleepers, i am not sure u can change that.

Personally I think what you're already doing is fine. You would be surprised at the amount of white noise that is used in most settings and most people don't even realize it. Some corporations including ones that I have worked for, use white noise in their offices, b/c it helps people in cubicles to concentrate and not be so disturbed by other people working and talking. Also, Casinos use it to make people more comfortable and to also help them concentrate. Even on a personal level, I know I also sleep better with a fan going and my Mother can not sleep without a box fan on.

The most important thing to remember is to do what works best for your child and family. If he sleeps better with some noise, then by all means let him have it. There's no reason to have him and you losing sleep for no reason. He may grow out of it, but even if he doesn't, it's not going to hurt anything. Good luck. HTH.

Hey A.,
We opted to go with a radio when my daughter was a newborn. If I turned it off, she would wake so I left it on low all night long. The older she got the more deeper and longer she slept.

She still loves to have her radio on and she's 12 and sleeps like a rock. Now, I usually go in and turn it off before I go to bed and mot of the times, she does not wake up. The good news is that we can have a full blown party in the next room, or the dog can bark his head off, or we can have a really strong thunderstorm roll thru and she'll sleep thru the whole thing! :-)

S.

Keep the white noise and leave it on all night if needed. I'm sure as he grows older he will sleep deeper.

A.,

I have one son who is also a light sleeper. When we used to do the tooth fairy, he would wake up when I put the money under his pillow and I would have to hit the floor and hide from him! Kids need sleep to be happy and grow. If having the fan keeps him asleep, leave it on! Your a/c runs more efficiently with a fan on anyway:)

Peace,
C.

i myself sleep with a fan on b/c i can't fall asleep/stay asleep if there is even the slightest noise around the house! my kids are the same way, so i'm not sure if there is anything that can be done to "fix" it, i think some people are just that way

My ds also seems to be a light sleeper...at times. Some times he has trouble staying asleep as a result of Teething Pain.
That to say, don't forget to check 'fixable' causes of frequent waking. For us, hunger, thirst and teething pain top this list of night waking.

HTH
K., mama to
Catherine, almost 5!
Samuel, 21m

Hi A.,

Two things I would recommend. If you want to see actual data on your child's sleeping issues-I would talk to a pediatrician and a sleep clinic. See if your son would be able to be tested by a sleep clinic as there may be something they will see definitively regarding why he cannot reach that deep sleep state.

Deep rest is so important to children (adults too) but kids minds' are still developing along with their bodies and sleep plays a big role.

It may be a situation where a simple fix of ear plugs might be involved or it could even be medications to relax the mind over night.

Two- if you prefer to go the natural route before doing any of this- I would recommend homeopathy hands down.

See Nannette Pavlova- she is actually in the mamasource group. She is a licensed homepath and could help treat the sleep disorder without drugs. I took a child I used to nanny for, to see her. She had terrible sleep disruption and such digestive troubles the doctor DX's her as "failure to thrive".

Once Nanette saw her, and found the right remedies- she slept better, began eating regularly and started crawling and walking- which she had not been able to do even as a 17 month old. Not to mention her mother who was completely drained because he child was always cross and would not sleep.

Everyone's lives improved and the little girl loved taking the drops. Homeopathy is very easy to incorporate since kids will not resist taking the medicine.

Good luck-
D. :)

Wal-mart sells a sound clock, it has several noises, rain etc. We use it for our grand child at night and she sleeps so much better, because it drowns out any other noises.

I definitely agree with everyone else's suggestions on the radio but instead of just any random station seek out a classical station by helping to soothe and broaden their minds at a young age. We also did this with our son when he was a baby and now we can be watching a movie late at night in surround sound and have never had a problem with waking him up. He is such a sound sleeper when the hurricane came through and the bad storm the next day he slept right through. If you don't want to go with the radio I would definitely stay at least with the white noise machine you are currently using. Using either one of these methods are not harming him in any way only helping him in getting a good nights sleep. And it won't be forever he will eventually get to the poing of being a sound sleeper that he will not always need it. Hope this helps and good luck in getting your little one a good nights sleep.

Hey A. -

Keep that white noise on for as long as you need. My 28 mo. old still has it and it's on 24-7.

Also, move him to his side or tummy when he's sleeping if he's not in this position. It closes off more naturally in this position, keeping them in sleep mode - closing off wakefullness to noises, etc...

Also good is an hour of quiet time before bed to slow his heart rate and mind down. Watching a quiet show or reading - whatever you do that is quiet time.

warm milk is also good - tryptophane is a natural sedative in milk, activated when you warm it.

Good luck,
A. N.

My whole family sleeps with white noise. I cannot sleep without it.. I have to take it everywhere I go. However, my older son who is 7 can sleep without it now, but he couldn't until he was about 5, but I still turn it on so that little noises don't wake him up. My 3 year old also has one in his room... I know this isn't much help, but maybe it will help you feel better that you aren't the only one using white noise, J.

I do not see why not... I do the same with my youngest sleep is more important and what ever works is what I do ...BTW there is nothing wrong with being worried about things as he grows so will you it is only natural

I would continue the white noise also. Sleep is necessary for your baby's health and well being.

I am 32yrs old and I still sleep with a fan in my room. My daughter just turned 10, and she sleeps with a fan as well. A few years ago, we had an electrical storm in our area that caused the power to go out at my home. Before the fan blades came to a complete stop we were both away. No need to worry. If he decides he doesn't need it anymore, he will turn off the fan or other noise. But chances are, he will keep the fan. That could be a good thing. Fans blowing in his home helps keep it cooler, so the AC unit doesn't run as much.

I think it's completely normal to want noise. My hubby and I have slept with a box fan forever. Both of my kids started out sleeping in our room and had the noise of the fan, so when they moved to their own rooms I automatically got them fans as well. My daughter is 15 now, and son is 6 and they still both prefer to sleep with the fan on. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with some constant white noise if it helps him sleep.