How your baby’s personality type affects how they sleep, eat and play

A child's temperament is predetermined, at least partially, by their genes and brain chemistry. It will affect how they sleep, eat and interact.

When helping families improve their child's sleep, personality is one of the key factors that I consider. All children are uniquely different, and it is important that we understand their temperament in order to find what approach suits them as individuals.

Appreciating the fact that your child is sensitive, for example, means you can better pre-empt situations that will overstimulate or overwhelm them, and adapt their sleep environment accordingly. The same goes for a more energetic or extroverted child, who may need longer to wind down before bedtime, for example.

As a general guide, Tracy Hogg, British nurse and bestselling author of "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer", describes five broad personality types and their common responses to eating, sleeping and socialising.

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