Managing Your Baby’s Temperament and Sleep
What does temperament really mean? How does it affect sleep and how can it be worked with? Let’s look at these questions in more detail.
What is Temperament?
The temperament of a child is the personality traits that determine how the baby reacts to their environment. It includes traits such as moods, sensitivity and adaptability. The temperament of your baby is the way they interact with their environment. It can influence how they react to being held, changes in routine, or even sleep.

It’s important to note that temperament, while largely genetically determined, can change as your child grows. The foundation of your child’s temperament is relatively constant throughout their infancy. It will shape how they interact both with you and others. Understanding your baby’s temperament will help you understand why they are fussier or less fussy or why they fight sleep or wake up multiple times at night.
Nine key traits of infant temperament
Researchers Dr. Stella Chess & Dr. Alexander Thomas conducted a groundbreaking research study on infant temperament in the 1950s & 1960s. This study laid the foundations for many parenting techniques that are used today. They identified nine traits that could be used to better understand a child’s behavior and temperament. These traits can be used to determine how your baby will respond to his or her environment, such as sleep situations. The nine traits include:
- Activity level: This is the amount of energy that a baby uses throughout the day. A baby who is more active may require more time for settling, while a baby who is calmer may be more relaxed.
- Regularity This trait describes the predictability of a baby in terms of behaviors such as eating, sleeping and bowel movements. Some babies are predictable, while others are more regular. This can make it difficult to create a consistent schedule.
- Initial reaction is the way a baby reacts to new situations, objects, or people. Some babies are more tolerant of change, while others can be easily upset.
- Adaptability Babies with high adaptability are more able to adjust to changes in their environment or routine. Babies with low adaptability can struggle to adjust to changes in their daily routines, which makes sleep difficult to achieve.
- Sensitivity : This is the baby’s threshold of sensory stimuli. Sensitive infants may be bothered more by sound, light or physical discomfort. They might also take longer to sleep if their environment is too stimulating.
- Intensity This trait describes the intensity or strength of a child’s emotional reactions. High intensity babies can cry louder or laugh harder, and they feel their emotions in every aspect of life. This includes sleep.
- Mood A baby’s mood affects how they perceive the world. Baby’s with a positive disposition or who are generally happy will be more likely to fall asleep easily, while babies with an irritable or negative mood may have a harder time.
- Distractibility : Distractible children are easily distracted from one activity to another. They can easily be distracted, making it difficult to establish a routine leading to sleep that is calming.
- Persistence : Persistent infants are persistent and will try to achieve their goals. This trait can impact their ability to fall asleep as they may refuse to be put down or cry for longer periods.
Understanding these nine traits can help parents better understand how their child processes the world, and how this might affect sleep.

Three General Temperaments
Dr. Chess Thomas and Chess categorized infants into three temperamental types. These were easy, difficult and slow to warm up. These categories are flexible, and many babies will display traits that could place them into one or more of the categories. Understanding these temperamental types will give you a better idea of how your baby may sleep.
1. Easy Babies
The “easy” child is adaptable and calm, which makes the first few years of parenting easier than with other temperaments. The “easy” baby has a regular sleep and feeding pattern, making it easier to establish a routine. They are usually in a good mood, and they can adapt to changes in their surroundings without stress. Easy babies are generally quite flexible, whether it is adjusting to a new environment or transitioning from one activity to another. This adaptability can be a great asset when creating predictable schedules or a calm sleep environment.
Easy babies are easier to plan and prepare for because their sleeping and feeding patterns tend to be consistent. This makes it easier to create routines and encourage healthy sleep habits. Easy babies are less fussy and more likely to fall asleep without much effort.
2. Difficult Babies
Difficult infants are usually unpredictable, irritable and more sensitive to their surroundings. Sleep problems may be caused by irregular sleep-wake patterns, heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli and an increased reaction to the environment. These babies cry more and resist sleep. They also have a harder time adapting to new routines.
They may require more attention and reassurance in order to settle down, and may even resist being put to sleep. It is harder for them to settle into a routine and they may wake up more frequently at night. This can be tiring for parents.
Patience and persistence are key if your baby is in the “difficult category”. While it may take more time to establish a routine, you must remain flexible and consistent. It may take time for difficult babies to develop a predictable sleep schedule. However, it will require extra effort and understanding.
3. Slow-to-Warm-Up Babies
Baby’s who take longer to warm up tend to be more quiet and less active. These babies may take longer to adapt to new environments or routines, or they could be moodier or more reserved. They may not react as strongly as difficult babies, but they can still struggle to adapt to changes in sleep patterns. These babies may need more time to adapt to new sleeping patterns.
Consistency is important for these babies. Consistency is key for these babies. A predictable bedtime will ease their transition into sleep, and a quiet, calm environment will make them feel more secure. These babies may initially resist change, but they will eventually adapt to a routine and schedule.
How temper affects sleep
When establishing a sleep schedule, it is important to understand your baby’s personality. You can, for example:
- Easy Babies : They’ll likely be able to fall into a sleep routine more quickly. It’s important to keep a consistent sleep schedule and to avoid overstimulation.
- Difficult babies: Sleep may be more difficult to establish. It may be difficult to get them to sleep. They might wake up frequently, or refuse to be put down. It is crucial to create a sleep environment that is calm, predictable and flexible. Slowly introducing a routine to sleep can ease the transition.
- Slow to Warm-Up Babies : These babies might need some time to adjust to a new schedule. You should be patient and consistent to help them adjust. However, you shouldn’t rush them. They will feel more secure with a quiet, predictable bedtime routine.
How to adapt your baby’s sleep needs
It’s impossible to change your child’s temperament. However, you can adjust your parenting strategy to meet their needs. This is especially true when it comes time to sleep. These tips will help you manage sleep issues:
- For Easy Babies Stick to a consistent nighttime routine. Maintaining regular sleep patterns can help reinforce their natural rhythms, even though they are easily adaptable. To prevent difficulties settling, avoid overstimulating before bed.
- For Difficult Baby Be flexible and patient. When your baby is upset or irritable, comfort him and offer reassurance. Try different sleeping techniques to see what works. Consistency is key, even if the situation doesn’t improve right away.
- Give your baby time to adapt to the new sleeping habits. It’s important to have a calming, consistent bedtime routine. But don’t force changes. Allow them to adjust at their own pace.

Tips for a better sleep for all temperaments
Here are some tips from experts to improve your baby’s sleep.
- Create Calm Environment Dimmed lights, quiet surroundings and a calm environment will help your child feel safe and ready to sleep.
- Establish Routine While some babies do it naturally, a routine that is predictable can be beneficial to all babies. It will signal to them when it’s time for bedtime.
- Respond To Their Needs Each baby is different when it comes time to sleep. Listen to your baby and react accordingly. Meeting their needs, whether they are extra comfortable, need more time to settle or reassurance will make them feel secure.
- Be Consistent Once you have established a routine, stick to it. A regular routine helps babies learn to sleep more easily.
- Be patient. Above all else, keep in mind that creating a routine for sleep takes time. No matter what your baby’s temperament is, patience, consistency and understanding can go a long ways in helping them learn to sleep.
Conclusion
In the early stages of parenting, sleep can be difficult to come by. This is especially true if your child has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It can be overwhelming to navigate nighttime awakeness, adjust to new sleep patterns, and find what works for your child. Understanding your baby’s personality, such as whether they are easygoing, difficult or slow to warm-up, can give you valuable insights into their sleeping behavior and how they process things around them. Every baby reacts differently to the environment, and understanding these differences will help you manage sleep issues.
You can adjust your sleep strategy to align with your baby’s natural rhythms by taking the time and effort to observe their unique characteristics. Understanding your baby’s temperament will help you to make sleep easier.
With time, patience and flexibility, your baby’s sleeping habits will improve. As they get older, their ability to develop a regular sleeping pattern will improve. There will be many ups anddowns, but remember that these nights won’t continue forever. Your baby will settle into a predictable sleep pattern with persistence and consistency. This will allow you both to get the restful sleep that you deserve.
It takes a lot of flexibility to parent a newborn, but you will build a stronger relationship with your child and help them develop a healthy sleep relationship. Trust your instincts and embrace the journey. Each phase is a small step towards a better night’s sleep.