Do babies/kids with allergies sleep less

[bean-e]

Hi mama,

Dd is 3.5 years old and she has never been a good sleeper.  Her max per night is 9.5 hours and she naps for about 1.5 hours.  It's 11 hours in total, but it's not a the 12-13 hours that I keep hearing about from other parents.  And then I have a friend who has a 5 month old who sleeps a total of about 12 to 13 hours a day.  Again, not as much as other babies the same age. So we're wondering if there is a link between food allergies and food intolerances and sleep issues.  Your experiences?

thanks!

[scsigrl]

Every baby is different. She isn't far off from the "norm" and if that's the only "issue" you see, I would say no, she just needs a tiny bit less sleep than other babies.

[SweetSilver]

I would say "no" as well.  If she is cheerful enough and this is her regular amount of sleep, it is simply her sleep pattern.  Same for your friend's 5mo.  I think 11 hours was our typical night for years right around 2-5yo.

There can be a *connection* between some sleep patterns and allergies.  I would say that young kids with allergies can often have *disturbed* sleep, especially before their allergy is diagnosed.  But this is not necessarily across the board, either, and not a definitive sign.  

So, you say she hasn't been a "good" sleeper, but you don't mention any other issue beyond the total amount?  If that's the case, it's just her version of normal.  Yes, their are much, much wider variations than what the books say.