ABSTRACT
I have twin sons of eighteen months, normal, healthy children, Number Two is a calm young person, and whatever the excitement of the day, he sleeps quietly in the same position all night. Number One goes to sleep quite happily at six and sleeps rather restlessly. About 2 a.m., however, he wakes up, apparently quite rested, and until four or five jumps up and down, making a terrible noise as the cot springs move. While doing this he laughs and sings and goes over all the words and phrases he knows. When he has tired himself out he falls asleep until his brother wakens about 6.30. This has been going on for five out of the seven nights for several weeks. I have tried: (a) putting him down to sleep gently with his favourite rabbit; (b) whispering that he must sleep just like his brother; (c) giving him a different animal to take to sleep; (d) lifting him out of the cot for a few minutes and sitting quietly beside him. Daddy has tried saying firmly, “Alan mustn’t make a noise with cot”. To all methods he smiles charmingly, says, “No, no, no” and continues playing.
