Log, Soldier, Starfish: How do you sleep?
July 20, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
“Angelic” and “peaceful” are words that one often sees used in particular about an autistic child when he or she is sleeping. These words can indeed be applied to Charlie when he is asleep, though I also think them true when he is up and about. A day with Charlie is very active (my parents are now back home in California, with many happy memories and lots of photos, and a bit worn down from catching this illness); life is good when he is up and awake, calling for me to change the song on his iPod, watching me cook him rice and stir-fry for dinner, swimming at the bottom of the pool, pushing the shopping cart at a fast clip in the aisles of Target.
All that activity does tire a boy out (and, one must confess, his parents): Charlie sleeps well in the summer. The position in which one sleeps reflects traits of one’s personality, according to an article based on the work of Sleep Specialist Chris Idzikowski, the Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre and of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service (and a sleep consultant for British Airways—-not that we’re planning on any long airplane rides soon).
Prof. Idsikowski lists six sleep positions:
- The Foetus: Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax.
This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position. - Log (15%): Lying on your side with both arms down by your side. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. However, they may be gullible.
- The yearner (13%): People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.
- Soldier (8%): Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don’t like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.
- Freefall (7%): Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side. Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don’t like criticism, or extreme situations.
- Starfish (5%): Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don’t like to be the centre of attention.
(Pause in which I get up to check on Charlie and see if he sleeps in the position that I envision……)
I seem to be like 41% of the survey respondents while Charlie is mostly a freefaller, with elements of a log (he does not sleep with his hands on his pillow).
And I am already looking forward to when he opens his eyes in the morning.
Thanks to Tony of Astronomy Buff for the sleep positions link!
Photo courtesy of acastellano via Flickr.
Hey Kristina! Is it just me or did you swap the gecko for a starfish?
Btw , I’m in the 41% too.
Mark’s a bit of Log I reckon..
I did—the gecko was for a post from yesterday—-leading me to wonder, do geckos sleep vertically…..
I seem to be a freefall although not exclusively. Patrick is a combination of that and a log (like Charlie). That is, when he’s not sleeping with his bum in the air.
Charlie has been known to the last-mentioned thing too, especially while wel-wrapped up in his blue blanket. Me, I boringly stick to the 41%!
Wow! What an unusual comparison!
All three of mine did the “frog-baby” thing as infants: bums up in the air, kind of up on all fours, face down.
Now: JA and JP sleep cocooned, completely wrapped up in comforters, on their tummies. Ely sleeps on her back, splayed out. I don’t know if there is a description of it, other than “starfish”. I DO know that she does not like anyone else in her bed with her, even when she’s upset.
R & I fit into the 41%….except I have to have one foot sticking out from the covers….
I used to do the “frog-baby” thing when I was younger, too. I also used to sleep wrapped up in all my blankets and sheets, even in the summer months sometimes. Now, I typically sleep on my back with a stuffed animal in my arms and up by my face.
Charlie is in starfish mode tonight—-with a section of his fleece blanket up against his face.
“Angelic” and “peaceful” are words that one often sees used in particular about an autistic child when he or she is sleeping.
And non-autistic children, as well.
(When you have young twins, any bit of “peace” is cherished and sometimes shared, so I see plenty of that about non-autistic children. Especially when one or more of the children in question have been particularly rambunctious.)