Front Range Dad

There was apparently some research on sleep in the UK regarding sleep interruption.  (It was done by a British Cold & Flu medicine maker so take it for what’s it’s worth.)

Article link1 : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231896/When-Daddy-goes-deaf-How-men-really-DONT-hear-babies-crying-asleep.html

Article 2 http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/143188/Sleep-patterns-Yes-dads-do-turn-a-deaf-ear

One of the conclusions they found was that men’s sleep is not as likely to be disturbed  by a baby crying as a woman.  For the most part I can believe it, but I sure do wake up fast when our baby cries in the middle of the night.  I don’t think I’m overly sensitive, but I am a light sleeper and this definitely woke me up.

I particularly liked this quote:

“These differing sensitivities may represent evolutionary differences that make women sensitive to sounds associated with a potential threat to their children while men are more finely tuned to disturbances posing a possible threat to the whole family,” said psychologist Dr David Lewis.

But then they describe what men wake up for:

1. Car alarm
2. Howling wind
3. Buzzing fly
4. Snoring
5. Noise from drains
6. Crickets…

Since when are crickets a threat to the whole family?  Not sure I get that.

Anyhow, I’m sure some of these would keep me from getting to sleep, but would I actually be awoken be a dripping tap?  I think the jury still is out on that one.

I believe that men and women would react differently to the sound of a baby crying, especially their own baby. (I don’t recall it bothering me much before we had our own.)  But I always wonder about these studies and the intent behind them.

Car alarm

Howling wind

Buzzing fly

Snoring

Noise from drains

Crickets

Emergency sirens

Clock ticking

Drilling/workmen

Dripping tap