See my previous blog to understand the story of my twin boys.

With that background, I would like to know if anyone has had similar experiences with particular preemie behaviour. I've heard that because of neurological development, preemies can behave differently than full-terms. Particularly, they can be more difficult.

For example, my blonde had night terrors when he was 2 for well over a year. A night terror is like being 1/2 awake and 1/2 asleep, screaming and writhing about, but never fully wake and never remembering it the next day. His lasted anywhere from 5-30 minutes. And he still has them periodically. Yet everything I've read, and from what his pediatrician has said, they usually only last for about a month and then they grow out of them. That was a hell of a long month!

Another example is my redhead. Ever since he could crawl, he's been doing something we call "kicking." He lays on the floor, face down, upper torso propped up on his elbows, and kicks both legs, simultaneously, up and down. Really works up a sweat. His little leg and buttock muscles are pretty well defined from doing this for almost 4 years! Nobody who's seen him in action can explain it, and when I ask him what he's doing, he just says, kicking. I'm sure there is a neurological connection somehow, maybe stimulation of a sort, but it beats me.

My redhead will also hit himself in the head or bang his head on the wall or floor when he gets frustrated.  I know this is not just a preemie thing, but why do it? Afterwards, he always complains of how much it hurts. It's hard to show any sympathy after he does this, and I usually tell him to not hit himself.

I don't know if these are preemie traits or not, but any feedback is welcome!