Sleep Texting - it's real!

**Neil** · 03-25-2010, 07:56 AM

Around 11:30pm on Monday night I was woken up by my cell phone sounding off that it received a text message. I looked at it and saw that the new message was from my 11 yr/old son, who went to bed around 9:00pm that night. The text read "Are you sure I'm on the right trail?" with correct punctuation and spelling.

I went into his bedroom, and he was in there, sleeping with his phone in his hand. I woke him up a little to make sure he was ok and not having a nightmare and then took his phone. The next morning he had no memory of doing it.

I searched the net to see if this is a common thing, and it seems that it is fairly rare, but the interesting thing is that all the examples I saw were people either sending jibberish or some common typ eof message like "hey - what are you doing?" or something like that, not related to a dream. The theory is people start to text and fall asleep while texting. The difference in my son's case is that his text appeared to be directly related to a dream he was having. His text was in context to a dream - not reality.

We had been backpacking the weekend before, so I'm guessing that was the stimulas for the dream.

**pecha** · 03-25-2010, 08:00 AM

your 11yo needs a cell?

**pajeff02** · 03-25-2010, 08:02 AM

Not surprised -- kids text so often and so fast that they don't even have to think about it. Interesting story though!

**0rion** · 03-25-2010, 08:08 AM

does he sleep talk and sleep walk much?

**Neil** · 03-25-2010, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by pecha

your 11yo needs a cell?

Yea - he's the youngest of my 4 kids. The first two I had a firm rule, 'No cell until they start High School". Then number 3 child (girl) wore me down and got a cell when she turned 13. By the time number 4 wanted a phone I simply didn't have the energy to fight it (mom is on their side too) so I gave in to 'You can have one when you start middle school."

You would be surprised at the age kids are getting cell phones now - kids in 1st and 2nd grade have 'fireflies' and move on from there. Relative to their peer groups, my kids were amoung the last to get a phone.

Also, my kids are REALLY active and it helps in coordinating carpool pickups and changes in plans. (the 11 yr/old plays Lacrosse, swims competitively year round, is a Boy Scout and attends religious education twice a week. Having the phone helps me out.

I have the 'Family Plan' so it only cost me another $10/month. Kids don't talk on the phone anymore so I didn't need to up my minutes and I already had the unlimited text plan.

**Neil** · 03-25-2010, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

does he sleep talk and sleep walk much?

Yes - he sleep walks ALL the time - at least once a week.

**0rion** · 03-25-2010, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Neil

Yes - he sleep walks ALL the time - at least once a week.

I did that growing up too. Sleep walked and sleep talked almost nightly. It's a curse really. I don't do it much anymore but I did all through my twenties and into my thirties.

**KahanaReef** · 03-25-2010, 08:29 AM

That's pretty interesting. And yes, texting is like breathing to kids these days. It's a normal reflex

**Spaz** · 03-25-2010, 08:51 AM

i can't stand texting... if someone needs to tell me something call my ass instead of taking MORE time and texting me...

on a side note i used to sleep walk and still do from time to time...

**0rion** · 03-25-2010, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Spaz

i can't stand texting... if someone needs to tell me something call my ass instead of taking MORE time and texting me...

on a side note i used to sleep walk and still do from time to time...

I'm the exact opposite. I'd much rather have people text me. I hate talking on a phone. With a text I can get back to them whenever. On the phone you always say what it is you had to say in the first 5 minutes and now get to listen to another 15-20 minutes worth of stuff you could care less about.

**wheeliE-maxx** · 03-25-2010, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Spaz

i can't stand texting... if someone needs to tell me something call my ass instead of taking MORE time and texting me...

on a side note i used to sleep walk and still do from time to time...

So that's how you burn all those calories

if I'm in school texting let's you talk to people, can't call of course. But texting back and forth is crap, calling you can work it all out quickly

**bamaz28** · 03-25-2010, 09:37 AM

i sleep hump on the wife

**pajeff02** · 03-25-2010, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

I'm the exact opposite. I'd much rather have people text me. I hate talking on a phone. With a text I can get back to them whenever. On the phone you always say what it is you had to say in the first 5 minutes and now get to listen to another 15-20 minutes worth of stuff you could care less about.

I'm sorry... were you saying something?

Same here. I really can't stand talking on the phone, especially in the evening. I also shut my cell phone off as soon as I get home from work.

**Spaz** · 03-25-2010, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

I'm the exact opposite. I'd much rather have people text me. I hate talking on a phone. With a text I can get back to them whenever. On the phone you always say what it is you had to say in the first 5 minutes and now get to listen to another 15-20 minutes worth of stuff you could care less about.

i'm just a prick i guess... i just tell people "you're killing me here..." and hang up...

**slimss** · 03-25-2010, 11:07 AM

My wife works for verizon and she tells me all the horror stories of kids and cel phones. They lose them, They go over on their minutes, They send and receive nasty pictures. Then the parents call her to complain. Babies dont need cel phones. especially when they go to bed. Oh well my wife has a good job because of them. gotta see it that way

**Neil** · 03-25-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by slimss

My wife works for verizon and she tells me all the horror stories of kids and cel phones. They lose them, They go over on their minutes, They send and receive nasty pictures. Then the parents call her to complain. Babies dont need cel phones. especially when they go to bed. Oh well my wife has a good job because of them. gotta see it that way

as with any tool - if abused it can be a bad thing. All it requires is proper parenting.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 03-25-2010, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

I did that growing up too. Sleep walked and sleep talked almost nightly. It's a curse really. I don't do it much anymore but I did all through my twenties and into my thirties.

Do you sleep vacuum???

**justinmc978** · 03-25-2010, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Neil

Around 11:30pm on Monday night I was woken up by my cell phone sounding off that it received a text message. I looked at it and saw that the new message was from my 11 yr/old son, who went to bed around 9:00pm that night. The text read "Are you sure I'm on the right trail?" with correct punctuation and spelling.

I went into his bedroom, and he was in there, sleeping with his phone in his hand. I woke him up a little to make sure he was ok and not having a nightmare and then took his phone. The next morning he had no memory of doing it.

I searched the net to see if this is a common thing, and it seems that it is fairly rare, but the interesting thing is that all the examples I saw were people either sending jibberish or some common typ eof message like "hey - what are you doing?" or something like that, not related to a dream. The theory is people start to text and fall asleep while texting. The difference in my son's case is that his text appeared to be directly related to a dream he was having. His text was in context to a dream - not reality.

We had been backpacking the weekend before, so I'm guessing that was the stimulas for the dream.

have a female friend who does it, and another who you can have conversations with in her sleep. its more common than you would think

**ss~zoso~ss** · 03-25-2010, 04:22 PM

i hope your 11 year old never wants to join the military.

**allbaugh_04** · 03-25-2010, 05:04 PM

As long as the military doesn't know about it, it's not an issue.

I'm sure I would text in my sleep if I had a phone at that age. I'd fall asleep at my aunts. My parents would take me home. I would walk to the car, walk into the house, pee before bed, brush teeth, change clothes and go to sleep. And the last thing I would remember is falling asleep at my aunts.