Parent and child cuddling

Parent/Child Temperament Quiz

Discover the perfect parenting match! This quick assessment helps you understand the "goodness of fit" between you and your little one (birth to 18 months).

For each trait, select what describes you and your baby best, then get personalized recommendations for your unique parent-child combination.

Before You Begin

This quick quiz introduces you to the 9 core traits that shape both infant and parent temperament. For each trait, simply choose the option that most accurately reflects your typical behavior—and then your baby’s.

Keep in mind: temperament exists on a spectrum. There are no “good” or “bad” traits—only unique personalities that deserve understanding and support.

This quiz is designed to help you discover the “goodness of fit” between you and your baby, so you can better connect, communicate, and create routines that work for both of you.

The full quiz takes just 5–10 minutes. Need a refresher on any terms? Refer to our Temperament Traits Chart.

1- Activity Level

How much physical movement you typically engage in - from energetic and always on the go to preferring calmer, less active pursuits.

Activity Level Quiz

Activity Level

I am:

My infant is:

✓ If you both are highly active: Enjoy scooting, crawling, running, and climbing. Remember to model resting.
✓ If you both are less active: Enjoy calm moments, but build in short activity bursts.
↔ If you're highly active and baby is less active: Narrate your movements, rock gently, and allow observation.
↔ If you're less active and baby is highly active: Use tactile play, obstacle courses, and outdoor time.

2-Distractibility

How easily your attention shifts from what you're doing - from highly focused to easily pulled away by new sights and sounds.

Distractibility - Temperament Tool

Distractibility

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both easily distracted: Create a routine and limit outside distractions.
✓ Both focused: Enjoy long play sessions and warn about transitions.
↔ You're distracted, baby is focused: Check in often and engage in floor play.
↔ You're focused, baby is distracted: Limit stimulation during feeds, offer gentle comfort.

3- Intensity

How strongly you express emotions - from big, dramatic reactions to more subtle, measured responses.

3- Intensity

How strongly you express emotions - from big, dramatic reactions to more subtle, measured responses.

Intensity - Temperament Tool

Intensity

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both intense: Celebrate big feelings together and model calming.
✓ Both relaxed: Talk through emotions and others' feelings.
↔ You're intense, baby is relaxed: Use a soft voice and increase stimulation slowly.
↔ You're relaxed, baby is intense: Stay calm and soothe with sensory support.

4- Regularity

How predictable your natural rhythms are - from having consistent patterns for eating and sleeping to being more variable day-to-day.

Regularity - Temperament Tool

Regularity

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both regular: Stick to routines and build flexibility gently.
✓ Both spontaneous: Be flexible and responsive to shifting rhythms.
↔ You're regular, baby is spontaneous: Watch sleep cues and slowly add structure.
↔ You're spontaneous, baby is regular: Respect baby's routines and build consistency.

5- Sensitivity

How you respond to sensory information - from being highly sensitive to lights, sounds, textures to barely noticing these things.

Sensitivity - Temperament Tool

Sensitivity

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both sensitive: Create calm environments and cuddle up.
✓ Both less sensitive: Try varied textures, music, and bold play.
↔ You're sensitive, baby is not: Use bright toys and encourage exploration.
↔ You're not sensitive, baby is: Reduce sensory input and respond gently.

6- Approachability

How you initially respond to new situations - from jumping right in to preferring to observe first.

6- Approachability

How you initially respond to new situations - from jumping right in to preferring to observe first.

Approachability - Temperament Tool

Approachability

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both outgoing: Embrace outings and support less outgoing friends.
✓ Both cautious: Plan small, familiar settings and prep for new events.
↔ You're outgoing, baby is shy: Introduce people gently, be a calm base.
↔ You're shy, baby is outgoing: Label baby's social behavior, stay nearby.

7- Adaptability

How easily you adjust to changes and transitions - from being flexible to preferring consistency.

Adaptability - Temperament Tool

Adaptability

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both flexible: Narrate transitions and watch for change fatigue.
✓ Both prefer routines: Prep ahead and talk through new things.
↔ You're flexible, baby is not: Break changes into steps and go slow.
↔ You're slow to adapt, baby is flexible: Offer new sights and play, follow baby’s lead.

8- Persistance

How long you stick with challenging activities - from highly persistent to preferring to move on when things get difficult.

Persistence - Temperament Tool

Persistence

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both determined: Encourage exploration and praise effort.
✓ Both quick to shift: Break tasks up and celebrate small wins.
↔ You're persistent, baby is not: Recognize frustration early, simplify tasks.
↔ You're quick to quit, baby persists: Let baby stay engaged, praise sticking with it.

9- Mood

Your general emotional outlook - from naturally upbeat and positive to more serious and thoughtful.

9- Mood

Your general emotional outlook - from naturally upbeat and positive to more serious and thoughtful.

Mood - Temperament Tool

Mood

I am:

My infant is:

✓ Both cheerful: Laugh often and name happy feelings.
✓ Both thoughtful: Offer choices and validate big thoughts.
↔ You're upbeat, baby is reserved: Use big expressions and name feelings.
↔ You're serious, baby is bubbly: Match baby’s playfulness and reflect joy.

Keep Exploring Temperament

Temperament blog graphic

Curious about what your temperament quiz results really mean—and how to use them day-to-day? We’ve got you covered.

Our full guide walks through each trait with real-life examples and actionable strategies for working with your baby’s unique temperament.

Read the Full Guide
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