29/12/2023
Babies like adults, experience varying levels of sleep throughout the night. You may find yourself watching your bub and wondering exactly how asleep they actually are! Their eyelids may move, they may get the cute little smile, maybe a frown- are they dreaming? Are they awake? Are they 'pretending' to sleep to lull you into a false sense of security? See below for an explanation of those stages of sleep babies (and us!) go through.
NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep 😴: In the initial phase, baby experiences light sleep, characterized by slow eye movements and occasional movements. This accounts for about 50% of their sleep time.
Transition to Deep Sleep 🌌: As baby delves deeper into the night, they progress to deep sleep. Breathing slows, muscles relax, and it becomes more challenging to wake them.
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep 🌠: Ah, the dream stage! This usually kicks in around 70-90 minutes after falling asleep. Baby's eyes move rapidly in various directions, and brain activity resembles that of waking hours.
Light Sleep Returns 🌜: Following REM, there's a return to light sleep. This cycle repeats multiple times throughout the night, with each sleep stage playing a crucial role in development and restoration.
Morning Wakefulness ☀️: Towards the end of the night, baby may experience shorter sleep cycles and periods of wakefulness. It's a natural part of the sleep rhythm as they transition to being fully awake.
All sleep is important and helps your baby develop their brain function. Good sleep habits and routines are necessary and achievable (particularly after the 4 month mark). If you are needing any help or have any questions please shoot me a message!