A newborn sound asleep in the crib is one of the sweetest sights in the world! It's an absolute pleasure to watch the fleeting flutter of their eyelids and the slight twitch of their lips and fingers. And, while watching this cute sight, it is natural to wonder: What do newborns dream? Or, do they even have any dreams?
In fact, since newborns can't talk, how can we tell if they are getting enough quality sleep? In this article, we shall shed some light on infant sleep cycles and the link between REM sleep and dreams.
So, is your baby dreaming during sleep?
Since newborn babies can't really talk, it's actually quite tough to confirm if they really do dream or not. However, research has shown that there is some brain activity while they sleep. So, theoretically, they could be dreaming. It is important to remember that the dreams of newborns are vastly different from those of older children. Unlike the latter, the experiences of a newborn baby are minimal, as they have yet to explore the world around them. All they have known so far is the world within the womb. Therefore, it is possible that their dreams would be about their experiences within the womb. For instance, they might dream about their mother's heartbeat, the sensation of moving around in the amniotic fluid, and so on. Again, since they cannot talk, there is no way to really confirm all this.
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A baby's sleep cycle lasts approximately 40-50 minutes. It's normal for healthy newborns to wake after just one or two cycles, especially in the initial days. This is because newborn babies have tiny stomachs, and they need to be fed almost every three hours.
Unlike adults, who have four sleep stages, newborn babies have two: Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). They keep switching between these two stages, spending almost the same amount of time in each.
Let's take a closer look at these two phases of the newborn sleep cycles.
NREM, also known as the "quiet sleep", is the initial stage of the newborn's sleep cycle. This stage begins when the baby starts to feel drowsy and continues until the baby has entered deep sleep, with little to no movement. It may be difficult to wake the baby up during this phase.
NREM is an important sleep phase, as it promotes tissue growth and repair, as well as the release of growth hormones.
In this section, we shall have various aspects of infant REM sleep explained in detail, as this is the most critical phase of the newborn baby's sleep cycle.
REM sleep follows the NREM phase. It is often referred to as "active sleep", as the baby experiences increased brain activity and makes small movements during this phase. This is also the phase during which the baby may see vivid dreams.
Adults usually spend about 90 minutes in the NREM phase before moving into the REM phase. In contrast, babies enter REM sleep much sooner, often within minutes of falling asleep, and spend a larger share of their sleep in this stage.
Newborn babies spend about 50% of their sleep in REM. Given that they sleep up to 18 hours daily, they can have up to nine hours of REM each day.
Recognising REM sleep is quite simple since you need to look for certain signs:
As previously mentioned, REM sleep is essential for babies. It has a significant impact on how their neurological system develops. According to research, the brain is highly active throughout this time, most likely as a result of continuing cognitive development and the creation of new memories. Apart from this, babies undergo emotional development by processing their emotions during this phase. So, the REM phase is essential for the overall healthy growth of your little one.
When the baby becomes three months old, their sleep cycle will begin to expand and become similar to that of adults. Instead of just switching between the NREM and REM phases, infants will start to experience three NREM phases, followed by a REM phase.
As babies grow, they will have varied experiences and engage in diverse social interactions. Apart from seeing the world around them, they will also have a vivid imagination. So, their dreams will start to change from what they were during the newborn stage. They may see people, toys, or places, or even hear conversations in their dreams.
Everyone looks forward to getting a good night's sleep after a long day. For newborns, sleep is a time of growth, comfort, and gentle dreams shaped by the warmth of their earliest experiences. For parents, watching their baby drift into peaceful slumber brings joy and reassurance, knowing that each dream-filled rest is nurturing a healthy, happy future.
Experts feel that newborns do actually dream while asleep. However, their dreams might be different from those of adults. While adults often dream about things they have seen or experienced, newborns are more likely to dream about random sensory experiences they had while growing within their mother's womb. They may dream about their mom's heartbeat, or they may dream about moving in the womb.
REM sleep refers to the second phase of the baby's sleep cycle. Babies experience vivid dreams during this phase. REM sleep is vital as it helps babies process all that they have experienced during their waking hours. This consequently helps with cognitive development. REM sleep also allows babies to process the emotional aspects of their experiences, thereby contributing to their overall development.
Studies have shown that babies could start dreaming as early as six months of age. Some researchers even believe that newborns could have dreams as well, within a few weeks of being born.
It's impossible to really know what babies dream about. However, most experts have unanimously agreed that babies typically do not experience nightmares or bad dreams. They wake crying, usually because they are hungry or uncomfortable.
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