Babies and sleep - an overview
Although
we’re unaware of it, sleep occurs in cycles. The first phase is known as ‘light
sleep’ and it takes us into REM (rapid eye movement) or ‘dream sleep’.
This
stage is so-called because our eyes move quickly under their lids, but apart
from the odd twitch our bodies are still. The other stage of sleep is known as
‘deep sleep’ – in this stage we don’t dream but lie extremely still and are
‘lost’ in a deep level of sleep.
Newborn babies need nearly twice the amount of sleep
that an adult requires and even when they’re around 18 months old they’ll still
need, on average, five more hours of sleep than their parents do. They spend a
lot more time in the REM stage – which means they rouse fairly often and are
easily disturbed. On the other hand, when they’re in the ‘deep sleep’ phase
they’re hard to wake and will make little sucking movements with their mouth.
She may also ‘startle’ in the same manner that adults do as they are falling
asleep.
Before
the age of three months, your baby won’t be able to differentiate between night
and day, so her sleep will be spread across the 24-hour period. After the
three-month stage, your baby will start to learn that night equals a longer
period of sleep than the daytime naps that she receives. As she grows older,
you’ll find her naps become less frequent but more predictable and longer than
the frequent but short ones of her early months.
By
six months you can reasonably expect more
of a routine.
Why
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forum. Alternately, if you want to meet other moms in your area
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The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 19/06/2007
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