Sleep Schedule for Babies is really important for the proper physical and mental development of the baby. A mother needs to be really careful and efficient with the sleeping patterns of the child. A little bit of mishap can actually lead to a lifetime of suffering which is why proper recommendations and guidance from the pediatrician are necessary to avoid further consequences.
Infants Literally Sleep a Lot!!!
Sleep Schedule For Babies
Children sleep a lot. Specifically the newborns. The sleep cycle of an infant is totally different from ours. A normal and healthy newborn baby sleeps for almost 8-9 hours in the morning and 8 hours at night. Yes, that is actually equal to 16-18 hours a day. That’s how long a baby sleeps unless there is some abnormality in the child.
Even though, the infants sleep almost more than half of the day which can be a factor of worry for the parents but doesn’t worry that’s completely normal. Just make sure that your baby is getting a feed at the right time, a little bit of massage and a little playtime is also required along with long hours of sleep. So, don’t worry if your child is sleeping for half of the day, it’s completely normal.
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Sleep Stages Of a Baby:
Just like adults, babies too have different sleep stages, each stage being entirely different from the other. The movement of babies and the facial expressions depends upon the depth of the baby’s sleep. The types of baby’s sleep are categorized into two categories, namely:
- REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
- Non-REM
REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
It is the light sleep, in which the child dreams but is partially awake too. A little noise or disturbance can wake up the child easily. During REM sleep there is rapid eye movement back and forth, continuously. Almost half of the baby’s sleep is termed as REM sleep.
Non-REM:
Non-REM is a little complicated and is distributed into four categories.
- Drowsiness
- Light Sleep
- Deep Sleep
- Very Deep Sleep
In the first stage of non-REM is drowsiness. Although the child sleeps in this stage but awakes from really little noise or disturbance. The child also opens and closes the eyes continuously, which means it is commonly known as dozing.
The second stage is slightly different from the first one. In this stage, the child startles or jumps up with noise. If your child starts crying instantly, pat his or her back and put him or her back to sleep. This way the child completes its nap cycle.
In the third stage, the baby is quiet and doesn’t move for a long time. This is the stage when the child dreams. After having long hours of deep sleep the child feels fresh and healthy.
The fourth and final stage of non-REM sleep is the one in which the child goes into a very deep sleep. There is neither the movement of eyes nor the other parts of the body.
A Few Signs Of Sleep Readiness
Obviously, the baby shows some gestures and signs when he or she is ready for sleep. Have a look at the signs below so that you can judge your child better:
- Rubbing eyes constantly is the sign that your child needs sleep.
- Relentless yawning indicates that the child is sleepy.
- When your child is looking away that shows that he or she is tired and wants rest.
- When your child is fussing and ignoring you continuously, this shows that the child is restless and wants to nap.
Read also:
- The Baby Falls ASleep While Eating
- When Can Babies Sleep With Blankets?
- Baby Sleep Tips: How to Help Your Baby Sleep
