It’s no secret that babies spend a lot of time asleep. But what exactly happens when they close their eyes for those long naps? Do babies dream? If so, what are their dreams about?
Let’s take a look at why babies dream and what might be going on in the minds of our little ones when their eyes are closed.
Do Babies Dream?
The answer is yes – babies do dream! Although it’s impossible to know exactly what they’re dreaming about, research has shown that baby brains have the same sleep cycles as adults.
That means that during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is when most dreams occur, newborns experience similar brain activity as adults.
Also, because a baby’s brain is still developing, some studies suggest that they may even have more vivid dreams than adults!
What Are Baby Dreams Like?
It’s impossible to know exactly what babies are dreaming about while they sleep since we can’t ask them to share their dreams with us.
However, some experts believe that baby dreams may be related to things they experienced during the day or things they’ve seen before.
For instance, if you sang a lullaby to your baby right before bedtime and then she had a dream about singing birds, it could mean that she was dreaming about the lullaby you sang her.
Or if your baby has seen an animal at a petting zoo earlier in the day and then dreamed about animals running around her room later on, it could mean she was dreaming about the petting zoo experience.
Do Babies Have Nightmares?
It’s normal for babies (just like adults) to experience nightmares from time to time. As with adult nightmares though, it’s difficult to tell if your child is having them or not without asking her directly (which isn’t possible)!
Signs that your child might be having nightmares include crying out in her sleep or waking up suddenly in distress.
If this happens occasionally then there’s probably nothing to worry about – but if it happens often or keeps your child from sleeping through the night then it might be worth talking to your doctor just in case something else is going on.
While we may never know exactly what goes on inside our little ones’ heads when they’re dreaming away peacefully in their cribs every night – one thing is certain – they do indeed dream!
And while some of these dreams may be pleasant and happy others can sometimes be scary or confusing – just like adult dreams!
So if you ever find yourself wondering “Do babies dream?” now you know – Yes! They certainly do!
Understanding how and why our little ones dream can help us provide comfort for them and make sure they get plenty of good quality rest each night so that their growing bodies stay healthy and strong!
