Dec 84 min read

Is Baby Awake or Active Sleeping?

Active Sleeping in Newborns

Newborns are recognized for their distinctive sleep patterns, often characterized by significant movement and noises like grunting. This is typically known as "active sleep" and is vital for their growth.

What is Active Sleep?

Active sleep, also called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, is a sleep stage where the brain is very active. During this time, newborns might:

Move their arms and legs
Show facial expressions
Grunt or coo
Exhibit irregular breathing patterns

This sleep stage is crucial for brain development and aids newborns in processing daily information and experiences.

Managing Active Sleep

Although it may worry new parents to see their baby moving and making noises while sleeping, it's important to recognize that this is a normal developmental phase. Here are some tips for managing active sleep:

Maintain a Safe Sleep Environment: Ensure the baby's sleep area is secure, with a firm mattress and no loose bedding or toys. For newborns, utilize a swaddle to decrease the impact of natural the startle reflex.
Monitor Sleep Patterns: Track your baby's sleep schedule to spot any patterns or changes that might need attention.
Stay Calm: If your baby is moving or grunting, try not to intervene unless they appear distressed. Usually, they will drift back into a deeper sleep on their own.
Limit Stimulation: Keep the sleep environment dark and quiet to assist your baby in transitioning between sleep stages more smoothly.
Consult a Pediatrician: If you have concerns about your baby's sleep patterns or if the movements seem excessive or unusual, seek advice from a healthcare professional.

Active sleeping is a normal and healthy aspect of a newborn's sleep cycle. Understanding this behavior can help parents feel more at ease and create the best environment for their baby's development.

All Ages- When To Assist Back To Bed vs. "Wait & Listen"

Successfully helping a child back to bed verses letting them do it independently hinges on understanding their sleep cycles and the significance of self-soothing. Just like adults, children experience various sleep stages, including light and deep sleep. By grasping these cycles, parents can make informed decisions about the best times to intervene. Keep in mind, it is recommended to wake your child at a designated time each day. For example, if 7AM is the designated wake time to start the day, it is recommended to get the child up at this time each day- even if it means you are waking them up. If they are waking up before 7AM, you will wait and listen on the monitor to ensure you don't intervene before they have the opportunity to get themselves back to sleep. If intervening is needed, you would utilize the specific sleep training method chosen as part of your sleep plan to utilize. This teaches your little one that it is expected that they go back to bed until the proper wake time. This may take several weeks for them to fully understand but with time, the long term reward of consistent sleep is well worth it!

Sleep Cycles in Children

Light Sleep: This stage makes it easiest to wake a child. It typically occurs at the start and end of sleep cycles. Sleep cycles typically are about 45 minutes in length. Unfortunately, connecting sleep cycles is not a skill we are all born with, newborns and infants take time to learn this skill! We can support this by developing their circadian rhythm "internal clock" most easily with exposure to natural light during the day and dark rooms during all sleep times during the fay and at night.
Deep Sleep: In this stage, children are less likely to wake up. Disturbing them during deep sleep can cause grogginess and irritability.
REM Sleep: This is the dreaming stage, crucial for cognitive development. Also can be identified by active movements noted such as grunting, rolling etc.

Practicing Self-Soothing

Encouraging self-soothing in children is vital for their overall sleep habits. Here are effective ways to support this process:

Wait and Listen: Before entering the room, take a moment to listen. If the child is stirring but not fully awake, they might settle back to sleep independently.
- If you child does wake up, give them several minutes to fall back asleep. If we run in to get the child as soon as they wake, sometimes we develop a habit of them needing the parents attention to get back to sleep rather than teaching them the self regulating skills. For toddlers, this may be educating your child to hug their favorited stuffed animal if they wake at night and to go back to bed. This teaches them to be able to gain comfort and go back to sleep without needing the support of others- a life skill that we all night at every stage of life. Think about as an adult, when you wake in the middle of the night, do you have a preferred method for getting back to bed? For you, this may be rolling over or adjusted position in the blankets.
Provide Comfort Items: A favorite blanket or stuffed animal can offer security and promote self-soothing.
Consistent Routine: A consistent bedtime routine signals to children that it's time to sleep, making waking up smoother. Bedtime routines should be 45 minutes and completed the same each night.

By understanding sleep cycles and promoting self-soothing, parents can ensure a more peaceful waking experience for their children. This approach respects the child's natural sleep patterns while fostering independence and emotional regulation as they learn to manage their own sleep needs. We want to utilize sleep training techniques when assistance getting back to bed is needed but also want to be cognizant that we are all intervening when needed and not before your child has the opportunity to do so on their own. Some children may need more time to self regulate than others. Speaking from experience between my two daughters, one requires 3 minutes to toss and turn before getting herself back down meanwhile my other daughter will sit up in her bed, look around for several minutes in silence before tucking herself into the covers and going back to bed. If I had gone into their rooms before they got back down, they may have gotten over stimulated by me entering the room.

Every child's situation is unique. Learning what works for your child can be the biggest challenge sometimes. Sleep consulting is so beneficial for helping work through this process and adjusting aspects that a non bias eye sees. Sleep Sound can help give you the tools needed to succeed.