Babies sleep a lot, so do babies dream a lot too? Catching your little one smiling or with their eyes fluttering in their sleep is the cutest thing — that much is undisputed. But while it’s a nice notion to think our little one is safe and snug off in dreamland when those things happen, the jury’s still out on whether or not they’re actually dreaming. With toddlers or adults, we can simply ask them about their dreams. We can’t ask a baby if they dream, though, which makes it a bit trickier to determine whether or not they do.
In adults, we’re most likely to dream during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Since babies spend most of their sleeping life in REM, it seems like a logical deduction that they must dream a lot. However, it’s believed by scientists that your baby isn’t actually dreaming at all. So, what the heck are they doing then? Read on to get the answers to your newborn sleep questions.
Do babies dream?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, newborns spend about 50 percent of their sleep in REM (the dream cycle). That doesn’t mean they’re dreaming when they’re sleeping, though. Granted, some scientists do believe that babies must be dreaming about something. But others don’t believe that infants have the capacity to dream since children need to acquire what it means to construct visually and spatially in order for dreams to happen.
In other words, they lack the abstract thinking and imagination to make dreams happen. That’s why it’s believed that when babies sleep in REM, it’s less about them dreaming and more about their brains growing, developing, and processing information.
What do babies dream about?
Since it’s less likely that babies are capable of dreaming, then your baby isn’t dreaming about anything. This also means that they probably don’t have nightmares either. What a relief! Nightmares often stem from daily stress, trauma, and an overactive imagination. Because your baby (luckily) hasn’t experienced any of those things, your little snuggle-bug can’t have nightmares. It’s nice to be a baby sometimes, isn’t it?
When do babies start dreaming?
Well, that’s almost like a trick question. While brain waves that closely resemble those found in REM sleep have been measured inside the womb between 25 and 28 weeks, the general consensus is that infants and babies start dreaming around the age of two. In terms of what kids are dreaming about, that depends on their age.
A child’s world and imagination are limited at a young age, only expanding when they start to develop and grow and experience new things (unfortunately, this means their daily stresses grow too). For example, toddlers typically dream in short snapshots, as opposed to an adult’s dreamlike movie state. In short, little kids have little dreams.
So why is my baby smiling and twitching while they sleep?
Alas, your baby’s cute little movements during their slumber don’t mean they’re smiling at mommy or happily playing with their favorite toys in dreamland. Silver lining? It means their brain is growing and developing new pathways, including learning how to use their muscles and limbs.
Don’t worry, though — just because your baby can’t dream doesn’t mean that they’re not enjoying their ZZZs. In fact, sleep is immensely important when it comes to your child solidifying memory and information so that they can learn more about the world around them. Over time, all that information they’re sucking up will play a part in their dream world. Just not yet.
What if my baby seems stressed while dreaming?
As mentioned above, it’s unlikely your baby is having a nightmare or remembering something awful. Newborns are restless sleepers, and it’s normal for a baby to cry during their sleep without waking up. It’s unlikely your baby even knows why they’re crying (unless they’re in pain, need changing, or are hungry).
So, if your baby does cry out during their sleep or seem to be having a bad dream, the best thing you can do is make sure they’re safe. But if your baby seems to be crying consistently in their sleep, you might want to reach out to your doctor to rule out any underlying issues. Still, try not to worry too much, Mama!
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