Why Do Babies Cry In Their Sleep?
One minute your baby is sleeping peacefully and, out of nowhere, she begins to cry inconsolably in her sleep. Don’t worry, it’s quite common for babies to cry in their sleep. It is a sleep disorder that will go away on its own over time.
Many mothers ask themselves why their babies cry in their sleep. The sleepiness of the little ones is often a cause for concern because it affects their mood as well as their behavior.
And, every mother knows that the amount of sleep her child gets has a huge impact on her own well-being.
The first thing you need to keep in mind is that crying and whining are the ways our babies communicate. Therefore, they tend to cry, to let us know that something is wrong, or they need our attention.
Maybe you woke up in the middle of the night because your baby is crying and you think it’s because he or she needs you. But, to your surprise, that was not the case. Instead, you will find your baby sleeping, with his eyes closed.
This situation is much more common than you might think. Similarly, many mothers do not know how to react.
Why do babies cry in their sleep?
During the first years of children’s lives, it is common for them to often wake up during the night. Babies have a different sleep cycle than adults.
On repeated occasions, babies have difficulty falling into deep sleep, even when they are exhausted. As a result, they may cry while they sleep. Some may try to fall asleep again, but they have difficulty doing so because they do not know how to do it. Why? Because they need you.
Nightmares are another reason why babies cry in their sleep. Like adults, babies have dreams. Most of their dreams have to do with their personal experiences.
Sleep disorders in babies
Babies go through several sleep phases that are part of their developmental process. Waking up during the night is part of the process.
Sometimes, these episodes are minor. For example, babies may come with a small whimper or moan.
However, some episodes can be more persistent and unhappy. These episodes are considered night terrors and they have a stronger effect on children.
Either way, the situation is the same… When the mother goes in to check on her baby, she finds that even though the baby is crying, he or she is sleeping. This sleep disorder occurs while babies are in low-wave sleep – also called non-REM sleep.
During the non-REM phase of sleep, babies experience the deepest level of sleep. Therefore, they are not able to wake themselves completely. Nor, they are fully aware of what is happening.
When babies cry in their sleep, they may feel upset, confused and frightened. At the same time, they are unable to respond to external stimuli.
Night terrors last for short periods of time. They over in 5 minutes, where the child falls peacefully asleep again.
At the same time, there are some children who wake up in a confused state and they may even sit up and open their eyes. This phenomenon – called confused arousal – can last between 5 and 15 minutes. Trying to reassure a child in this condition will only make the situation worse and make it last longer.
How to soothe babies who cry in their sleep?
If your baby is crying with his eyes closed, the best thing you can do is be patient, wait and observe.
The fact that children cry or make noise while sleeping does not always mean that they want to wake up. As long as their eyes are closed, it is a sign that they are still asleep.
When babies cry in their sleep, it is extremely important for parents to be aware of the sound they are making. It helps determine what the baby needs. Your baby may be hungry or freezing, or have another unmet need.
If so, your baby will not be able to fall asleep quickly again. It is important that we address our crying children so that we help them get better.
When these episodes occur around the time of urination in the morning, parents should remain calm and quiet. This is to avoid waking their sleeping children.
Take care of their needs with just a minimal amount of light – avoid using any kind of bright light. If you use bright light, you can wake your baby completely and make him or her think it’s time to get up.
In conclusion, keep in mind that it is perfectly normal for babies to make noises while sleeping. At the same time, if babies are crying or whining, parents should check with them to see if they are still asleep or awake.
Advice for mothers
The most important piece of advice that will want to give you is that you should avoid waking your child during these episodes. Instead, be as quiet as possible, be close to your child and wait for him or her to fall down again.
In conclusion, these episodes can occur spontaneously, but they can also be the result of external stimuli.
For example, they may occur due to some persistent noise or a change in the position of the baby’s bed. Therefore, it is best to avoid any kind of change while your child is sleeping.
