Sleep is a very important process for newborns; it's no coincidence that they spend between 14 and 20 hours in the arms of Morpheus . During their sleep, our children continue their development and assimilate all the information they receive during their waking hours. As parents, you are certainly asking yourselves dozens of questions about your child's rest time: how to help them fall asleep? How to settle them in their cocoon or co-sleeping arrangement for quick and optimal sleep? Do they need a nightlight? When will they sleep through the night?
The main concern of new parents is the quality of their baby's sleep. But what exactly is a baby's sleep cycle? While all children are different, it's important to understand the various sleep patterns of your newborn to ensure they get quality rest.
Stéphanie, a pediatric nurse and founder of Ouatine & Cumulus, explains the different phases that babies go through during their sleep.
What is the sleep cycle?
Babies' sleep, like that of adults, is regulated by cycles, which are themselves divided into phases. As they grow older, the number of sleep cycles decreases, stabilizing around six by the age of one, distributed between nighttime and naps, then, by the age of five, exclusively at night. While newborns distribute their rest across six sleep periods, in some adults this number drops, on average, to three.
A sleep cycle lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour, divided into three phases: deep sleep, light sleep, and drowsiness . These three phases are essential for proper development and complete (mental and physical) recovery, whether it's a newborn or an adult.
Drowsiness
The first phase of sleep, drowsiness in children is very similar to that of adults. It is characterized by movements during sleep , facial expressions or eye movements, but also by the ability children retain to suck or grasp things for comfort. An ideal transition phase between wakefulness and deeper, restorative sleep, drowsiness is the best time to move your child if necessary.
Light sleep
For approximately 45 minutes, the baby will move, dream, have eye movements, and variable breathing. This is a sleep phase that is best not interrupted because light sleep leads directly to deep sleep. As a relaxation phase, it is important that the baby feels safe inside their cocoon, which will protect them during any potential awakenings or Moro reflexes.
Deep sleep
The shortest sleep phase, lasting between 10 and 15 minutes, this is the most important period of sleep . Breathing calms down and becomes regular, and the baby is completely still. Brain development is at its peak during this phase, which is therefore crucial and must absolutely not be interrupted.
Bedtime, that precious ritual
To help your baby fall asleep, it's important to accompany your child during their sleep, by establishing rituals that will help your baby calm down. Therefore, prepare for bedtime by prioritizing calmer moments and soft lighting. Also, respect a bedtime schedule to give your child a rhythm, which will become a bedtime ritual.
Before falling asleep, your child will be soothed if you follow a routine, which can be different in every family: a big hug, a story, a song,... The most important thing is that you leave the room before he falls asleep to teach him to sleep alone.
💡It's important to put the baby to bed as soon as they show the first signs of tiredness. If you wait longer, the child may become overexcited, leading to a long and difficult settling-down period. It's necessary to know your child's signs of tiredness well in order to put them to bed at the right time. These can vary from child to child: yawning, a vacant stare, watery eyes, a paler complexion, clumsier movements, rubbing their eyes or face, a change in mood, hyperactivity, etc.
What position should you put your baby in to sleep?
Newborns, unlike adults, cannot sleep in just any position. Very young babies, up to about 6 months old, do not have sufficiently developed muscles to allow them to move or turn over. It is therefore very important to place them in a comfortable and safe position so that they can rest.
Children are best positioned for sleep on their backs, nestled in their cocoon , although other rules also apply. This way, they are positioned correctly to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which peaks between the 2nd and 6th month. However, as a safety precaution, the ONE (Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance - Office of Birth and Childhood) advises continuing prevention measures throughout your child's first year.
" Another recommended position for the baby is lying on its side so that it remains tucked in and reassured, before gently rolling it onto its back to avoid Moro reflexes which could wake it up if it is lying directly on its back. "
Stéphanie, pediatric nurse and founder of Ouatine & Cumulus
How many hours of sleep does a baby need?
A newborn, during its first few weeks, can sleep up to 22 hours a day, but be aware that these figures vary and it is possible that your baby will only sleep "18 hours a day. Quickly, their sleep time decreases, between 14 and 17 hours , with periods of wakefulness that can reach 2 or 3 hours. Around six months, your baby begins to distinguish day and night, drinking more during the day and less at night, which allows them to gradually sleep through the night.
Sleep is not an innate skill; it is acquired over time. Therefore, it is essential to adapt to your child, their sleep rhythm, and their needs and specificities to best support them during their rest periods.
