Have you heard your baby cry during the night, or day, during sleep?

Have you heard your baby cry during the night, or day, during sleep?

Crying while sleeping: It’s sleep talking before you can talk

It is a common thing and very normal for babies to do this. Even adults will talk, moan and make all sorts of noises in their sleep.

Babies will cry during sleep. 

 This confuses and upsets a lot of parents.  Because it appears your baby is upset, parents may think their baby is awake and go and pick them up.  Sometimes, if your baby is actually still asleep, it may wake him or her when you do this. If this happens it often makes your baby more distressed because he or she is now woken from a lovely comfortable sleep.

It is the same as if you or I are woken from a sleep. We often feel more groggy, regardless of how much sleep we have had, and it may take us a little while to focus and “get our head together”, so to speak.

It may help to use a clock when your baby wakes up crying during sleep

The crying during sleep usually occurs when he or she is transitioning from REM sleep to a deeper form of sleep. It usually last no longer than about 5 minutes. In most occurrences it takes less than 2 minutes.  If you just wait a minute or two you may be surprised that your baby stops and continues to sleep more deeply all on their own. It may be helpful to use a clock at this time - 2 minutes can seem like 10, and 30 seconds can seem like 2 minutes.

Baby crying while sleeping is normal

This can be difficult for parents to understand because the cry during sleep can be a big loud  cry and seem like there is something wrong.  Of course if your baby is distressed and needs you to help then absolutely you need to respond.  Sometimes it takes parents a couple of times to stop and realise that maybe their baby is ok and have the confidence to wait a minute or two before going to help.

Other times when your baby will cry during sleep is if there is some form of discomfort from teeth, wind or other illness or injury. Of course give comfort when needed.

PS.  We always  encourage you  to respond to your baby crying if you know that your baby is distressed.

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