active sleep, quiet sleep, and waking
Active sleep (REM) is considered to be important for brain development
Babies dream and blood flows to the brain bringing nutrients to active brain cells
Your baby will cycle through quiet sleep, a deep sleep with no dreaming or movement. It is important for the baby’s brain to rest, and this will be your only true break during the day. Use them wisely!
Although all healthy babies are different, most move through the states in similar ways. If babies are very sleepy or very upset, it may take some time for them to respond. If a baby does not respond at all to the suggestions below (after several minutes), please see your doctor.
Infant States - Birth to 6 months
DROWSY
Variable movement
Irregular breathing
Opens and closes eyes
Tired eyes
Delayed reaction time
LIGHT SLEEP (Active Sleep)
A lot of your baby’s brain development happens AFTER they are born, and that requires them to dream a lot. Infants are on a 60-minute sleep cycle, and the first 20 - 30 minutes of sleep they will be in light sleep (dreaming). If you put them down in this state, they are very likely to wake up. Husband and grandma job! Hold the baby for 20 - 30 minutes after you breastfeed, until they transition to deep sleep.
Some movement
Irregular breathing
Facial movement
Rapid eye movement (REM)
Easily awakened and startled
DEEP SLEEP (quiet sleep)
In this sleep state, the infant will be very relaxed and have no muscle tension. This is when you can put the baby down and they will stay asleep.
No body movement
Regular breathing
Bursts of sucking
Not easily awakened
CRYING
Tears
Jerky movements
Color changes
Muscle tension
Rapid breathing
Generally, doesn’t respond quickly
IRRITABLE
Lots of movement
Irregular breathing
Eyes open, but not focused
Sometimes fussy
Sensitive to body and surroundings
Common before feeding
QUIET ALERT
Little body movement
Eyes wide open
Steady, regular breathing
Very responsive
Wants to play and interact
Requires energy and can make babies tired
Waking an Infant:
Sometimes babies are very sleepy and may be hard to wake for feeds. Newborns of mothers who had medication during labor may be particularly sleepy. Fortunately, baby’s brains are made to react to varied stimulation.
When a sleepy baby needs to wake up, it is best to use different touches, sounds, and positions to stimulate the baby’s brain.
Examples:
Change the baby’s position
Remove the baby’s clothes and/or change her diaper
Touch the baby gently in several different places (toes, hands, tummy)
Call the baby by name several times Repetition to Soothe:
Whenever a baby is crying, caregivers should be encouraged to try to identify why the baby is crying. Once the baby’s needs are met, he may still be fussy. Fussy babies will calm down when caregivers remain calm and use soothing sounds and motions over and over again. Remember, it may take a few minutes or more to calm a baby who is very upset.
Examples (repeat over and over):
Sing a song softly
Hold the baby close and rock gently back and forth
Rub the baby’s back
Say the baby’s name in a calm voice
These days, many new parents are on their own in trying to understand their baby's signals, called “cues.” In this chapter, I will help you translate the seemingly random movements and sounds that your baby makes into comprehensible messages. We’re going to tell you about “engagement cues,” “disengagement cues,” and “clustered cues.”
Engagement cues – When babies want to interact with the people who love them (or anyone nearby), they will instinctively look, move, and make noise in specific ways. Collectively, these movements and noises are called “engagement cues.”
What you’ll see – Your baby will have wide-open eyes and look at you or a toy as if they are trying to memorize what they see. Their faces and their bodies will be relaxed, and they will use smooth body movements. Older babies may smile and try to touch or taste whatever interests them. When they are very excited, babies will kick their legs and squirm with glee.
What you can do – Using engagement cues, your baby is asking you to help her learn more about you and her new world. At first, your baby will be content just looking at your face and listening to your voice. Later, she’ll want to play more complicated games. Enjoy this time together but be prepared to watch for signs that your baby might be tiring. Engaging with you is hard work!
Disengagement cues – When babies need a break, either for a moment or a nap, they’ll use a different set of movements and noises to make sure you know it. These signs are called “disengagement cues.”
What you’ll see – Your baby may close his eyes, turn
