Ashwin Lewis
Touch is a complex sense that doesn't switch off during sleep, but its sensitivity varies depending on the sleep stage. During non-REM sleep, the brain becomes less susceptible to external stimuli, so this is the best time to touch a sleeping person without waking them up. However, during REM sleep, brain activity increases, and the sleeper may respond more to external factors, depending on how vivid their dreams are. Thus, it is easier to wake a person up during REM sleep if you touch them. Additionally, individual differences in sensitivity to external factors also play a role in how to touch a sleeping person without waking them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep stage | Deep sleep or NREM sleep is the best stage to touch someone without waking them up |
| Sleep duration | If someone has been asleep for hours, they are more likely to be in deep sleep |
| Sleep position | Use gravity and apply strategic pressure to roll them away from you |
| Touch | Start with a gentle touch and slowly increase the pressure |
| Movement | Move very slowly and do not twitch your hand or move too fast |
| Communication | Communicate with your partner before you fall asleep to relieve tension if you accidentally wake them |
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What You'll Learn
Check if they are in a deep sleep
Sleep is a complex system that is comprised of different stages. The deep sleep phase, also known as slow-wave sleep, is what makes us feel rested and restored the following day. It is when the brain and body undergo various recovery processes, including brain and body restoration, memory consolidation, cell restoration, and the removal of toxins from the brain.
Deep sleep begins relatively early in our sleep period, about 20 to 30 minutes after falling asleep, and it dominates the first half of the night. The first three-hour block of sleep is the timeframe in which you'll get about two hours of deep sleep. As the night progresses, the cycles of deep sleep typically shorten. Sleep cycles vary from person to person and night to night, and factors like medications and alcohol can affect them.
To check if someone is in a deep sleep, you can observe their eyelids and breathing patterns. A sleeping person's eyelids will be relaxed, and their breathing will be slower and deeper. After about 90 minutes of sleep, a person usually enters Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, so if their eyes are moving rapidly underneath their eyelids, they are likely in REM sleep. REM sleep is also associated with vivid dreams and muscle paralysis.
Additionally, you can try the hand technique to check for deep sleep. Hold your hand a few inches above the sleeper's face to catch their hand if it falls. If they are in a deep sleep, their hand is unlikely to fall. If you are concerned about their health and need to wake them, a more obnoxious method is to place your knuckles on their sternum and rub up and down until they react or for 30 seconds. This technique can be uncomfortable, so it is not recommended unless necessary.
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Apply light pressure
The sense of touch does not switch off during sleep, but it does become 'dimmed' to some extent. Depending on the sleep stage, sensitivity to touch may vary. During non-REM sleep, particularly in the deep sleep stage, the brain becomes less susceptible to external stimuli. Therefore, the deep sleep stage of non-REM sleep is the most suitable time to touch someone without waking them up.
If you need to move a sleeping person, it is important to start with a gentle touch and slowly increase the pressure. For example, if you are moving a sleeping partner, you can start by applying light pressure and gradually increase it until they move over. Pay attention to signs of them waking up, such as changes in breathing or little movements in their body.
If you need to move a patient, start with a gentle touch and slowly increase the pressure while moving them to the desired position. Maintaining contact with the point of pressure can help reduce the impact of each progressive touch. When checking vital signs, try to maintain steady contact with the point of pressure. Do not twitch your hand or move too fast, as this can easily wake the person up. For example, when checking blood pressure, keep your hand on the person's wrist as you gently move up their arm.
If you need to adjust a sleeping partner or child who is taking up your side of the bed, you can try to use gravity and the application of strategic pressure to your advantage to help them roll away from you. Focus your efforts on their hips and shoulders simultaneously, which are their centre of gravity.
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Avoid fast movements
When touching a sleeping person, it is important to avoid fast movements. Abrupt or quick actions can startle the sleeper and cause them to wake up. Here are some tips to avoid fast movements:
Firstly, always start with a gentle and slow touch. Gradually increase the pressure as you continue your movements. This gradual approach helps to ensure that the sleeper adjusts to the touch and is less likely to be startled.
When checking vital signs, maintain steady contact with the point of application. Avoid twitching or moving your hand too quickly, as this can easily wake the person. For example, when checking blood pressure, keep your hand on their wrist as you gently move up their arm.
If you need to move a sleeping person, use gravity and strategic pressure to your advantage. Apply gentle and sustained pressure to help them roll away from you. Be mindful of their surroundings, ensuring you don't accidentally push them into something nearby.
If you are adjusting equipment for someone who moves a lot in their sleep, such as tubes or cords, take your time and avoid rushing. Make adjustments slowly and one step at a time.
Additionally, be mindful of the sleep stage the person is in. During the REM sleep stage, the person is more likely to respond to external factors and may wake up more easily. Hence, be extra cautious to avoid fast movements during this stage.
Remember, every person has a different sensitivity level and sleep patterns. What works for one person may not work for another. Always pay attention to the sleeper's reactions and adjust your approach accordingly.
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Move them slowly and gently
The sense of touch does not switch off during sleep, but it does become "dimmed". During non-REM sleep, the brain is less susceptible to external stimuli. Deep sleep, which usually comes during the non-REM stage, is the most suitable time to touch someone without waking them up.
If you need to move a sleeping person, it is best to start with a gentle touch and slowly increase the pressure while moving the person to the side you want to. You can use a person's natural inclination to turn to your advantage. Encourage this inclination through gentle, sustained pressure. For example, if you need to move a sleeping partner, you can start by applying gentle pressure to their hips and shoulders simultaneously.
If you need to take a person's vital signs, try to maintain steady contact with the point you are applying pressure to. Do not twitch your hand or move too fast, as this can easily wake the person up. When feeling for a pulse, keep your hand on their wrist as you gently move up the arm to check their blood pressure.
If your partner is snoring, a gentle push may relieve the pressure on their soft palate. Start with a gentle touch and increase the pressure until they move over. Pay attention to signs of them waking up, such as a change in breathing or little movements in their body.
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Pay attention to signs of wakefulness
When touching a sleeping person, it is important to pay attention to signs of wakefulness. If you notice any changes in their breathing or small movements in their body, it is an indication that they may be about to wake up.
If you are moving a sleeping person, such as a partner or a child, it is important to be strategic about it. Use gravity and apply pressure to specific parts of their body, such as their hips and shoulders, to gently roll them away from you. Always ensure that you are not pushing them into anything that could potentially wake them up, like a hard toy or a pillow.
Additionally, be mindful of the sleep stage they are in. During the REM sleep stage, the person may be more responsive to external factors, and it may be easier to wake them up. On the other hand, during non-REM sleep, particularly deep sleep, the brain becomes less susceptible to external stimuli, making it a more suitable time to touch or move them without waking them.
To determine if someone is in REM sleep, you can check for eye movement under their eyelids. You can also try lifting their sleeve a few centimeters off the bed; if their hand drops back to the bed when you let go, they are likely in deep REM sleep. However, if they jerk their hand away, they are not sleeping deeply, and moving them may result in them waking up.
If you are touching a sleeping person to take their vital signs, it is important to move slowly and gently. Apply light pressure and gradually increase it as you go through your movements. Maintaining steady contact with the point of pressure can help reduce the chances of waking them up.
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Frequently asked questions
If the person has been asleep for hours, carefully lift the sleeper's sleeve until their hand is a few centimetres off the bed. If the hand drops to the bed when you let go, they are in deep REM sleep. If they are in the deep sleep stage of NREM sleep, their brain is less susceptible to external stimuli.
Start with a gentle touch and slowly increase the pressure while moving the person. If you need to move the person, use gravity and the application of strategic pressure to your advantage to help them roll away from you.
Everyone has a different sensitivity level and a different level of sleep, so it's hard to know for sure what will work for each individual person. People with a highly sensitive nervous system typically have problems with falling asleep or maintaining sleep. If you wake them up, they may have a hard time falling back asleep.
