Ashwin Lewis
It is perfectly normal for babies to squirm in their sleep. Babies have shorter and more active sleep cycles than older children and adults, and they spend about half of their time in REM sleep, which is a light, active sleep stage that involves rapid eye movement and dreaming. Newborns are also still adjusting to breathing, feeding, and digesting outside the womb, which can cause discomfort and restlessness. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine that starts at the same time every night can help your baby sleep better.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Normal behaviour | Yes |
| Reasons | Overstimulation, overtiredness, hunger, discomfort, digestive issues, acid reflux, temperature, wet diaper, unfamiliar sleep environment, light sleep stage |
| Solutions | Consistent bedtime routine, swaddling, white noise, rocking, shushing, burping, tummy time, feeding adjustments, humidifier, room-sharing |
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What You'll Learn
- Babies spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a light sleep stage
- Establishing a bedtime routine is important to reduce restlessness
- Babies are learning to digest milk, which can cause discomfort and squirming
- A baby's sleep environment should be quiet, dark, and comfortable
- Babies may squirm due to hunger or discomfort, such as a wet diaper
Babies spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a light sleep stage
It is perfectly normal for a 2-month-old baby to squirm in her sleep. Babies spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a light sleep stage. This is also known as "active sleep", during which a baby can be seen making small movements. Their eyes move around while closed, their limbs and fingers might twitch or jerk, their breathing might speed up, and they might move their mouths. Babies also have shorter and more active sleep cycles than older children and adults, resulting in more movements and sounds.
The sleep cycle of infants differs from that of adults. While adults need more deep sleep, babies and children need more stage 3 sleep, which is the deepest stage of NREM sleep. As babies grow and sleep for fewer hours, they spend less of their sleep time in the REM stage. By adulthood, people experience REM sleep for roughly 20% of each night's sleep, while newborns spend about 50% of their sleep in REM.
To help your baby sleep more soundly, ensure that their diaper is dry and that they are wearing clothes appropriate for the room temperature. Creating a nighttime routine is essential for your baby's sleep hygiene. This means providing a calm, quiet environment with little to no stimulation, other than perhaps some soft music. Some parents also swear by white noise machines that create ambient sounds meant to soothe and comfort. Swaddling can also give your baby a sense of security and reduce startle reflexes, but it is important to make sure that they are not wrapped too tightly and that they can still move their hips and legs.
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Establishing a bedtime routine is important to reduce restlessness
It is perfectly normal for a newborn baby to be a restless sleeper and to squirm in their sleep. Babies spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a more active time of sleep, and they also have shorter and more active sleep cycles than older children and adults. Newborns also need to eat frequently, so their sleep may be interrupted by hunger.
Creating a bedtime routine is important to reduce restlessness in your 2-month-old baby. While 2 months is too early to sleep train, you can lay the foundations by creating a bedtime routine. A bedtime routine is a series of steps that you take in the same order every night before bed. This might include reading, cuddling, and bathing. The key is to keep the routine calm and consistent. The calmness helps to lull your baby into a sleepy mindset, while the consistency cues them that it's time to sleep.
A bedtime routine might take around 30 to 45 minutes. It's important to wait at least half an hour after feeding before putting your baby to bed, so they don't associate feeding with sleeping. You should also avoid mobiles, light-up toys, and electronic toys in or near the cot, as these may disturb your baby's sleep. Instead, create a calm, quiet environment with little stimulation and soft music, or use a white noise machine.
As your baby grows, their sleep needs will change, so be prepared to adapt your bedtime routine. For example, by the time your baby is 5 months old, it's best to phase out any mobile above their cot. You can also start to introduce a comfort toy at around 12 months, but make sure it's clean and not a strangulation or choking hazard.
In addition to a bedtime routine, there are other ways to help your baby sleep more soundly. For example, ensuring their diaper is dry and they are wearing clothes appropriate for the room temperature. You can also try swaddling your baby, which gives them a sense of security and reduces startle reflexes, but make sure they are not wrapped too tightly and can still move their hips and legs.
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Babies are learning to digest milk, which can cause discomfort and squirming
It is perfectly normal for a newborn to be a restless sleeper and to squirm in their sleep. This is because newborns spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a light sleep stage where we dream. Since newborns sleep for most of the day and need to eat a lot during their first few months, their sleep may appear restless, and they may seem squirmy while sleeping.
It is important to establish a consistent bedtime routine for your baby, starting at the same time every night. This helps to create a successful pattern of nighttime sleep. A nighttime routine should include a calm, quiet environment with little to no stimulation, aside from perhaps some soft music. Some parents also find success with white noise machines that create ambient sounds meant to soothe and comfort. Swaddling can also help give your baby a sense of security and reduce startle reflexes, but it is important to ensure they are not wrapped too tightly and can still move their hips and legs.
If you are concerned about your baby's squirming or discomfort, it is best to consult your pediatrician. While it is rare, some babies may have lactose intolerance or a milk allergy, which can cause digestive issues and discomfort. Lactose intolerance in babies is typically caused by a lack of lactase enzymes, which are necessary for digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk. Symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies include diarrhea and stomach cramps. A milk allergy can cause more severe symptoms, such as a drop in blood pressure, trouble breathing, and anaphylaxis.
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A baby's sleep environment should be quiet, dark, and comfortable
It is perfectly normal for a newborn to be a restless sleeper and squirm in their sleep. This is because newborns spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, the stage of sleep where dreams occur. This is a more active time of sleep, and newborns may seem squirmy while sleeping. Newborns also have shorter and more active sleep cycles than older children and adults, resulting in more movements and sounds. As they grow, the squirming usually decreases.
To help your baby sleep better, it is important to create a nighttime routine to establish boundaries and signal when it's time to sleep. A baby's sleep environment should be quiet, dark, and comfortable. Here are some tips to create the ideal sleep environment for your baby:
- Minimize noise levels during your baby's sleep. Loud or abrupt noises can overstimulate their senses, causing stress and impeding their ability to fall asleep or return to sleep after awakening.
- Invest in high-quality blackout curtains or shades to block out streetlights and car headlights. If you use a night light, opt for one with a red or orange hue, as these colours least interfere with melatonin production.
- Maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. If you are comfortable in the room, your baby will be too. However, do not overheat your baby, as this may cause problems with their brain's control over breathing and waking up.
- Ensure your baby's diaper is dry and they are wearing clothes appropriate for the room temperature.
- Swaddling can give your baby a sense of security and reduce startle reflexes, but make sure they are not wrapped too tightly and can still move their hips and legs.
- Avoid soft bedding, comforters, pillows, loose sheets, blankets, sheepskins, toys, positioners, or bumpers in the crib or sleep area as these could cause your baby to suffocate.
- Babies should sleep on a firm mattress in their own sleep space, not on adult beds, couches, or armchairs.
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Babies may squirm due to hunger or discomfort, such as a wet diaper
It is perfectly normal for a newborn baby to be a restless sleeper and to squirm in their sleep. This is because they spend a lot of time in REM sleep, which is a lighter and more active stage of sleep, where dreaming occurs. Newborns also have shorter and more active sleep cycles than older children and adults, resulting in more movements and sounds.
Babies may squirm due to hunger or discomfort. Hunger can cause extra movement and weird noises, and this can be a particular issue if your baby falls asleep before completing their evening feed. They may then feel uncomfortable and less settled because their stomach is empty. It takes a while for a baby's circadian rhythm to regulate, but feeding them during the night will prevent hunger-related grunting and squirming.
Discomfort can also cause your baby to squirm. This could be due to a wet diaper, being too hot or cold, or needing a change in position. Your baby's digestive system is still adjusting to handling milk, and during digestion, they may experience gas, bowel movements, and reflux, which can cause discomfort and noise. To help with this, you can try holding your baby upright and gently patting or rubbing their back to encourage burping, or lay them on their front for short periods of "tummy time" to help strengthen their muscles and aid digestion.
To help your baby sleep more soundly, you should ensure their diaper is dry and that they are wearing clothes appropriate for the room temperature. You can also create a comfortable sleep environment by making sure the room is quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature. Swaddling can give your baby a sense of security and reduce startle reflexes, but make sure they are not wrapped too tightly and that they can still move their hips and legs.
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Frequently asked questions
It is perfectly normal for a 2-month-old baby to squirm in her sleep. This is because newborns spend most of their sleep in REM sleep, which is a more active and light stage of sleep. Additionally, newborns are still adjusting to breathing outside the womb, and sometimes grunt as they adjust their breathing patterns.
If your baby is in discomfort, you may notice signs such as discomfort, pale skin, a fever, or rapid breathing. In these cases, seek emergency medical help. Other signs of discomfort include hunger, a wet diaper, or being too cold or hot.
Creating a nighttime routine is essential for your baby's sleep hygiene. This means a calm, quiet, and comfortable environment with little to no stimulation. A consistent bedtime routine that starts at the same time every night will help establish a successful pattern of nighttime sleep.
Some parents swear by white noise machines that create ambient sounds meant to soothe and comfort. Swaddling can also give your baby a sense of security and reduce startle reflexes, but make sure your baby isn't wrapped too tightly and that they can still move their hips and legs. You can also try holding your baby upright and gently patting or rubbing their back to encourage burping and reduce trapped air.
If you are concerned about your baby's squirminess, it is best to consult your pediatrician. However, it is important to remember that it is normal for newborns to be squirmy and loud sleepers.
