with this pregnancy i’ve been having nightmares so bad and i’ll wake up but still be dreaming and feel like i can’t move😭
WeMoms
2 Apr 2024
Understanding Your Baby's REM Sleep and Dreaming
Your Little Dreamer: Understanding Your Baby's REM Sleep and Dreaming
As your baby continues to grow and develop, they begin to experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, a fascinating phase of slumber associated with dreaming.
Here's what you need to know about your little one's REM sleep and their captivating world of dreams:
What is REM Sleep?
REM sleep is one of the distinct stages of sleep and is characterized by rapid eye movements, irregular breathing, and increased brain activity.
During this stage, your baby's brain is highly active, resembling the brain activity of an awake adult.
While adults spend about 20-25% of their sleep in REM, newborns and infants spend significantly more time in this sleep stage, around 50-80% of their total sleep time.
The World of Baby Dreams
Research on infant sleep and dreaming is still in its early stages, but evidence suggests that babies indeed experience dreams during their REM sleep.
These dreams are believed to be influenced by their limited experiences and sensory input in the early months of life.
Your baby's dreams may be simple and influenced by their interactions with caregivers, the environment, and the sensations they encounter during the day.
The Role of Dreaming in Development
Dreaming plays a crucial role in your baby's cognitive development and memory consolidation.
During REM sleep, your baby's brain processes and organizes the information they have encountered while awake.
This process is essential for learning and retaining new skills and experiences.
So, the vivid and sometimes whimsical dreams your baby experiences are part of their brain's incredible journey of growth and understanding the world around them.
Nurturing Sweet Dreams
As a parent, there are ways to help nurture your baby's sweet dreams:
- Establishing a Bedtime Routine: A consistent bedtime routine can signal to your baby that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep.
- Creating a Calm Sleep Environment: Ensure your baby's sleep space is comfortable, quiet, and safe. A dimly lit room can help create a soothing ambiance.
- Offering Comfort and Security: Providing your baby with comfort through cuddling, gentle rocking, or a favorite soft toy can enhance their sense of security and promote peaceful sleep.
- Responding to Needs: When your baby wakes during the night, respond to their needs with love and care. Whether it's a diaper change, a feeding, or just a reassuring touch, your attentiveness fosters a sense of safety.
Dig deeper
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Sensory Development 101
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Amber
2 Nov 2023
Is this pregnancy hormones? Some nights I go to sleep dreaming of rainbows and butterflies, and other nights my mind is completely occupied with getting revenge on everyone who’s ever wronged me, starting with the worst one and then making my way down the list. It’s giving unhinged at the moment. 🥴🥴 #jokes #insomnia #intrusivethoughts
Alexzandra
My dreams have been whack! Like some disturbing stuff for real 😅 It makes me wonder wtf is going on in my subconscious mind haha
27 Mar 2024
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Mikell
Pregnancy dreams are always messed up mine especially. I've woken up in the dead of night in panic attacks going into everyone's room making sure they were all still OK because they get so intense
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Daisy
30 Aug 2023
I’ve been having Vivid Dreams and they feel so real but I’ve been dreaming that my Baby is moving like crazy and I can feel him move and kicking!! I just hit 17wks 8/30!!!
Cryss
Pregnancy dreams ain’t no joke
27 Mar 2024
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Daisy
No kidding
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Shakira
22 Apr 2023
For some reason since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve been dreaming a lot and the dreams feel so real. My last dream I was poked on my stomach. Scared me to where fought to wake up. I was scared to go back to sleep 😬😳😩
Aslin
I had a real bad sleep paralysis 4 nights ago where I felt someone touch my back and no one around me. Pregnancy dreams are so crazy
27 Mar 2024
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Shakira
Omg 😨 so weird and scary. I’m over here googling on how to stop having these crazy dreams. I’m just trying to get some good beauty rest.
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Jessica
22 Mar 2023
What do y’all think newborns dream of that make them smile so much in their sleep? My girl acts like she’s eating in her sleep too so I think she’s dreaming of my boobs lol.🙈🙈
🐼
Growing up, they would say they were playing with Angels which I love ❤️ my dads in a “coma” so I like to say my baby is playing/talking with her papa when she smiles in her sleep
27 Mar 2024
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🐼
Dreaming of your boobs is funny 😂😂
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Niecey
21 Feb 2023
My baby is a week old and all I wanna do is sleep so yes please sleep when your baby sleep
Tabitha
Smh yes best advice ever because I felt this smh my baby been running the show and my ass keep telling her daddy he can rest because I don't want to miss nothing . Lord why I say that I'm running off fumes !
27 Mar 2024
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Niecey
I kid you not I have to stay at my moms because where I live I have stairs he was supposed to take 2weeks off to help me out I said no baby make that money why I open my mouth to say that because when he calls to check on me I be crying like you left us at my moms this is overwhelming. He be laughing at me but he comes by to see us but I’m going back home idc how bad them stairs are lol
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Makayla
31 Jan 2023
Do y’all feel your baby on one side sometimes and it be feeling as hard as a rock and the rest of your stomach soft? I feel like he really be moving when I be dreaming.. 🤣
Sabrina
Yes i felt this yesterday the baby favors my left side
27 Mar 2024
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Jasmine
6 Dec 2022
Hi ladies! I’m about 5 weeks and I can not sleep. I’m tired but when I lay down I don’t go into REM. My mind is constantly racing and I wake up multiple times throughout the night. The times that I do fall asleep I have really weird dreams. Last night dreamt someone fell on my stomach. What can I do? #icantsleep
Shay
I’m having the same issue and I’m 4weeks I’ve even been taking melatonin and it doesn’t help
27 Mar 2024
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Indianya
I can’t sleep either I wake up at 4 every morning
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Blocked user
3 Oct 2022
When I told my fiance that we're pregnant after 8 years and a ruptured ectopic...poor baby I woke him up so he was half asleep and he said later on that he thought he was still sleep and dreaming and was like " Hey babe this morning did you wake me up and tell me you're pregnant?" Lol even if in the video he doesn't seem overenthusiastic about it he loves this baby as he's 53 and I'm 26 so this may be our only baby together... #ILoveHimSo
dess
Congrats momma !!
27 Mar 2024
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Melek
Congrats!!! Us too my husband is turning 50 on November and I'm 35 so this is our last baby as well. Again congrats 😊
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💙Shay💜1985💚
3 May 2022
Mamas do yall ever sit and watch your baby sleep and wonder.... what could you possibly be dreaming about that makes you smile, laugh, mug, cry/whimper ?? Lol it's always tripped me out with each and every one of my three
Erica
Yesss lol…. Girrrll it be the cutest moments💖💙❤️‼️
27 Mar 2024
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💙Shay💜1985💚
I have always and still wonder if they playing with the ancestors (angels)
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