According to "The Baby Sleep Book," written by Dr. Sears et al., babies and adults sleep differently. A baby sleeps less deeply, arouses more easily, has mostly REM sleep and needs nighttime feedings. These traits are thought to be "protective arousals." As a baby grows, his sleep patterns and amount of sleep needed will change according to his developmental needs.
Time Frame
According to Dr. Sears, a baby between six to eight weeks of age will begin to sleep shorter periods during the day and longer periods at night. A baby age six to eight weeks will sleep a total of 15 to 16 hours per day, with approximately three naps that total four to five hours of nap time.
Features
According to BabyCenter, babies spend more time in REM sleep. Their shorter sleep cycles are thought to aid the development happening in their brain.
Your six-week-old will begin to have somewhat shorter REM cycles than when she was a newborn, but she will continue to wake during the night and need nighttime feedings.
According to Dr. Sears, babies fall asleep differently than adults. An adult can "crash," falling into a deep sleep rather quickly. An infant takes up to 20 minutes to fall into a deep sleep, which is why you may not be able to put your newly sleeping baby down in her crib without waking her up.
SIDS Concerns
According to "The Babycenter Essential Guide to your Baby's First Year," by Linda Murray and colleagues, the incidence of SIDS peaks between the second and fourth months of a baby's life. Because of the risk of SIDS at age six weeks, it is advised that a baby sleep on her back on a firm mattress without a pillow. The temperature of the room should be comfortable, but not too hot. Use of a sleep sack instead of a blanket is also recommended. Keep baby in a smoke-free environment, as cigarette smoke is a major risk-factor for SIDS. Avoid sleeping on a sofa with a baby.
Misconceptions
Many mothers find themselves checking on their babies during the night, wanting reassurance that the baby is still breathing and is comfortable, according to Murray and colleagues. Babies do a few things in their sleep that can unnecessarily evoke concern from a mom.
If you find your baby's hands are cold, this may not mean she is cold overall. A better way to figure out whether she is warm enough is by touching her tummy or back of her neck. These should feel warm, but not sweaty.
Babies have tiny nasal passages, which leads to little snorts and snuffles. The tiny passage ways are sensitive to air temperature changes. These little noises she is making while sleeping and feeding are normal.
A baby may jerk or cry out when she first falls asleep. This is very normal because a baby will enter into a dream-like sleep.
Warning
Dr. Sears recommends checking with your pediatrician if your baby is showing signs of gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), which tends to worsen with sleep. GERD starts in the first weeks of life. Signs can include frequent, painful night waking; sleeping soundly when upright but poorly when laying flat; restless sleep; forceful spitting up, especially when lying down; irregular breathing during sleep; and throaty noises, drooling and fussiness.
References
- "The Baby Sleep Book: The Complete Guide to a Good Night's Rest for the Whole Family"; William Sears, M.D., Robert Sears, M.D., James Sears, M.D., and Martha Sears, R.N.; 2005
- BabyCenter: Baby sleep basics: Birth to 3 months
- "The Babycenter Essential Guide to your Baby's First Year"; Linda Murray, Anna McGrail, Daphne Metland, and the BabyCenter Editorial Team; 2007
