Children’s health: Do babies dream? Here’s what happens while infants sleep
When a newborn twitches, smiles, or makes small movements in their sleep, parents often wonder if their baby is dreaming. The truth is, while experts don’t yet know exactly what goes on in a newborn’s mind, the sleep babies get is critical for their growing brains.
“Babies spend a lot of time in a phase of sleep called REM, or rapid eye movement sleep,” said Dr. Tara Kotagal, pediatrician at Lurie Children’s Primary Care — Town & Country Pediatrics. “They experience deep emotions during this stage, but it’s hard to know if they are actually dreaming. REM sleep is very important for a newborn’s brain development.”
REM sleep is the stage of rest most often linked with dreaming in older children and adults. During a baby’s first year, this stage changes as their brain grows.
“The quality of emotions and thoughts that occur during REM sleep evolves as a baby grows older and as their brain develops,” Dr. Kotagal explained. “During a baby’s first year of life, moments of deep sleep evolve more into what we call ‘dreams.’”
So, what might babies dream about, if they dream at all? According to Dr. Kotagal, that question is hard to answer. “An adult’s dream is typically a story with characters, settings, and complex emotions,” she said. “Since a baby’s memory, language, and sensory processing centers are still developing rapidly, their dreams are most likely a series of developmental exercises.”
Because dreams often involve processing emotions and experiences, babies’ early “dreams” may reflect what they know best: simple sensations tied to comfort and connection.
“We can expect babies to dream about feeding and bonding with their loved ones,” Dr. Kotagal said. “That might include the smell of their mother or the sound of a familiar voice.”
Babies also have very different sleep patterns than older children or adults. Newborns sleep a lot, sometimes most of the day, and that’s normal.
“If your newborn baby sleeps almost all day, this is normal and healthy newborn behavior,” said Dr. Kotagal. “Babies need less sleep as they grow up. Regardless of the age of your child, sleep is incredibly important for brain development and body rest, and helps your child get ready for the next day.”
Parents often notice small movements or twitches during their baby’s sleep, which can look like signs of dreaming. These are also part of normal development.
“Small twitches and movements can happen during moments of deep sleep, otherwise known as REM sleep,” Dr. Kotagal said. “This is normal behavior for babies, but you should always consult your child’s pediatrician if any of your baby’s movements are concerning to you.”
While many parents are curious about what their babies might be dreaming about, Dr. Kotagal said the bigger focus should be on helping babies get the sleep they need. “The most important takeaway for parents isn’t what the baby is dreaming about, but the fact that sleep itself is critical for brain development,” she said.
Creating a consistent and safe sleep environment helps ensure that babies get the rest their developing brains and bodies need.
So, even if parents never know exactly what’s happening behind those sleepy smiles and twitches, they can rest assured that every nap and nighttime stretch is helping their baby’s brain grow stronger.
• Children's health is a continuing series. This column was provided by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.