Babys sömnrytm och sömnbiologi

When the little baby is born, it already has its own sleep rhythm. It has already developed in the mother's womb during the 36 weeks of pregnancy.

This sleep rhythm is completely independent of the mother's sleep rhythm and makes no difference between day and night. The rhythm must therefore be slowly adjusted after birth.

During the first months and years of a child's life, the sleep rhythm changes dramatically. As the child develops, so does the need for sleep. Many factors play a role in this: thirst frequency, hunger, adaptation, development, age, etc. affect the rhythm and duration, as well as the biology behind baby sleep.

Sleep biology in infants

If we start by looking at your baby's sleep biology, most parents will already feel a great sense of relief. In fact, a baby's sleep cycle is about 40-55 minutes long. That's slightly shorter than your own sleep cycle as an adult. But in this short time, your baby will go through all the sleep stages they need for their development, including deep sleep.

Remember that all children are different! Some children only need 30-35 minutes for the entire sleep cycle - and that's completely normal.

Most people can recognize when a child is in deep sleep (NREM3/4).

The baby lies completely still, you can touch it and maybe even move it without it reacting significantly. You may be able to see and hear that its breathing is heavy, quiet and slow.

But once the baby has reached the light sleep phase (NREM1/2 and REM), breathing becomes faster, perhaps even intermittent. The baby is then more "active" and moving, and you often get the impression that he or she is waking up or having a "restless sleep".

A newborn baby's sleep cycle is about 40-50 minutes long and looks like this:

• The sleeping newborn baby falls directly into the REM sleep phase.
• The newborn then transitions into the NREM3 and NREM4 sleep phases.
• The newborn baby returns to the REM sleep phase.

When your baby is about 2-6 months old, they go through two new sleep phases: NREM1 and NREM2. Parents often notice that their baby's sleep becomes different, more difficult one could say, and that their baby needs (a lot) more help to fall asleep.

The reason for this is simply that your child is now experiencing a sleep that is easy for them and that they did not know before. For some children, it may seem like they do not want to surrender to sleep, but it is more a matter of them simply not being able to do it yet. At least not without help.

Between 2 and 6 months, your baby's sleep cycle is still about 40-50 minutes long:

• The child starts in the NREM1 sleep phase and slides into the NREM2 sleep phase, IF the child is not disturbed and receives the sleep support needed.
• The child then transitions to the NREM3 and NREM4 sleep phases.
• The child now returns to the NREM2 and NREM1 sleep phases.
• The baby enters the REM sleep phase.
• The child ends up in the NREM1 sleep phase.

The child's sleep cycle is now over and a new one can begin.

The younger the baby, the more sleep occurs in the REM and NREM deep sleep phases. For example, a newborn baby spends 50% of their time in REM sleep, also known as "deep sleep."

During this time, the body and mind rest and recharge. Both newborns and older babies sleep very deeply. This should reassure parents of infants who tend to wake up between sleep cycles.

For many parents, a baby monitor can be a reassuring aid in perceiving these awakenings and transitions between sleep phases – so you can be present without having to disturb sleep.

Sleep rhythm depending on age

There is an average value depending on age that you can use as a starting point. However, you should be aware that babies are unique and develop in different ways. Therefore, your child's sleep needs may also deviate from the average value.

 Det är normalt att ditt barns sömnrytm avviker från värdena i tabellen. Så länge barnet är lyckligt och tillfredsställt är det inga problem. Tänk dock på att om barnet inte sover bra och är övertrött eller helt överexalterat, bör du göra något för att förbättra sömnrytmen och sömnkvaliteten. Du kan naturligtvis också be din barnläkare om råd.

Faktorer som påverkar sömnrytmen

Det finns många faktorer som spelar en viktig roll när det gäller sömnrytmen. Det är just dessa faktorer som gör att sömnrytmen förändras över tid.

Behov av sömn

Behovet av sömn spelar en stor roll och förändrar sömnrytmen, eftersom barnet fortsätter att växa och utvecklas och därför behöver olika mycket sömn beroende på ålder. Barnet sover mer när det är mindre, men vaknar samtidigt mer eftersom det också behöver mycket mat för att utvecklas väl. Exakt hur mycket sömn en bebis behöver är dock en fråga som inte kan besvaras med ett enkelt svar, eftersom det varierar från barn till barn.

Vi rekommenderar därför alltid att du fokuserar på ditt barn och dess individuella behov, för om ditt barn mår bra och är lyckligt trots att det sover lite mer eller mindre än de allmänna riktlinjerna i tabellen ovan, så är det helt okej och normalt.

Näring

När barnet föds är dess mage och magvolym mycket liten. Därför dricker barnet lite men ofta. Det innebär att spädbarn är hungriga oftare än vuxna och behöver ammas eller matas oftare. Detta har en stor inverkan på sömnen, eftersom barnet inte kan sova så länge utan att få mat.

Barnet utvecklas snabbt och magvolymen blir större och större. Gradvis dricker det mer och perioderna mellan amning eller matning blir längre. Barnet kan då sova längre tid åt gången.

Du behöver inte oroa dig för att barnet sover för mycket och inte ammar eller matas tillräckligt ofta. Spädbarn har en inbyggd skyddsmekanism som hindrar dem från att sova för länge och för djupt. Barnet vaknar därför automatiskt då och då så att det kan ammas eller få mat.

Denna mekanism främjar tillväxt och är särskilt användbar för hjärnans utveckling.

Sömncykel

Barnets sömncykel skiljer sig också från vuxnas. Spädbarn har en mycket lättare och mer frekvent REM-sömn (drömmar) än äldre barn och vuxna. Spädbarn genomgår också fler sömncykler under natten än vuxna. En natts sömn kan delas in i två halvor. I den första sover spädbarn mycket lugnare, i den andra vaknar de oftare.

Ålder

Ju äldre barnet blir, desto längre sover det på natten och vaknar därför mer sällan. Det är dock normalt att barn vaknar oftare under natten, särskilt under det första året. Under dagen blir de vakna perioderna längre och barnet sover mindre. Det tar en viss tid och det är först när barnet är 3 år som det slutar sova på dagen.

Tupplurar

How long your baby sleeps at night also depends on how many naps they take during the day. Especially tired babies often have difficulty falling asleep at night. That's why small naps in between can be vital. Our motorized swing can help gently rock your baby to a nap during the day and give you a better chance of rest at night.

Change your sleep rhythm

You can try to change your child's sleep rhythm. For example, you can try to influence the child. You can put the child to bed later in the evening so that he sleeps longer in the morning. However, this may not be successful because children, just like adults, have a preference for getting up early or late.

If you want to influence your sleep rhythm, it is important to proceed slowly and be patient, as it may take time for the rhythm to change.

If you want to change the sleep rhythm, you can also try adjusting the daily routine so that the child goes to bed earlier or later. It is also worth trying to improve the bedtime ritual. This can help the child fall asleep better and faster.

If you want your child to sleep longer, you can also try to make it clear to the child that it is still night and that there is still enough time for sleep. A dark room with dim lighting can convince a child to continue sleeping.

The nervous system and sleep

Babies do not have the ability to calm themselves and their nervous system. Their brains are not yet developed for this. Babies and toddlers can only find the necessary rest with the help of their parents. It is a matter of brain chemistry, as the release of calming and sleep hormones is blocked by stress hormones.

So in a way, your baby's normal sleep is a "shared sleep" where parents play an important role, whether it's physically sleeping next to the baby or being there every time the baby needs help.

Sleep that occurs with the help and support of parents helps the child develop the connections in the brain that form the basis for the child to eventually be able to fall asleep without the help of parents. In this way, the child can regain and maintain a calm nervous system, even when lying alone in bed or waking up at night.

Every time you lovingly help your child calm down and fall asleep, whether they need a lot or a little help, your child "borrows" your calm nervous system and receives support in their development.

All babies - or children - learn this skill over time. At their own pace.