Why Do Babies Cry in Their Sleep?

When a small child cries, your first instinct is to soothe them. You may sing a lullaby, rock them gently in your arms, or offer a breast or bottle. But, when babies start crying in their sleep, many parents and carers find themselves at odds. Is the baby in pain? Is it a nightmare? Should you wake them up or call your pediatrician? Babies’ irregular sleeping patterns may be the cause. So, if you ever wondered why babies cry in their sleep, keep on reading! We’ll break down all the potential reasons and the best methods to gently soothe babies back to sleep.

Babies crying in their sleep: what does it mean?

Babies, especially newborns, are restless sleepers. They may cry, grunt, or even scream in their sleep. Usually, this is no cause for concern. It has to do with babies’ unusual sleeping patterns. As you probably know, newborns sleep longer than any child or adult. They also sleep in shorter bursts, waking every 2 or 3 hours.

Like adults, babies sleep in cycles. But, the main difference is that babies spend more time in the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. REM or active sleep is when babies dream. You may notice that your baby:

• jerks or twitches;
• moves their arms and legs, opening and closing their hands, for example;
• moves their eyes side to side beneath their closed eyelids;
• and breathes irregularly.

NREM or deep sleep is when your baby’s breathing becomes more regular and they don’t move at all. Transitioning between these two cycles may take your baby around 50 to 60 minutes. Many babies experience a brief awakening between cycles. They make noises or cry, and put themselves back to sleep. Or, they may not wake up at all.

Other causes for babies crying in their sleep

Teething

When teeth first come through a baby’s gums, it can be very uncomfortable for them. This typically happens around 4 and 7 months of age. Some teething signs include:

• Sore and red gums,
• One flushed cheek
• A rash on their face
• Gnawing and chewing a lot
• More fretful than usual
• Restless sleep

If your baby shows any of the above signs and cries in their sleep, contact your pediatrician. They will recommend treatments or any other home remedies to relieve the discomfort.

Overtiredness

A baby is overtired when they have been awake for longer than their bodies can tolerate. Sadly, this activates the stress response, which triggers the release of stress hormones such as cortisol. As a result, this makes it more challenging for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep. Your baby may be overtired if they are:

• very cranky, fussy, or prone to crying spells;
• overactive;
• constantly yawning;
• difficult to soothe
• taking brief naps

To prevent overtiredness, make sure you are giving your baby plenty of chances to meet their sleep quota. While every child is different, the average newborn needs 14 to 17 hours of sleep daily broken up into shorter bursts. In addition, try not to interfere with their sleeping process. Unnecessary holding or rocking can create “sleep crutches” or negative associations with bedtime. In turn, it prevents your child from learning the valuable skill of self-soothing or becoming an independent sleeper.

And what about nightmares?

It’s not clear at what age nightmares and night terrors start. Some experts believe that babies begin developing unpleasant dreams at 18 months old. However, this is more common around the age of 2 and 4. So, toddlers and older babies who cry, move, and make other sounds while asleep may be having a night terror. Night terrors typically occur when a child becomes agitated in deep sleep (NREM sleep). On the other hand, a nightmare happens in active sleep (REM sleep).

To reduce the likelihood of nightmares and night terrors, make sure that your little one is getting enough sleep. Try to establish a relaxing sleeping routine before bedtime. You can read a story out loud or prepare a warm bath. If your child is stressed or anxious, identify the root of the problem and design coping strategies.

How to soothe your baby

Now that you know why babies cry in their sleep, let’s discuss how to soothe your baby. Try the following tips.

Tip #1: Wait

Your natural response to seeing your baby crying in their sleep is to wake them up and soothe them. However, try not to do this. Instead, wait. Your baby may be fussing because they are transitioning from light sleep to deep sleep, remember? They will typically settle on their own and drift back into a restful sleep. Rushing to scoop up your baby may wake them up and disrupt their natural sleep pattern.

Tip #2: Comfort

If the crying continues, talk softly to the baby or sing a lullaby in a low voice. You can try rubbing their back or stomach. This will help them stop crying and transition into a deep sleep.

Tip #3: Keep it calm and quiet

A baby may also cry because they are cold, wet, teething, or even sick. Usually, this will wake them up. If they can’t fall back asleep within 2 or 3 minutes, you would need to attend to their needs. So, do what needs to be done, but keep it calm and quiet. You wouldn’t want to overstimulate your baby with bright lights or loud voices. You want to help your baby understand that nighttime is for sleeping.

Call your doctor if…

Don’t hesitate to ask for professional help. Contact your pediatrician if the nighttime crying and/or sleep issues continue. You may want to get in touch if your baby:

• cries out in pain;
• continues to experience sleep problems for several days, which impact their day-time routine;
• develops a sudden shift in their sleeping routine;
• and/or has difficulty breastfeeding.

Help your baby enjoy a good night’s sleep

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