Why does a baby kick and move a lot while sleeping
If your baby kicks and moves a lot when he sleeps, is it a cause for concern or is it totally normal? We’ll tell you then!
Your baby may seem a little angel lovely while sleeping , but it seems that every time you lie to look is in your dream, waving arms and kicking legs while dozing . While this may sound alarming, you should be sure that it is normal for babies to shake and move at night. Your baby’s kicks are probably related to sleep phases and patterns, bedtime routines, and the restlessness or discomfort they may feel for whatever reasons.
If you are one of the mothers or fathers who are scared when the baby moves a lot in his crib , do not be alarmed because it is more normal than you imagine . When you understand it, you will realize that your baby is fine and that nothing strange is wrong.
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CHILD SLEEP PATTERNS
Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults, and their sleep patterns change as they grow from month to month. Babies first enter a light sleep phase that is longer than what an adult normally experiences. Your baby may not have reached deep REM sleep, even after you’ve gently rocked or soothed him for some time.
It may appear to be asleep, but if you move or touch it, it will move its arms or kick its legs . Also, your baby’s sleep cycles are much shorter than yours. You will likely wake up every hour or less and move around before falling asleep again.
NAPS DURING THE DAY
Your growing baby needs enough sleep; an 8 to 12 month old child needs an average of 13 to 14 hours per day. Smaller babies require even more hours of sleep. This means that your baby will need a nap at least twice during the day.
Some babies can nap for only 20 minutes, while others will nap for an hour or more. If your baby sleeps too much, it can disturb his night’s sleep and make him irritable and restless. He can kick his legs and move while resisting falling into a deep sleep.
NIGHT TERRORS
Night terrors are not the same as bad dreams or nightmares and generally occur within the first two to three hours of sleep. Unlike a bad dream your child wakes up from, they won’t wake up from a night terror, but they may cry or kick their legs. The good news is that babies and children do not remember night terrors when they wake up, although you do need to keep them safe to prevent them from getting hurt in the movements they may experience.
SLEEP RITUALS FOR BABIES
Just like adults have nightly rituals before bed, like drinking something hot and brushing their teeth, babies need routines too. Your baby will not be able to sleep uninterruptedly or restfully if he is hungry or colicky or if he needs a diaper change. May cry and move in dreams due to discomfort. It is advisable to follow a regular bedtime routine, such as a feeding, a warm bath, diapers, and gently rocking your baby before putting your baby to sleep.
If for any reason, you consider that your baby’s movements are too strong, he has spasms that scare you or you realize that he stops breathing for short periods of time, then you will have to go to the pediatrician as soon as possible to find out if there are any underlying cause that is causing these movements in the baby while he is asleep. But if they are simply movements of being asleep, do not worry because everything is fine.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.