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Baby does not sleep through the night, he does not sleep enough… The first few weeks, we have the impression that our baby has sleep problems… In fact, his rythme gradually falls into place. The problem is rather ours: having to reconcile our (very busy) days with our (choppy) nights! So you might as well know the sleep mechanism to better tame it.
Sleep changes over the months
The newborn does not differentiate the day and the night. He will be able to distinguish them around 6 weeks. The transition from sleep spread over 24 hours, to more nocturnal sleep will occur around 5-6 months. At 12 months, the day / night rhythm will in principle be well installed.
At birth, his sleep breaks down into two phases. First, the stage of restless sleep. It corresponds to paradoxical stage around 3-4 months. This restless sleep is very important because it takes up 60% of the time he sleeps, compared to only 30% to 25% later. It is during this phase that the baby moves a lot. He makes facial expressions, he moves his eyes, but, a sign that he is indeed sleeping, they remain closed. “When he is sleeping, the baby is soft and not toned! », Explains Dr Sarah Bursaux *.
Follows the calm sleep stage which is similar to slow deep sleep of the greatest. The child does not move, and if he moves, it is very little, possibly with some crying. This marks the transition to another sleep cycle, which is when he is most likely to wake up. The sleep cycle will gradually lengthen Over the month (see diagram below). Scientific studies on brain activity during sleep, carried out using electroencephalograms, have shown that its structure evolves, is segmented into three, then four phases, and will stabilize at 3 years, in a pattern similar to that of the adult.
* Pediatrician and author of “When will he (finally) do his nights? (ed. Leduc.s)
>>> To read also: 10 tips for getting your baby to sleep quickly