Northside Hospital - Special Beginnings

LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BABY’S BEHAVIORS Why is my baby sleeping so much?

Babies in SCN can be very sensitive. They can handle only one kind of stimulation at a time. Our goal is to help you understand your baby’s need for special care, while helping you experience the joys of new parenthood.

Premature babies demonstrate six different states of activity that help explain their different behaviors. They are Sleep, Light or Deep, Drowsy, Alert, Fussy and Crying. The more premature your baby is, the less of a change you will observe in their state. The predominant state for premature babies is sleep, either light or deep. As your baby grows, you will observe more of these states. Here is a brief description of each state with the emphasis placed on how it relates to their sleep state.

At these early weeks your baby will be sleeping most of the time. They may only have brief moments when they may be in a drowsy or partially awake state. Due to their immature nervous system their movements are jerky with a trembling quality even in their sleep. Your baby should be sleeping 23 - 24 hours per day. Premature babies at this age start having periods of REM sleep, Rapid Eye Movement. In this type of sleep you see the babies eyes flutter beneath their closed lids. This kind of sleep is crucial for learning and memory. Your baby at this age is only capable of brief short moments of wakefulness. They are still not yet ready to focus on your loving face. During this light sleep you will observe irregular breathing, sucking movements and occasional brief eye openings. Your baby may respond to voices and other noises. Your baby should be sleeping 22 - 23 hours per day. Your baby’s sleep is now cycling regularly between active and quieter stages. They are still unable to reach a deep sleep but they do enter a quieter stage, which facilitates growth and development. Your baby still requires approximately 21 - 22 hours per day. Babies at this age still sleep 18 - 20 hours per day; only a few more hours than full term infants who require 16 - 17 hours per day. At about 35 - 36 weeks comes the first appearance of really deep, quiet sleep, which is essential for growth, and development of the body and brain. Your baby is in a deep sleep when you observe no movements except for occasional startles or jerky movements. Your baby’s eyes are tightly shut and your baby’s breathing is regular.

Sleep 23 - 27 weeks gestation

Sleep 28 - 29 weeks gestation

Sleep 30 - 33 weeks gestation

Sleep 34 - 36 weeks gestation

Drowsy At this time your baby will have a dazed look. Your baby’s eyes are dull with droopy eyelids. Your baby’s movements may increase and they may startle. You may observe a delayed reaction to voices or other noises. Alert Your baby has a bright awake look. They can focus their attention on a face or an object. Your baby’s breathing is regular and there is little body movement. This is the best time to interact with your baby.

Fussy Your baby may be thrusting their arms or legs, and their breathing may be irregular. Your baby may be irritable and your baby may need comfort measures. Crying Your baby is actively moving. Your baby is crying intensely, your baby may be difficult to calm.

Special Beginnings in the Special Care Nurseries

11