Light Stage of Sleep

[corrina01]

After the 45 mins deep sleep. How long does the light sleep normally last?  :?

[chell]

Hi, Tracy says it takes 20 minutes for a bub to pass through the 3 stages of sleep - this includes this window (when you notice the sleepy cues) - the zone - (the glazed look, when you are about to put him down) - the letting go- (when he starts to go to sleep). I think that this is the light stage of sleep, before passing into a deeper stage. I think the 45 minutes includes a combination of deep and then REM sleep ( which I believe is another kind of light sleep - when they are dreaming).
So I think it takes 20 minutes to pass from awake to light sleep, then 45 mins of deep and REM sleep.

I'm not totally sure on this, so any other comments are most welcome.


  :?:  Not sure if this really answers your question.

[corrina01]

Thanks for that. My lo goes off to sleep more or less straight away, but after 45 mins of sleep she rouses I put my hands on her until she goes back to sleep, but I dont really know how long I should keep my hands on her before she reenters her sleep,  is it 20 mins again?   :?

[chell]

Ok, I'm not sure about the exact timing, I think this might be different with each individual. What I can say though, is that when your Bub is in a deep sleep, her eyes will stop moving from side to side under her shut eye lids, her breathing will slow and become shallow and you will see her body completely relax, just as if she were melting into the matress.

With my lo, I put a clock in his room and actually timed the stages. He would usually have 2 jolts which always happened at the same time. Some bubs make a noise or cry out as they are entering that deep sleep.

If you are not sure, you could always start off with being there for the whole 20 mins and gradually reduce it to 15, 10 5, etc to see the response you get. You may be pleasantly suprised!

[Meg's Mom]

I have read the following:
There are specific partial awakenings in an infants sleep cycle-- 10 min., 20 min and 40 min. mark and it is the awakening at the 20 min. mark-- which sends an infant into full deep sleep.

So IMO, stay for at least 20min to start w/.

Hope that helps.

[corrina01]

Thank you