What Do Babies Dream About?
Adults dream during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and infants have loads of REM. So, it might be fair to assume that babies have tons of dreams. Perhaps they conjure up huge smiling faces, giant-tongued dogs licking their toes, or even their mama playing a game of peek-a-boo. Of course, babies can’t speak, so it’s natural to wonder: Do babies have dreams? And if so, what do babies dream about?
Do Babies Have Dreams?
Babies spend half of their sleep in REM (the cycle responsible for dreams), but neuroscientists believe that it serves a completely different purpose for newborns and infants than dreaming. When babies are in REM, it allows their brain to develop pathways, connections, and eventually, learn languages.
Do Babies Have Nightmares?
Since your baby doesn’t dream at this stage of brain development, it’s safe to assume that babies do not have nightmares either. Nightmares stem from exposure to trauma, an overactive imagination, and the normal stresses of everyday life.
Are you wondering, what do babies dream about? Good question, but the answer is…nothing! The “character of the self” hasn’t even made an appearance yet!
When Do Babies Start Dreaming?
So, when do babies start dreaming? The general consensus is that infants and babies start dreaming around the age of two. Psychologist David Foulkes studies children (from tots to teens) to bring the secrets of their dreams to the light of day. In his lab, he lets kids fall asleep and then wakes them 3 times a night—sometimes in REM and sometimes in NREM—and asks them to describe what they recall.
Foulkes’ findings are surprising…in how unsurprising they are. Basically, little kids have little dreams. But exactly what kids see while dreaming depends on their age. As children develop and grow, their dreams do too.
Toddler dreams are usually just snapshots, looking much more like a slideshow than a movie, when compared to the dreams of adults. They heavily feature animals and other familiar sights, like images of people eating. According to Foulkes, “Children’s dream life…seems to be similar to their waking imagination and narration,” he explains in his study, Children’s Dreaming and the Development of Consciousness. “Animals carry human concerns and readily become objects of identification.”
Kids ages 5-9 begin seeing moving images and characters in action. Dreams now include multiple events strung together, one after the other. Kids start developing greater ability to remember dreams. Still, that’s not always the case: When roused during REM sleep, 25% of the kids in Foulkes’ studies had no recollection of dreaming, a trend that continues through age 9.
Generally around age 8, children appear as central characters in their dreams. Dream narratives become more complex and longer. Not only do children dream up the action as it unfolds, they also have thoughts and feelings within the dream.
Final Thoughts: What Do Babies Dream About?
You no longer have to wonder, what do babies dream about anyway? It turns out that infants and babies don’t start having vivid dreams until around the age of two. Only when their brains develop well past this stage, will babies start having dreams and nightmares. And even later to retain them in their memory. So, if your baby seems to be in a stressful state while sleeping or is upset upon waking, there may be other factors at play [Read: the fourth trimester]. SNOO Smart Sleeper responds to these episodes and keeps babies calm by mimicking the sensations of the womb. Learn more about SNOO here.
About Dr. Harvey Karp
Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.
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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, I can confidently share insights into the intriguing world of baby dreams and sleep patterns. My expertise draws from a comprehensive understanding of sleep cycles, particularly the REM (rapid eye movement) phase, and the neurological development of infants.
The article explores the question of whether babies dream and delves into related aspects, such as the purpose of REM sleep in newborns and the emergence of dreams as children grow. Let's break down the concepts covered in the article:
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REM Sleep in Babies:
- Adults dream during REM sleep, and the article suggests that infants spend half of their sleep in REM. This aligns with the understanding that REM sleep is crucial for various functions, including memory consolidation and emotional processing.
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Purpose of REM in Newborns:
- Neuroscientists posit that, for babies, REM serves a different purpose than dreaming. It is described as a phase that facilitates the development of neural pathways and connections, contributing to language learning.
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Do Babies Have Nightmares?
- The article asserts that, due to the stage of brain development, babies do not dream at a certain early age, and consequently, they do not experience nightmares. Nightmares are typically associated with exposure to trauma and an overactive imagination, which are not prevalent in infants.
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When Do Babies Start Dreaming?
- Psychologist David Foulkes is introduced as a researcher who studies children to uncover the secrets of their dreams. The general consensus is that babies start dreaming around the age of two. Foulkes' findings suggest that as children grow, their dreams become more complex.
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Development of Dreams in Children:
- The article provides insights into the evolution of children's dreams based on Foulkes' research. Toddler dreams are described as snapshots, evolving into moving images and characters in action for children aged 5-9. Dream narratives become more intricate and incorporate the child as a central character around age 8.
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Final Thoughts on Baby Dreams:
- The article concludes by answering the question about what babies dream about, emphasizing that vivid dreams typically start around the age of two. It suggests that if a baby appears stressed during sleep, there may be other factors at play and introduces the concept of the "fourth trimester."
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About Dr. Harvey Karp:
- Dr. Harvey Karp is introduced as a trusted pediatrician and the founder of Happiest Baby, providing context for the information presented in the article. His expertise, particularly in the development of the SNOO Smart Sleeper, is highlighted.
In summary, the article navigates through the stages of infant sleep, REM cycles, the absence of dreams in early development, and the gradual emergence of vivid dreams as children grow. The insights are backed by references to the research of psychologist David Foulkes and the expertise of Dr. Harvey Karp in pediatric care.
