Why Do Babies Laugh In Their Sleep? Is This Normal?

Have you ever heard your little one sweetly giggling in their sleep? Then you rush over and check if they’re awake and finding some cute way to amuse themselves. But oftentimes it’s your baby laughing in their sleep!

But is your baby laughing in their sleep? Does it have anything to do with the baby sleep cycle? Or could they be dreaming of beautiful things? We’ve made a comprehensive guide to tell you everything you need to know. 

Why Is Your Baby Laughing In Their Sleep?

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Well, firstly, did you know that as adults, we too laugh in our sleep? That’s right, it’s not only your baby who is strange for laughing in their sleep. Perhaps you would have, in your half-asleep stupor, heard your spouse chuckling in their sleep. 

There is no clear-cut reason why babies laugh in their sleep. But there are a few theories as to why your little one is enjoying a giggle or two while sleeping. 

1. It’s A Natural Reflex

Babies do dream and they start as early as in the womb. They continue dreaming as newborns. But they are not necessarily laughing because of a dream. Sometimes, laughing is just a natural reflex during their REM cycle in a period called active sleep.

During this type of sleep, babies might make involuntary movements. Some of these involuntary movements can lead to smiles and laughter while they sleep.

Tip: It is possible, though very rare, that gelastic seizures can occur in infants that cause uncontrollable laughter. Each episode can last around 10 to 20 seconds, from about 10 months old. 

If this happens regularly and wakes your baby up, accompanied by a vacant stare, please speak to your paediatrician.

2. They Are Processing Information

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Throughout the day, especially in the first few months of life, babies are experiencing a steep learning curve. From learning to open their eyes, to smiling, crying, and figuring out how their bodies work, they are always processing new information.

Add the bright lights and sounds and different sights they are exposed to, and they might be going through sensory overload. But when it is finally time for them to go to sleep, their little brains have the time to process this information. 

One way of doing so is by baby laughing or crying in their sleep. During these essential few months of development, they are also learning a lot about emotions, which is then translated into either laughter or cries.

Tip: Try not to wake them up when they are laughing in their sleep as it might interrupt their sleep cycle.

Understand The Baby Sleep Cycle Better

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Babies have a much shorter sleep cycle compared to adults. In case you’ve forgotten your sleep cycle, this is how adults sleep.

Our sleep cycles last about 90 minutes each, during which we move through five stages of sleep. The first four stages are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, while the fifth stage is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

For babies, the baby sleep cycle only lasts about 30-50 minutes. This gradually increases in length across childhood.

How To Monitor Your Baby’s Sleep Cycle

Make it a point to monitor your baby’s sleep cycle to ensure that your little one is not sleep deprived. The process is fairly straightforward and requires you to make a note of your baby’s awake times, nap times, nap length and bedtime. On average, a nine-month-old baby will require about 14-15 hours of sleep that will be scattered into bedtime and nap time.

You can either keep a notebook to log your child’s sleep cycle or create a spreadsheet on your computer. There are multiple mobile apps available as well that help you monitor your little one’s sleeping pattern and will also analyse the data gathered. Do read the terms and conditions before you allow them to collect data from you. 

Do remember, babies sleep for an average of 10-12 hours every night and do wake up about three to four times before the age of 12 months. However, babies do learn to fall back to sleep on their own as they grow older unless it’s an extremely wet diaper that is making them uncomfortable. The remaining hours are usually divided into multiple naps throughout the day. As babies cross the age of one, they tend to spend less time napping and are more time staying active throughout the day. 

But naps do remain helpful and keep them energetic and active by offering rest at the right intervals. Babies who have had proper sleep will also be more enthusiastic and playful, as opposed to being irritable and throwing a tantrum. 

It also helps when parents make it a point to have the lights out by a certain time to set the inner clock for the baby. Research suggests that babies synchronise sooner to circadian rhythms when parents provide with the right environmental cues. This includes exposing them to natural and bright light during the day and dimming the lights at night to associate rest and sleep with darkness. 

Tip: Every child is different. So do remember this – some babies and children fall deeply asleep very quickly, others sleep lightly, and could be in a light sleep cycle for up to 20 minutes, before getting into deep sleep. Don’t freak out right away if your baby happens to be laughing in their sleep.

Sources: WebMD, ResearchGate

Do you think you understand the baby sleep cycle better now? Is your baby still laughing in their sleep? If you want to help your baby sleep better, try these interesting baby sleeping tricks like building them a little nest. Meanwhile, don’t forget to snap those adorable pictures of your little ones smiling in their sleep!

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