Why do babies cry in their sleep?

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Article by:

Cara Dumaplin

RN, BSN, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant

Why do babies cry in their sleep?

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Is it normal for babies to cry in their sleep? 

Yes, it can be normal for babies to cry in their sleep. 

Why do babies cry in their sleep?

Here are some of the reasons babies might cry in their sleep:

  • Active sleep. Newborns spend about 50% of their sleep time in active sleep (similar to REM sleep)(1,2)  During active sleep, they can make noises, open their eyes, move around, or even cry out all while they’re completely asleep. 

  • Transitioning between sleep cycles. Babies transition through sleep cycles all night long and even during longer naps. During this light sleep or momentary period of awake, your baby may shift sleeping positions, make noises, or briefly cry out before moving right back into a deeper sleep.( 2)

    Taking Cara Babies Classes

    If your baby is actually waking up in the night, I can help. My classes move you past the guesswork by teaching you exactly how to respond to your baby’s needs while empowering them to sleep well (think 10-12 hours for babies 5+ months). You don't have to choose between being a responsive parent and getting the rest your family needs.

    Newborn Newborn 0-4 Months
    Baby Baby 5-24 Months
    Toddler Toddler 2-4 Years

How can I tell if my baby is asleep or awake when crying?

When a baby is crying in the night, it’s easy to assume that they’re awake. Before you rush to intervene and pick your baby up, let’s first do a few things:

  • Pause and give them a few moments. When you hear your baby cry out, whether it’s during a nap or overnight sleep, take a moment before you rush in and respond. Simply giving your baby some time and space can allow them to fall back to sleep on their own.

  • Then, ask yourself: Are they calming down or escalating? You’ve given your baby a few moments after they started crying. Are they beginning to settle? They may truly be asleep. Or are they escalating? They may actually be awake, and it’s time to intervene.

How to respond when your baby cries in their sleep:

If they’re asleep, then they’re going to stop crying in just a few moments (and there’s no need to jump in). Keep listening for a minute to confirm that they’re settling down and head back to sleep yourself. 

If they’re actually awake and crying, go check on them and provide the comfort that works best for your baby.

Stuck providing comfort all night? Looking for a step-by-step plan to help your baby sleep? I can help. My classes will give you developmentally-appropriate strategies to get your little one sleeping well. 

Why do babies cry in their sleep?

Have you noticed that your baby cries out in their sleep but then stops? This could simply be active sleep or transitioning between sleep cycles, but it could also mean that they were able to get back to sleep after a brief waking!

Around two years old, we see the beginning of fears about shadows, the dark, or imaginary things. Every child is different, but it’s very rare to see children under 2 years old struggle with nightmares or have nightmares that interrupt sleep. If you're seeing sleep disruptions under age 2, there's likely another culprit. Check out this blog to read about why your baby isn't sleeping through the night.

It’s very uncommon for children younger than three to have night terrors. However, if you suspect that your little one is experiencing night terrors, please reach out to your pediatrician for further guidance.

Healthy sleep habits help little ones sleep well and can result in less crying during sleep. Additionally, when babies are able to fall asleep independently, they are more likely to transition between sleep cycles without needing help. That means less crying.

References

Sources
  1. Wielek et al. (2019). On the Development of Sleep States in the First Weeks of Life
  2. Patel et al. (2024). Physiology, Sleep Stages

Keep in mind that the information and content on this blog is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. If you have questions about your child, please reach out to your doctor.

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