Understanding Baby Sleep Patterns

Babies wake up constantly because their sleep cycles are only 45 minutes long, half of ours.

They spend more time in light REM sleep, which means every noise,

temperature change, or hunger pang pulls them right out. Their brains are wired for survival,

not convenience. They need frequent feeding because their stomachs are tiny,

about the size of a marble at birth. Plus, they lack the melatonin production we have,

so they don't distinguish day from night yet. It's not a phase you can fix. It's biology protecting

them. Their nervous systems are immature, so they startle themselves awake

with their own reflexes. That's why swaddling works. You're not teaching bad habits by responding.