Question
Why is a 5-day-old baby suddenly crying during sleep recently?
Answer
Babies have a cyclic sleep pattern, with each cycle lasting about 40 to 50 minutes. A cycle includes a transition from light sleep to deep sleep and back to light sleep. When a baby is in the light sleep stage, they may roll over, which might cause them to wake up and exhibit behaviors such as loud crying, tossing and turning on the bed, and flailing their arms and legs. However, they are not truly awake at this point. Parents do not need to overreact; simply gently pat the baby to help them change positions and lie quietly. They will soon return to a deep sleep state.