3 Reasons Why Babies Sleep With Eyes Open
Although it is a common and harmless condition, it could cause concern in some rare cases. The exact reason for nocturnal lagophthalmos is not known yet. However, here are a few possible reasons.
Active Sleep and Newborns
Do you have a newborn who is making noises or constantly moving during sleep? We call this active sleep. I’d love to share some of the most common questions I get about why your newborn is loud during sleep, what active sleep looks like, and how to help yourself get some sleep even if your baby is a noisy sleeper.
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My newborn is always making grunting sounds and squirming while sleeping. Why is my baby moving or making noises while sleeping? # anchor
Newborns go through two different sleep cycles: quiet sleep and active sleep, and they spend about half of their sleeping time in each. (1,2,3) Active sleep is similar to REM sleep for adults, but there is one huge difference:
For adults, our skeletal muscles are paralyzed during this stage — for young babies, they are not. Instead, babies move around, make noise (grunting noises and cries), and sometimes even open their eyes, all while they’re actually sleeping! (1,3)
During these early months, your baby’s brain and body are still working hard to learn vital skills, like digestion, even when they’re sleeping. With all of that hard work and development happening during active sleep, we can expect to see your baby consistently moving as well as making grunting sounds, moaning, and even occasionally crying out.
Expert Tip: Parents often use the word grunting as a general term to describe baby noises (ie. grunting sounds). However, among healthcare professionals, the term “grunting” specifically refers to babies experiencing distress as they try to breathe.
While some noises during your newborn’s sleep are perfectly normal parts of active sleep, other noises can be an indication of sickness, discomfort, or distress.
What does active sleep look like in babies? # anchor
Will you watch this video? Turn on the sound. I want you to see what newborn sleep can really look like! Newborns can be SO active while they sleep.
If you heard that in the night, would you hop out of bed and immediately pick up that baby? Did you know that doing this could be unintentionally waking your baby at night? Let me explain. All of these babies are moving and may even cry out. But. they are all asleep! This is active sleep. Active sleep can be why you swear your baby is awake from 3:00-6:00 am “fighting the swaddle” or struggling with gas. If you mistake this active sleep period as baby being awake and jump in right away, you may accidentally wake your baby! So, if you’re hearing your baby making grunting sounds, moaning, or whimpering in their sleep, know that these are typically normal newborn active sleep sounds. However, if your baby is sick, sounds congested, or you’re concerned about whether what you’re hearing is normal, please check with your pediatrician.
Wait, Cara! Are you telling me not to go help my crying baby in the night? # anchor
No! Not at all! If your baby needs you, you will respond. But before we respond, we simply stop and observe. Take a moment to listen to your baby before you react. Give your baby 30-60 seconds before you rush to pick them up. This will help determine if your baby is just going through that active sleep or if your baby is actually awake!
Expert Tip: If your baby is breaking out of the swaddle during active sleep, check out my tips for swaddling.
Should I ever be concerned about my baby making noises while sleeping? # anchor
- High-pitched, squeaking sounds (4)
- Rapid breathing that is greater than 60 breaths per minute (5) and lasting more than a few seconds or happening repeatedly throughout the night.
- Struggling to breathe. This may look like retractions (ie. sucking in between or underneath your baby’s ribs), grunting after every breath (5) , or labored breathing.
I understand it may be difficult to know what’s a normal sign of active sleep and what may be something more. If you have any concerns about your baby, please always talk with your pediatrician.
How long does newborn active sleep last? # anchor
Newborns spend nearly half of their sleep time in active sleep. (1,3) With newborn sleep cycles lasting about 50 minutes, nearly 25 of those minutes are in active sleep.
When do babies outgrow active sleep? # anchor
You’ll likely notice that your baby is making much less noise while sleeping after those newborn months have passed. Around the time your baby is 3-5 months old, their sleep cycles begin to shift into more adult-like sleep stages. (2,3) It’s during this change that active sleep decreases.
Expert Tip: Even as your little one shifts into more adult-like sleep cycles, you may still see quite a bit of movement. Those active little sleepers typically become much more settled in their sleep around age 5.
My baby is active, noisy, and making grunting sounds in their sleep. And with all of this going on, I can’t sleep! What can I do? # anchor
Your sleep is vital to the overall well-being of you AND your baby. So, now that you know all about newborn active sleep, here are some tips for how to make it less disruptive during the night:
- Move the bassinet farther away from you. (Think across the room or even in your closet or bathroom if it’s well-ventilated.)
- Set up the My blog about room sharing goes into depth about the research regarding room sharing and will help you decide when the time is right. When you’re ready, here’s a step-by-step guide to transition baby from your room to the nursery. If you need more help with your baby’s sleep, my no-cry Will I Ever Sleep Again? newborn class will give you the tools you need. I’ll guide you every step along the way in laying a healthy sleep foundation for your little one.
References
- Wielek et al. (2019). On the Development of Sleep States in the First Weeks of Life
- Patel et al. (2022). Physiology, Sleep Stages
- Shakankiry, H. (2011). Sleep Physiology and Sleep Disorders in Childhood
- McClay, J. (2022). Stridor and Laryngomalacia: Is My Baby’s Noisy Breathing Serious?
- Reuter, Moser, and Baack. (2014). Respiratory Distress in the Newborn
3 Reasons Why Babies Sleep With Eyes Open
Lagophthalmos is usually normal in babies. Observe if other symptoms accompany.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Richard Mario Lurshay , MBBS, DNB
Dr. Richard Mario Lurshay MBBS, DNB Specialty: Pediatrics Experience: 11 years
Dr. Richard Mario Lurshay has around 11 years of experience in the care of children and their well-being. After completing his post-graduation in Pediatrics, he completed his training in Pediatric Nutrition from Boston University School of Medicine (USA).
Written by Rohit Garoo , BSc, MBA
rohit garoo BSc, MBA Specialty: Baby Health and Wellness Experience: 9 years
Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier’s College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.
Read full bio of Rohit Garoo
Edited by Dr. Ritika Shah , BDS, CLC
dr. ritika shah BDS, CLC Specialty: Dental and General Health, Lactation Experience: 10 years
Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College.
Fact-checked by Vidya Tadapatri , MSc (Biotechnology)
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Last Updated on Oct 18, 2024
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It is soothing to watch babies doze and sleep peacefully. However, you may occasionally notice your baby sleeping with eyes open and wonder why it happens. It is common for some babies to sleep with completely or partially open eyes, which is called lagophthalmos in medical terms.
Open-eyed sleeping in infants is physiological i Relating to the normal functions of living humans and their organs. , and it is not an indication of any medical conditions or sleep problems. However, it is recommended to seek pediatric evaluation if you notice any other symptoms or anything that prevents them from closing their eyelids. Read on to know why babies sleep with their eyes open and what you can do about it.
In This Article
Is It Normal For A Baby To Sleep With Open Eyes?
You might feel uneasy to see your baby sleeping with their eyes open. However, you need not worry much, as most of the time, snoozing with the eyes partially or fully open is common and may not be associated with any medical condition. The medical term for this condition is known as nocturnal lagophthalmos.
Research finds
Studies suggest that up to 5% of the entire human population sleeps with their eyes open(1).
But why do some babies sleep with their eyes open? Read on to find out.
Why Do Babies Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Although it is a common and harmless condition, it could cause concern in some rare cases. The exact reason for nocturnal lagophthalmos is not known yet. However, here are a few possible reasons.
- Genetics: If someone in your family or your partner has this condition, there is a chance of your newborn inheriting it (1).
Andrea, a mother of two, describes how her son sleeps with his eyes open and recalls how the same happened with her brother. She notes, “Rafael sleeps with his eyes open… He goes through various stages of REM sleep, as well as dreaming and crying in his sleep. In the end, he wakes himself up. My brother still sleeps with his eyes open. He sleeps in the living room sitting on the couch, and when you start talking to him because his eyes are open, it wakes him up and scares him (i).”
- Rapid eye movement sleep (REM): Babies’ sleep patterns are such that they have a longer REM sleep than adults due to an underdeveloped nervous system. This could be one of the reasons your baby sleeps with their eyes open (2).
- A disorder at birth: In some rare cases, babies may sleep with their eyes open if they have a congenital disorder i A structural or functional abnormality present from birth. , such as a defect in their facial nerves (3).
If your pediatrician has ruled out any congenital disabilities, you need not worry about your toddler sleeping with open eyes as long as it doesn’t cause eye irritation. If you notice your child’s eyes becoming dry, you might want to check with your pediatrician to prescribe some eye drops or ointments to protect your baby’s cornea i A transparent layer of the eye that facilitates entry of light through the eyes. from drying up (4).
If your baby sleeps with their eyes open, wait until they reach deep sleep before gently closing their eyelids. However, make sure you do not wake the child or startle them.
When To Call The Doctor?
Usually, babies outgrow this condition and sleep with their eyes closed. But, if it’s been a while (one or two months), and your baby is still sleeping with their eyes open, or if you find additional symptoms such as wide-open eyes or eye redness, talk to your pediatrician.
In the case of congenital disorders of the eyelids, you need to work with your pediatrician to get the proper treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it normal for babies’ eyes to twitch while sleeping?
It is normal for babies to twitch their eyes while sleeping. Twitches occur during rapid eye movement(REM) sleep, a phase that dominates the sleeping hours of babies during which the motor areas in the brain generate jerky movements in face and limb muscles. Twitches trigger activity in the spinal cord, sensory and motor areas (5).
2. Why do babies roll their eyes and smile when they are sleeping?
A baby rolling eyes and smiling in sleep could be a result of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is a stage of sleep that is characterized by intense brain activity and vivid dreaming. During this stage, you may also see a baby twitching in sleep or jerking their limbs and doing facial expressions such as smiling or frowning, which are not under the baby’s control.
3. Does sleeping with their eyes open affect a baby’s sleep quality?
Although it is common in some infants and does not necessarily impact their general sleep health, sleeping with eyes open may affect sleep quality. According to studies, people sleeping with their eyes open can be easily awakened by visual stimulation, such as light entering their eyes, thus leading to poor sleep (6).
Babies are often seen sleeping with open eyes, and this is seldom a cause of concern. Hence, if you have noticed your babies sleep with their eyes open, rest assured that your baby is safe and will most likely grow out of this habit in a month or two. However, although the condition itself is harmless, check for any additional symptoms that are interfering with their sleep or causing irritation, such as red eyes. In such a case, consult your pediatrician since it may indicate an underlying issue.
Infographic: Medical Reasons For Baby Sleeping With Eyes Open
Often parents witness their babies sleeping with slightly open eyes, which may be normal and usually not indicative of anything serious. However, in rare cases, certain medical ailments may be responsible for incomplete closure of eyes, some of which are mentioned in the infographic below.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
