When do babies start dreaming...? 16 months old behavour changes

[*Beema*]

DD had had a couple of interesting nights, she has been quite restless in her sleeping, all over the place in cot, which is quite of of character for her. She has just learnt to crawl, sit up from crawling and is starting to pull herself up on things including her cot. So it could be just that

But I am wondering at what age do they tend to start dreaming as she seems to be scared when she wakes up, and a little disorientated.

She has also turned into a very very cuddly baby, she will give everyone lovely warm snuggles, she was trying to give her swim instructor one yesterday and she pushed her away like she didn't want to touch her (her old one would have given her a big cuddle)

So maybe it is a separation thing? Any suggestions what was your 16 month old doing?
TIA
xxoo

[satya]

I am not sure at what age they start dreaming but they are def dreaming by 16 months. I know this because my son was giggling in his sleep a few nights ago so he must've been dreaming (he's 16 months).

Since 6 months old he's moved around heaps during sleeping so I haven't noticed any change with that but that's the age he started to crawl so maybe the movement in the cot is linked to that seeing your little one has started moving about at the same time as learning to crawl.

I've had 3 nights in a row where he wakes up crying & I have wondered if he's getting upset by something he's dreaming. He'll stand up & and want out of the cot. It's happened a couple of times each night so it's taking 3 goes at getting him down for the night.

I chat to a few women with kids the same age & a few of them are having sleep issues at the moment so maybe it's just a stage they go though.... not sure.

[*Beema*]

Oooh thankyou for posting

Maybe it is just a developmental phase for this age, maybe it is a Wonder Wekk , I hadn't been looking at bubs of the same age as she has been quite delayed in some areas, so most bubs have been around her corrected age or younger.

I didn't realise they would be dreaming so early!

[tenar]

I'm sure I read somewhere that they dream in utero. And I'm certain that DD, now 6 months, has been dreaming for at least 3 or 4 months now. What else would make her smile in her sleep (dreaming of milk and cuddles?), or wake up suddenly screaming for no apparent reason (nightmares!).

[MummyNaomi]

I know the 6 month wonder week mentions nightmares so they must start dreaming younger than this - I agree with Tenar though, have also read they dream inutero

[*Beema*]

Nigtmares so early I do remember DD waking up months ago really quite scared etc.. I forogt about that until you mentioned it.

I wonder what they are dreaming about so early... boobies

[Calluna]

I'm pretty sure they dream before they are born. Isaac has been having dreams and nightmares since the day he was born (he was crying in his sleep when he was just a couple of days old - nightmares of his birth maybe?) he's 4 months now and has been smiling in his sleep for ages and occasionally cries in his sleep/wakes up crying.

[amberj]

I join you in 16 month sleep difficulties. Just like satya, my 16 month old little man keeps waking in the middle of the night crying- not hungry, not in pain- just unhappy. I was thinking bad dreams too. Maybe it is an age thing.

FWIW, when DS started crawling and pulling himself up, that ALSO caused complete sleep wreckage and disturbance. So maybe you have both the crawling and the "16 month old bad dream" thing going on all at once- lucky you!!!!

Hope our little ones sleep well soon.

[*Beema*]

Thanks for you post Amber

Lucky to get it all at once Hopefully that means we only have to "suffer" once, instead of twice

She has been completely hyper tonight and super happy, no idea why as she has been at Daycare al day, but is happily playing around ate a great dinner not a grizzle out of her at all , and usually by now she would be beyond grumpy

Oh well I guess she will crash soon

[Laranna]

DS is 17 months now, but around a month ago he was doing the same thing - waking up screaming, all disoriented, took lots of cuddles to get him settled and back to sleep again. He's always been a cot mover, ends up in all sorts of positions so I knew it wasn't that. Thought it was teething but the mouth gel and panadol didn't do anything. He has cut one molar so maybe it was that. I think mostly it was just dreaming and/or developmental So, you're not alone!