is this real sleep?

**MamaPan** · October 7th, 2007, 09:16 AM

when we take Noah out and about (in car or pram) he generally falls asleep and sleeps most of the time... question is, if we were at home he would usually beharder to settle and would not sleep this whole time.. so, is this real sleep (is he resting etc) and is it good for him (it feels like we are 'manufacturing' his sleep)? i take him out for a longish walk every day and he sleeps through it which is great for me but want to check that it isnt playing with his natural patterns and also make sure it is worthwhile sleep for him to have..hope that makes sense.

**sconeonamission** · October 7th, 2007, 11:49 AM

I cant help, but Jensen does this too

**Olive** · October 7th, 2007, 12:06 PM

although hes asleep i dont think its deep sleep, hes probably still in the active sleeping phase

**Barb Glare** · October 7th, 2007, 01:13 PM

Hi,

Babies LOVE movement, and this is one of the most useful methods of getting him to sleep. Remember, only a few short weeks ago he was snug in your tummy, being rocked as you walked or moved around. He's used to this. Many mothers find that it can be hard to settle their babies on the "outside" (of the womb) in the early days. That is why nearly every culture has a form of a sling or shawl in which they carry babies. In our society our repetoir now includes cars and prams.
Sleeping in the car or the pram is great. It allows you to get out and do things - many mothers suffer from "cabin fever" and be assured that your little one is sleeping just fine!

Warm Regards
Barb

**Evie76** · October 9th, 2007, 08:30 PM

I don't think it's a real deep sleep. It's enough to give them a bit of an attitude adjustment for about half an hour, but they get back on the grumpy train pretty swiftly.

Like Barb says, it is handy when you want to get out an do things and the baby is asleep while you're walking around the shops.

**Pinky McKay** · October 10th, 2007, 09:33 PM

As Barb says, babies love movement - it is also helpful from a developmental perspective - it stimulates their vestibular aparatus - a small part inside inner ear which aids neurological development - so whatever sleep they are having whilst moving is very good for your baby. We can become incredibly obsessed about teh quality and quantity of sleep when really it would be much more productive to trust that if this is how your baby sleeps happily, this is fine for him or her - and mums need to do what feels good to them rather than feeling they should be standing in a darkened room 'making' their baby have 'quality' sleep.

You may be interested in some evidence based sleep information that encourages you to follow YOUR individual baby's needs ( and your own for sanity!) and encourages optimal brain and emotional development.

I am doing talks "Sleep love and your baby's brain" with Anni Gethin, social science researcher and Co author ( with psychologist Beth Macgregor) of Helping Your Baby to Sleep. I am author of Sleeping LIke a Baby and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying, an international Board certified Lactation consultant and infant massage instructor - Anni and I are both mothers so have been there (which isn't the case for some baby sleep authors).

Info below - and Melbourne venues for next week's talks. see

Confused about baby sleep advice? Concerned about the impact of baby sleep training regimes such as controlled crying?