Baby Sleep and Memory

During the REM phase of sleep, the baby's brain assimilates and stores all the information that babies receive during their wakeful and alert hours. REM or light sleep is where we dream and our metabolic and brain functions are active. REM sleep is much more dominant in newborns taking up fifty of their sleep time (80% in preemies). This sleep seems to play a role in development. Although newborn infants spend about half of their 16-18 hours of daily sleep time in REM sleep, adults spend only about an hour and a half in REM sleep.

This difference in REM between infants and adults indicates its importance in development. Several dream researchers have insinuated that REM sleep plays a key role in infant brain development by providing an internal source of powerful stimulation which would prepare the baby for the almost infinite "world of stimulation it will soon have to face" and also by facilitating the "maturation of the nervous system."

Babies are in an almost constant state of motor skill learning and coordination. They have a lot of new material to consolidate and, therefore demand more of sleep. Hence, sleep appears to play a key role in human development, and interferences to their REM sleep could undermine their learning. A new study, published online in Nature Neuroscience, from researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, argues that sleep deprivation also hampers the brain's ability to make new memories.

As parents, we should remember that REM sleep plays an essential role in remembering new information and memory consolidation.

Diana Gonzalez Blanco, B.B.A., M.B.A., is a Certified Youth, Parenting and Family Coach; a Baby and Toddler Sleep Expert; and founder of Smooth Parenting. Smooth Parenting is a baby & toddler sleep consultancy and parenting coaching firm, that helps families around the world get a good night sleep and a peaceful, smooth and happy family life.

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Buy the Baby Some Special Clothes

There are many types of clothes for a baby that you should consider buying. When you go to a baby store, you have to find the perfect clothes that fit your baby. The clothes should also represent your baby's gender. The clothes that you should buy at a store or online also must be able to keep the baby warm. Before you buy the clothes for your baby make sure that you know if your baby has allergies to certain materials first. Here are some of the clothes that you can put on your shopping list.

1. If you want your baby to feel special, buy her something that takes time and effort; like buying him hand knitted clothes. You can decide what kind of design you want to give to your baby. When you order one, you can ask a salesperson what you are looking for. They will also be able to help you in your decision when buying the perfect ones for your baby.
2. Baby's sometimes find ways to take off what they were wearing. So, the clothes you want to buy specially for babies like this should be a body. Body suits are difficult for the baby to take off so you don't have the hectic time to let him wear the clothes again whenever he takes it off.
3. Babies need caps on their heads to block off the sun when you and your baby go for a little strolling outside. You can buy hand knitted caps so you can have it personalized with the name of your baby. Buy caps that go well with the clothes they wear.
4. When the baby is ready to go to sleep in the evening, make sure you let him wear pajamas to make him feel more comfortable to sleep at night. Pajamas are easy to find in a local baby or online stores. You can decide what color or design you want the baby to wear in the evening.
These are some of the clothes that the baby needs. You can search for more online and find other clothes for the baby to wear.

Anna Daniels is a freelance writer that is fond of writing articles about birthing ball and exercise ball and other baby and pregnancy related topics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Daniels