While adults spend less than a quarter of their sleep time engaged in dreaming (or REM sleep), young babies engage in REM sleep for over 50% of their total sleep time. So why do babies dream more than adults? Why should infants dream so much when they have far less activities during the day that might trigger dreams? One theory claims that REM sleep provides young babies with the mental stimulation their growing brains need. The phenomenon has been equated to activities such as kicking in the womb, whereby the fetus “practices” kicking and walking actions in preparation for later … Continue reading →