Infant - 6 stages of conciousness

Question 1

quiet alert

awake stage

Answer 1

• appears similar to adult active listening
• babies rarely move; motor activity suppressed
• eyes wide open, bright, shiny
• look directly at mom and dad faces and eyes
• all of babies energy appears to be channeled into hearing and seeing
• first week of life: ~10% of 24 hour day in this state

Question 2

active alert

awake stage

Answer 2

• frequent movement
• eyes look about
• makes small sounds
• attention drawn to many parts of room
• interested in objects, but not faces
• appears before eating or when fussy

Question 3

crying

awake stage

Answer 3

• way of communication
• occurs when hungry, uncomfortable, lonely
• face contorted and red
• eyes open or tightly closed
• arms and legs more vigorously
• hungry: late cue to be fed; should have noticed lip smacking and saliva previously
• discomfort or loneliness: pick baby up, soothe on shoulder, gives infant opportunity to be quietly awake and learn about world by scanning room
• soothing position = movement to upright position (rather than upright position itself)
• should quiet within 1.5 minutes after pick-up

Question 4

drowsiness

sleep stage

Answer 4

• occurs while baby is waking or falling to sleep
• may continue to move
• smiling, frowning, pursing lips
• eyes seem dull, glazed, unfocused
• droopy eyelids
• eyes may roll upward before closing
• on awakening: baby stretches on one side then the other

Question 5

quiet sleep

sleep stage

Answer 5

• newborns sleep ~90% of day/night
• split 50/50 btw quiet and active sleep; alternating about every 30 mins.
• relaxed face
• eyelids closed and still
• no body movements except rare startle or extremely fine mouth movement
• at full rest
• regular breathing

Question 6

active sleep

sleep stage

Answer 6

• newborns sleep ~90% of day/night
• split 50/50 btw quiet and active sleep; alternating about every 30 mins.
• eyes closed, but occasionally flutter open/closed
• can see eyes moving under lids (rapid eye movement, aka REM)
• occasional body activity range: arms or legs to total body
• irregular breathing, slightly faster than awake breathing
• funny faces: grimace, smile, frowns
• chewing or bursts of sucking
• usually state before waking
• potentially dreaming, but we don’t know