What's REM Sleep - How Much Do You Need?

REM sleep is the special time when your brain goes on a wild adventure while you're fast asleep.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, but instead of just holding it, your brain is making up new stories about it, pretending it's something else, and dreaming about all sorts of fun things. That’s what happens during REM sleep, your brain is busy being creative, even though you're asleep.

During REM sleep, your eyes move rapidly behind your closed eyelids, kind of like when you’re looking at something exciting but can’t actually see it yet. Your body might feel very still, almost like a statue, but inside your head, everything is going on a rollercoaster ride.

Most kids need about 1, 2 hours of REM sleep every night, that’s like having one or two full playtimes with all the fun and imagination. If you get enough of this special brain time, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed, ready to explore, laugh, and learn all day long!