Research indicates that the time a baby spends in REM reaches close to 50% of their overall sleep time. While the typical adult’s need for REM sleep averages approximately 20-25% of total sleep time, babies and very young children require far more. Too little REM, as well as too much, can create challenges for us. When factoring the above variables together, they reveal that we need approximately 1hr 45min to 2hr 45min of dreamy REM sleep each night. As noted in Psychology Today, for the first two to three sleep cycles, we spend most of our time in deep NREM sleep (Stages 3 and 4), while during the final two to three sleep cycles, we spend much more time in REM sleep. Typically, a 90- to 120-minute sleep cycle recurs five to six times during the night. Most important stage for dreaming, memory consolidation, and new learning. Heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure all increase to awake levels. Stage is associated with tissue repair and hormone release, including growth hormone. Very slow brain waves and breathing, blood pressure drops, muscles relax more. Heart rate, breathing, and brain waves slow down. Prepares us for progressing into deeper sleep. Stages of an Adult Sleep Cycle: 90-120 Minutes (Sleep cycles last a bit shorter earlier in the night.) Stageĭecrease in brain and muscle activity. From this chart, you can also calculate how much REM sleep you need. As you’ll see, REM sleep is unlike the four non-REM sleep stages. It highlights the five sleep stages adults pass through and includes information about what they are, the percentage of time they’re active within a standard 90- to 120-minute sleep cycle, and why they’re important. The chart below captures sleep information provided by the University Health News. Part of what it takes to get healing and restorative sleep is to successfully pass through the various five stages of the sleep cycle, multiple times, throughout the night. It allows our minds and bodies to restore and recharge. Sleep is a time for us to take it down a notch. Sleep and Its 5 StagesĪfter we lie down on our mattress, close our eyes, and fall asleep, a lot of unseen brain and body activity go on-all night long. Enhancing our mind-functioning abilities, REM is a critical stage within the sleep cycle.Īs crucial as it is, how much REM sleep do you need? In this article, we’ll broaden the discussion on REM sleep and include what it is, why it’s important, and how much we need, as well as at which points it surfaces during the night. You may have heard about the various sleep stages and that REM (Rapid Eye Movement sleep) is one of them.

Too little rem sleep