What are the 6 infant states?

• A. Deep Sleep, Light Sleep, Drowsiness, Quiet Alert, Active Alert, Crying
• B. Deep Sleep, Quiet Cry, Feeding
• C. Awake, Sleeping, Crying
• D. Resting, Crying, Feeding, Playing

Answer: (A)

Infants have six distinct states of arousal that describe how awake and responsive they are, guiding how caregivers interact and feed. Deep Sleep is the most restorative phase: the baby is still, breathing is regular, and quick arousal is possible but not easy. Light Sleep, or active sleep in some descriptions, involves lighter drift with more movement and occasional eye activity; the baby may be easier to wake but remains asleep. Drowsiness is a transition between sleep and wakefulness, with heavy eyelids, sighs or yawns, and a small amount of responsiveness to touch or voice. Quiet Alert is when the baby is calm, attentive, and focused on faces or sounds, often with stable breathing and minimal body movement—an ideal time for feeding and bonding. Active Alert features more movement and exploration of the surroundings; the baby is highly responsive, visually scanning the environment, and may coo or vocalize. Crying is the distinct distress state where the baby is upset, more vocal and difficult to console, signaling immediate caregiver soothing is needed.

These six states help practitioners teach parents how to read a newborn’s cues and respond appropriately. Other lists mix in feeding or playing as separate states or omit some arousal levels, which doesn’t reflect how newborn arousal actually presents.