Why do people say "sleeping like a baby" to describe a good sleep?

Question

Any parent will tell you that babies definitely aren't good at sleeping through the night, so why do people say things like "I slept like a baby" to describe a really good sleep? I'm pretty sure they don't mean "I woke up every hour or so and started yelling"!

Answer 1

Researches into the sleeping pattern of new born babies show that they sleep up to 22 and a half hours,every 24 hours up to the age of 3 months.The duration reduces gradually as the age advances. A person in his nineties may sleep for mere 3 to 4 hours.It is no doubt true that babies do not have any care in the world but the phrase 'sleeping like a baby ' may have some indication of duration of sleep too.

Answer 2

Yes, many babies do get up often, particularly when they wet their diapers or are hungry, but when they do sleep, I have found that their sleep is deep. They are not easily awakened by loud talk or noises which would otherwise disturb a grown human.
This period of deep, undisturbed, care-free sleep is probably what people refer to, when they say 'sleeping like a baby'.

Answer 3

I guess its because babies don't have a care in the world, no worries like we do, so they can fall into a deep sleep quickly without thinking about the trials of everyday life

Answer 4

baby's do sleep good. Sure they wake up a lot on there own, but they can sleep through anything when they want to. They won't wake up during a fire for example.

Answer 5

Baby's are without a care or a worry in the world, till it's feeding time.

Answer 6

i think it means when a baby is in a deep sleep .

Answer 7

i dont kno i never understood that cause babys dont sleep good