You’ve probably heard someone say, “I slept like a baby,” often to describe a deep, undisturbed sleep. But, as any parent will tell you, babies are notorious for waking up at odd hours, crying for attention or feeding. So where does this idiom come from, and what does it really mean?
The phrase "sleeping like a baby" is a curious one. While it might seem contradictory, the idiom evokes the image of an infant sleeping peacefully, without worries or cares. The idea here isn’t about how long the baby sleeps but the quality of the sleep when they “are” asleep—completely relaxed, untroubled, and innocent. The phrase likely gained popularity because of the common association between infancy and serenity, despite the occasional wakeful nights!
Interestingly, idioms about sleep are found in many cultures, but the notion of sleeping like a baby appears to have solidified in Western usage by the mid-20th century. The phrase taps into a universal human experience—parents may witness moments where babies look angelic while they sleep, inspiring the metaphor.
Though the phrase "sleeping like a baby" is relatively modern, it finds its way into literature, movies, and everyday conversations. For instance, in Stephen King’s “The Shining,” there’s a scene where Wendy tells Jack that Danny is “sleeping like a baby,” after a night of terrifying experiences. The juxtaposition between Danny’s innocent sleep and the ominous setting heightens the tension in the novel.
In pop culture, the phrase is used humorously in the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993), when Robin Williams’ character, after causing a chaotic scene, jokingly tells someone he "slept like a baby," a wink to the audience that his night was anything but peaceful.
Today, we use "sleeping like a baby" in a broader sense to describe any particularly restful sleep, though it might be said with some irony. It’s often used when someone is sleeping deeply, undisturbed by the troubles of the world, echoing the innocence we associate with babies.
But next time someone tells you they "slept like a baby," feel free to ask: "You mean you woke up crying at 2 AM?"
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