Quando a bebê está com sono, ela quer ficar no colo da mãe.

Quando means when.

In this sentence, Quando a bebê está com sono means When the baby is sleepy or Whenever the baby is sleepy.

Here, quando introduces a time clause. In Portuguese, just like in English, this kind of clause often comes before the main idea:

• Quando a bebê está com sono, ela quer ficar no colo da mãe.
• When the baby is sleepy, she wants to be in her mother’s arms.

It can describe:

• a general pattern/habit: Whenever the baby gets sleepy...
• or a specific situation, depending on context.

Portuguese often uses definite articles much more than English does.

So a bebê literally means the baby:

• a = the (feminine singular)
• bebê = baby

In English, we sometimes omit the in certain contexts, but in Portuguese it is very normal to include it.

So:

• a bebê = the baby (female)
• o bebê = the baby (male)

Bebê can be either masculine or feminine depending on the baby’s sex.

So:

• o bebê = a male baby
• a bebê = a female baby

The word bebê itself does not change form, but the article changes:

• o for masculine
• a for feminine

Since the sentence later uses ela (she), we know this is a girl baby, so a bebê is used.

Estar com sono is a very common Portuguese expression meaning to be sleepy or to feel sleepy.

Literally:

• está = is
• com = with
• sono = sleep / sleepiness

So word-for-word it is something like is with sleepiness, but natural English is:

• is sleepy
• feels sleepy

This is a fixed, everyday expression in Portuguese.

Portuguese has two main verbs for to be:

• ser
• estar

Here it is está because sleepiness is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.

So:

• A bebê está com sono. = The baby is sleepy.
  temporary condition
• A bebê é calma. = The baby is calm.
  more like a characteristic

A good rule of thumb is:

• estar = temporary state, condition, situation
• ser = identity, essential trait, classification

Yes, Portuguese could omit ela here, and the sentence would still be grammatical:

• Quando a bebê está com sono, quer ficar no colo da mãe.

Portuguese often drops subject pronouns when the meaning is clear. However, including ela can make the sentence clearer or more natural in context, especially after a longer introductory clause.

So both are possible:

• Quando a bebê está com sono, ela quer...
• Quando a bebê está com sono, quer...

Using ela adds explicit clarity: she wants...

Quer ficar means wants to stay / wants to be / wants to remain, depending on context.

Breakdown:

• quer = wants
• ficar = to stay / to remain / to be

In Portuguese, after verbs like querer (to want), the next verb stays in the infinitive:

• quer dormir = wants to sleep
• quer comer = wants to eat
• quer ficar = wants to stay / wants to be

This works much like English wants to + verb, except Portuguese does not use a separate word for to before the second verb. The infinitive itself does that job.

Ficar no colo da mãe means something like:

• to be in the mother’s arms
• to be held by the mother
• to sit/rest in the mother’s lap or arms

The key expression is no colo.

Colo does not match perfectly with one single English word. It often refers to the space of comfort/support when someone is holding a child against their body, on their lap, or in their arms.

So in this sentence, the most natural meaning is: When the baby is sleepy, she wants to be held by her mother / wants to be in her mother’s arms.

Colo is close to lap, but it can be broader than that.

For babies and small children, colo often suggests:

• being held in someone’s arms
• sitting on someone’s lap
• being cuddled close against the person’s body

So no colo da mãe may be translated as:

• in her mother’s lap
• in her mother’s arms
• being held by her mother

In this baby-related sentence, in her mother’s arms is often the best natural translation.

Because Portuguese usually contracts certain prepositions and articles.

Here:

• em + o = no

So:

• em o colo becomes no colo

This is a standard contraction.

Other common examples:

• em + a = na
• de + o = do
• de + a = da

So in the sentence:

• no colo = in the lap / in the arms

Da is a contraction of:

• de + a = da

So:

• da mãe literally means of the mother

In natural English, we usually say:

• the mother’s
• her mother’s

So:

• no colo da mãe = in the mother’s lap/arms = in her mother’s arms

Portuguese often expresses possession with de:

• o carro do pai = the father’s car
• a mão da bebê = the baby’s hand
• o colo da mãe = the mother’s lap/arms

It could say da sua mãe, but da mãe is very natural when the relationship is obvious from context.

Compare:

• no colo da mãe = in the mother’s arms
• no colo da sua mãe = in her mother’s arms

In many contexts, Portuguese prefers the simpler form when the meaning is clear. Since we are talking about a baby, the mother is obviously the baby’s mother.

Also, seu/sua can sometimes be ambiguous in Portuguese, because it can mean:

• his
• her
• your
• sometimes even their, depending on context

So using da mãe can actually sound clearer and more natural.

It is in the present tense, but it most naturally sounds like a general truth or repeated behavior.

So the meaning is something like:

• When the baby is sleepy, she wants to be in her mother’s arms.
• Whenever the baby gets sleepy, she wants to be held by her mother.

Portuguese present tense often covers:

• what is happening now
• what usually happens
• general facts or patterns

Without more context, this sentence is most likely describing a usual behavior.

The two main verbs are:

• está ← from estar (to be)
• quer ← from querer (to want)

And there is also the infinitive:

• ficar (to stay / to remain / to be)

So the structure is:

• Quando a bebê está com sono
  = When the baby is sleepy

• ela quer ficar no colo da mãe
  = she wants to be in her mother’s arms

This is a good example of how Portuguese uses:

• a conjugated verb for the subject
• followed by an infinitive after querer

Yes, that is possible, but it may sound a little too literal depending on context.

Because colo can mean more than just lap, a more natural English translation is often:

• When the baby is sleepy, she wants to be in her mother’s arms.
• When the baby is sleepy, she wants to be held by her mother.

If the baby is actually sitting on the mother’s lap, then lap works well. But if the idea is cuddling/being held, arms is usually better.