1) yes, it's normal, but not REM. When you first fall asleep at night, you aren't going into REM, it's actually just a minor hypnic jerk, your body trying to position itself to get comfortable.

2) yes, the body does what it needs to work at maximum efficiency. Do you snore? It might be your body clearing your airway.

3) a blindfold Lots of times when I WILD, I use a blindfold to stop that from happening.