How to Break the Cycle of an Overtired Baby – Help Overtired Babies

A baby who is overtired may have trouble falling asleep and disrupting their sleep patterns. It is essential for their health and general sleep quality that this cycle be broken.

We’ll look at some useful strategies in this article to assist a baby who is overtired in getting a good night’s sleep and developing sound sleeping habits. The warning signs of excessive sleepiness, the value of a regular sleep schedule, and soothing techniques will all be covered. We’ll also discuss typical sleep problems and offer advice on how to set up a sleep-friendly environment.

Peaceful sleep for you and your baby is here; say goodbye to restless nights. Let’s figure out how to stop the cycle of a baby who is overtired.

What Are Signs of An Overtired Baby?

A fussy baby is one of the most blatant indications that a baby is overtired.

Naturally, there are many reasons why babies fuss.

But even at nap or bedtime, babies who are overtired have a tendency to be fussier than usual and are challenged to put to sleep.

Additionally, there are more subdued indications that precede the fussiness. If you fail to notice these, it’s okay!

They can be quite subtle at times, and some babies show them more overtly than others.

The subtle signs of overtiredness can include:

• Zoning out
• Rubbing their eyes
• Clenching their fists
• Starting to fuss or being clingy
• Difficulty with sleep

There are various ways that sleep difficulty can manifest. Short naps, erratic bedtimes, and early morning awakenings may be noticed alone or in combination.

How to Know If Baby is Overtired?

When babies are getting tired or are overtired, they give us a variety of cues. To determine when your baby has had enough and needs to be put down for a nap, watch out for these baby sleep cues.

1. They are past their optimal wake time: Depending on their age, babies can only stay awake for brief intervals. If your baby has been awake for two hours and her wake window is one hour, she is probably exhausted and in sleep deprivation mode.

The best way to avoid becoming overtired in the first place is to be aware of your baby’s wake windows and put her to bed at the ideal time. By doing so, the pressure during sleep is increased without going above a certain point.

2. Zoning out: Your infant might start to turn away from you or fixate on something far away. This is an indication that they are tired and would prefer to sleep rather than play.

3. Baby will start to rub her eyes or face: Some infants can develop red eyebrows by rubbing their eyes or faces. When they are tired, some babies will also tug on their ears.

4. Clenched fists. Some newborns keep their hands closed or clench them. Read More: Should I Wake My Newborn to Feed at Night

5. Clingy: It will be difficult to put the baby down because they will be so attached to their parents or another caregiver.

6. Fussy: Baby is being fussier than usual. If your baby is crying too much or won’t stop, it may be overtired.

7. Short Naps: If the infant wakes up too soon from a nap or right after being put to sleep, she may be overtired. Although it may seem counterproductive, overtired infants frequently take brief naps and wake up wailing after 20 to 30 minutes. Babies who are overtired may find it difficult to fall asleep and move on to the subsequent sleep cycle.

What Happens When Baby is Overtired?

Sleeping becomes extremely difficult for a baby when they are not getting enough sleep. Additionally, they start to act up and can be challenging to calm.

When being fed, an overtired newborn or baby may become distracted, which can lead to poor sleep if they are becoming hungry more frequently than usual.

Why Does An Overtired Baby Fight Sleep?

Infants who don’t get enough sleep fight it, which seems completely counterintuitive.

When your baby is awake for too long, her body will produce increased levels of cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone,” to help her stay awake.

Your baby may struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep as a result of the rise in cortisol levels.

Their body tries to keep them awake as a form of initial compensation.

Due to a surge of hormones that keep them awake, babies often experience a second wind that makes it difficult to settle and go to sleep.

In spite of having been awake for far too long, they may appear to be fully awake.

You’ve probably heard the saying before, and that’s because its true:

Sleep begets sleep.

There isn’t such a thing as a baby who sleeps perfectly every night. However, generally speaking, babies who get enough sleep get more rest than those who don’t.

When a baby doesn’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, it’s simple for them to get caught in a cycle of brief naps, difficult bedtimes, and early mornings, which prolongs the cycle of poor sleep.

How to Help An Overtired Baby Catch Up on Sleep

You might be wondering what to do with that debt if your baby has been caught in the vicious cycle that many babies experience but you are able to finally get them to start sleeping.

Once you’ve established a regular schedule for an overtired baby, they need more sleep. The baby’s need for sleep must be met because failing to do so will only leave you in the same situation as before, and most parents don’t want to go through overtired babies again.

A few of the things you can do to assist your child in making up for lost sleep time are listed below.

1. Early Bedtimes

Although you are aware that your child needs more sleep, most parents are unaware that infants can go to bed much earlier than older children or adults.

If your baby starts to exhibit any signs of sleepiness around five o’clock in the afternoon, it’s acceptable to place them in a room that is completely dark and has blackout drapes or blinds.

2. More Good Naps

More sleep equates to fewer wakeful hours.

It may be necessary to change feeding schedules to account for this increase in daytime sleep, but it will be worthwhile. Decide on a schedule that you’ll follow until your child is a little older and the wake window needs to change.

After that, make another adjustment and keep it. How to sleep train is as follows.

As your child begins to comprehend the routine you have established for them, they will stop resisting sleep and instead fall asleep on their own.

What to Do If Your Baby Becomes Overtired

Now that you are aware that your child is overtired, good! How does one end the cycle?

Your family’s daily routine should be maintained as much as possible. There are a number of things you can do to restore your baby’s sleep, depending on your parenting style.

To get your baby sleeping again, try:

Babywearing – being skin-to-skin or just close to you can be soothing to your baby and help them settle and fall asleep.

Movement – The overtired cycle can be broken by rocking your baby, putting them in an infant swing, carrying them while you walk, pushing them along in a stroller, or taking a drive.

Read More: When Can My Baby Sit in Stroller

White Noise – White noise machines can be calming and useful if you prefer for your baby to fall asleep in their crib. A white noise machine or fan can also be helpful for parents who prefer to share a bed or don’t mind holding their child during nap time. Use a baby sleep app or consider Hatch Rest.

Darkness – You can make sure that your baby’s body receives the cue that it is time to go to sleep by installing blackout shades in the nursery. Our suggested window covering is Blackout EZ. The majority of sleep coaches advise keeping your baby’s sleeping area completely dark. like a complete blackout.

Swaddling – You can swaddle your baby if they haven’t started rolling over yet. Your baby will feel more at ease and sleep better after being swaddled. Use secure swaddling methods at all times.

Prevention + Recognizing the Signs That Your Baby is Sleepy

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. We can help babies avoid the overtired cycle by:

• Learning to identify the signs that they are tired
• Following consistent bedtime and nap routines
• Having a predictable and consistent daily rhythm
• Avoiding overstimulation near nap time and bedtime

Babies who are tired may snore, yawn, fuss, or have clenched fists. When they are tired, you might also notice jerky movements. When a baby is prepared to fall asleep, it may make a particular sound. As soon as you notice that your baby is getting sleepy, it’s time to get them into their crib or other preferred sleeping area.

Babies thrive in a routine environment. Establish a bedtime routine that works for you. A bath, baby massages, story time, cuddles, breastfeeding, or other rituals may be part of your child’s bedtime routine.

A daily routine will help your baby develop a sense of routine and establish their circadian rhythm. They can distinguish between day and night thanks to a biological internal process.

The energy in your home should noticeably change before naps and bedtime. Dim the lights, speak more softly, concentrate on low-intensity activities, and design a relaxing environment.