Yawning, clinginess, and fussiness are common signs of an overtired baby. Nearly 14 to 15 hours of sleep is needed for babies over six months during the day (1). A baby can become overtired if they don’t get sufficient sleep. Sometimes overstimulation can also be the reason for it. Usually, the sleep hours reduce or change as the baby grows. This is acute physical fatigue that makes the babies tired and exhausted. This may activate stress responses and further fluctuate their sleep patterns. Parents and caregivers struggle harder to soothe their overtired babies. However, avoiding long waking hours and sending them back to sleep may help some babies overcome this issue. Lullabies and avoiding eye contact also help them fall asleep. Read on to know more about the signs of overtiredness in babies and how to prevent it.
Why Do Babies Get Overtired?
Your little one is exposed to learning about several things during the daytime. To process all of them, they need regular naps. This can tire them, which is why babies are awake only for a short period during the day. This duration, however, extends as the child grows. For example (2):
At 3-6 months, your baby might be tired after being awake for 1½-3 hours.
At 6-12 months, your baby might be tired after 2-3 hours of awake time.
At 12-18 months, your baby might be overtired if they miss the morning and afternoon naps.
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends a daily sleep duration of 14–17 hours/day from birth to three months, and 12–15 hours/day from four to 11 months (3). Most babies sleep according to their body’s requirements unless their sleep and wake cycle gets disturbed. Lack of sleep can trigger the production of more cortisol and adrenaline hormones making, it difficult for the little one to sleep.
Signs Of Tiredness In Babies
Overtiredness is usually the result of the baby not getting enough rest when they are tired. Here are a few common and early cues of tiredness in babies (3) (4).
Sneezing Image: iStock Hiccups Sweaty palms Quick breathing Blueness around the mouth in infants
If you miss these cues, the chances are that your baby might get overtired and display the signs mentioned below.
Difficulty in latching: Overtired newborns have difficulty in latching and may cry when you try to feed them. Older babies may refuse to eat and even spit out food in retaliation.
Fussiness: At this stage, young babies cry hard, whereas older babies may also throw things while crying to get your attention and communicate their discomfort due to lack of sleep.
If you are not able to identify these cues of tiredness or think they are due to a reason other than tiredness, then talk to the pediatrician. But if you think the baby is overtired and needs to rest, you should know about the different ways in which you can calm the baby down.
How To Calm And Put An Overtired Baby To Sleep?
Most babies are ready to sleep soon as they feel tired. Some of them might also fall sleep on their own if they know how to self-soothe (5). But some have difficulty falling asleep unless they are overtired. If the child is overtired but is having trouble falling asleep, here are a few things you can do to help them (6).
Rocking Swaddling Holding Image: iStock Feeding Playing white noise Dimming the lights Playing soothing soft music or songs
These may not necessarily help in soothing older babies or toddlers, who should ideally be taught to self-soothe and to fall sleep on their own. But since the baby is overtired, they may not be able to self-soothe or fall asleep easily. In such cases, here is what you can try:
Rock the little one slowly, until they are drowsy.
Sing a lullaby or feed if it is feed time.
Avoid eye contact. Give them some quiet time.
Take them away from the noisy environment. No TV, no loud conversations, or lights.
Read a book to help settle the baby settle down. Use a soothing voice to calm them faster.
Note that when babies are tired, it is more likely for them to wake up sooner than usual. So be prepared to help your baby go back to sleep again.
Behavior Of A Constantly Tired Baby
If your baby is getting overtired frequently, you might witness some behavioral changes in them. But not all babies experience the same behavioral changes and may not exhibit the same or any cues at all. Hence, it is essential to figure out the specific behavioral changes in your baby and take necessary measures promptly. Some of the common changes are as follows:
Sleeps for less than the average time for their age Image: iStock
Does not sleep, instead gets hyperactive.
Wakes up to the slightest of noise and has short and fewer daytime naps.
Refuses feeds
Sleeps for unusually long hours during nights.
Does not want to get into the highchair, car seat, or crib. Instead, demands continuous patting or rocking.
Shows weird or irritating behavior
Should you find any of these signs, address them immediately, and seek pediatrician’s advice if necessary. Neglecting to check these behaviors could hamper the overall development of the baby. You could also try to prevent this situation by ensuring that the baby gets enough rest in time. We give you a few tips for that next.
5 Tips To Help Prevent Tiredness In Babies
Observe the baby for any behavioral changes and address them soon to prevent overtiredness. The sooner you notice these changes, the better the chances are to prevent overtiredness. Following the above tips will help you to prevent tiredness and reduce the risk of overtiredness in babies. You can also have a customized plan depending upon your baby’s habits in general. In any case, have a plan and stick to it, while making minimal changes to it only if necessary.
Melatonin prepares us to sleep. By stimulating the brain to release more melatonin, you can help your little one fall asleep easily (7).
References:
title: “8 Signs Of Overtired Baby And Tips To Put Them To Sleep” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Donna Davila”
Yawning, clinginess, and fussiness are common signs of an overtired baby. Nearly 14 to 15 hours of sleep is needed for babies over six months during the day (1). A baby can become overtired if they don’t get sufficient sleep. Sometimes overstimulation can also be the reason for it. Usually, the sleep hours reduce or change as the baby grows. This is acute physical fatigue that makes the babies tired and exhausted. This may activate stress responses and further fluctuate their sleep patterns. Parents and caregivers struggle harder to soothe their overtired babies. However, avoiding long waking hours and sending them back to sleep may help some babies overcome this issue. Lullabies and avoiding eye contact also help them fall asleep. Read on to know more about the signs of overtiredness in babies and how to prevent it.
Why Do Babies Get Overtired?
Your little one is exposed to learning about several things during the daytime. To process all of them, they need regular naps. This can tire them, which is why babies are awake only for a short period during the day. This duration, however, extends as the child grows. For example (2):
At 3-6 months, your baby might be tired after being awake for 1½-3 hours.
At 6-12 months, your baby might be tired after 2-3 hours of awake time.
At 12-18 months, your baby might be overtired if they miss the morning and afternoon naps.
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends a daily sleep duration of 14–17 hours/day from birth to three months, and 12–15 hours/day from four to 11 months (3). Most babies sleep according to their body’s requirements unless their sleep and wake cycle gets disturbed. Lack of sleep can trigger the production of more cortisol and adrenaline hormones making, it difficult for the little one to sleep.
Signs Of Tiredness In Babies
Overtiredness is usually the result of the baby not getting enough rest when they are tired. Here are a few common and early cues of tiredness in babies (3) (4).
Sneezing Image: iStock Hiccups Sweaty palms Quick breathing Blueness around the mouth in infants
If you miss these cues, the chances are that your baby might get overtired and display the signs mentioned below.
Difficulty in latching: Overtired newborns have difficulty in latching and may cry when you try to feed them. Older babies may refuse to eat and even spit out food in retaliation.
Fussiness: At this stage, young babies cry hard, whereas older babies may also throw things while crying to get your attention and communicate their discomfort due to lack of sleep.
If you are not able to identify these cues of tiredness or think they are due to a reason other than tiredness, then talk to the pediatrician. But if you think the baby is overtired and needs to rest, you should know about the different ways in which you can calm the baby down.
How To Calm And Put An Overtired Baby To Sleep?
Most babies are ready to sleep soon as they feel tired. Some of them might also fall sleep on their own if they know how to self-soothe (5). But some have difficulty falling asleep unless they are overtired. If the child is overtired but is having trouble falling asleep, here are a few things you can do to help them (6).
Rocking Swaddling Holding Image: iStock Feeding Playing white noise Dimming the lights Playing soothing soft music or songs
These may not necessarily help in soothing older babies or toddlers, who should ideally be taught to self-soothe and to fall sleep on their own. But since the baby is overtired, they may not be able to self-soothe or fall asleep easily. In such cases, here is what you can try:
Rock the little one slowly, until they are drowsy.
Sing a lullaby or feed if it is feed time.
Avoid eye contact. Give them some quiet time.
Take them away from the noisy environment. No TV, no loud conversations, or lights.
Read a book to help settle the baby settle down. Use a soothing voice to calm them faster.
Note that when babies are tired, it is more likely for them to wake up sooner than usual. So be prepared to help your baby go back to sleep again.
Behavior Of A Constantly Tired Baby
If your baby is getting overtired frequently, you might witness some behavioral changes in them. But not all babies experience the same behavioral changes and may not exhibit the same or any cues at all. Hence, it is essential to figure out the specific behavioral changes in your baby and take necessary measures promptly. Some of the common changes are as follows:
Sleeps for less than the average time for their age Image: iStock
Does not sleep, instead gets hyperactive.
Wakes up to the slightest of noise and has short and fewer daytime naps.
Refuses feeds
Sleeps for unusually long hours during nights.
Does not want to get into the highchair, car seat, or crib. Instead, demands continuous patting or rocking.
Shows weird or irritating behavior
Should you find any of these signs, address them immediately, and seek pediatrician’s advice if necessary. Neglecting to check these behaviors could hamper the overall development of the baby. You could also try to prevent this situation by ensuring that the baby gets enough rest in time. We give you a few tips for that next.
5 Tips To Help Prevent Tiredness In Babies
Observe the baby for any behavioral changes and address them soon to prevent overtiredness. The sooner you notice these changes, the better the chances are to prevent overtiredness. Following the above tips will help you to prevent tiredness and reduce the risk of overtiredness in babies. You can also have a customized plan depending upon your baby’s habits in general. In any case, have a plan and stick to it, while making minimal changes to it only if necessary.
Melatonin prepares us to sleep. By stimulating the brain to release more melatonin, you can help your little one fall asleep easily (7).
