How to help an overtired baby sleep? You can do a few things to help your baby sleep better. These include using white noise machines and soothing lullabies, feeding them a healthy diet, and going slow to coax her into slumber.
It is best to create a routine for your baby. This will help them understand when it is time to sleep and when they need to feed or play. Never wake a baby up when they are asleep. This will confuse them and keep them awake for longer.
When it comes to feeding, it is best to feed your baby when hungry and make them wait until they are thirsty. If you dislike cutting out all nighttime feedings, limit them to one or two.
When it comes to bathing time, choose gentle soaps and lotions free of fragrances and harsh chemicals. Infants have sensitive skin, and this will help prevent rashes. Not only is a messy room messier for a baby, but it also encourages sleep.
What does it mean when we say baby is “overtired?”
Overtired means that a baby has gotten too much sleep, much more than they should. Lack of sleep can cause a baby to become irritable, cranky, and not want to play or be held.
At first, you may think that your baby is just being fussy, but if you notice that she has been acting this way for no reason and continues to do so at every opportunity during the day, then this could be an indication that she is overtired.
Why would a baby become overtired?
The most common reasons for a baby being overtired are:
1. Not letting your baby sleep when they tell you they are tired, i.e., refusing to give in to your baby’s cries and rocking them to sleep.
2. Do Not putting your baby down to sleep on their back because you do not want them to choke during the night, so you hold them while they fall asleep.
3. Being kept up too late by visitors or just too long by yourself (parents).
4. Having too many things in the way of their crib or playpen.
5. Lack of routine.
6. Lack of fresh air and sunlight and too much exposure to fluorescent lights or other artificial light sources can keep them awake.
7. Playing with your baby too long before bedtime.
What are signs baby has become overtired?
1. Crying at bedtime and not wanting to sleep.
2. Crying all night will make your baby tired and irritable during the day.
3. Crying at every opportunity they get during the day and not being interested in activities or food.
4. Refusing to take a nap or naps when you put them down, i.e., they wake up the minute you put them down, no matter how tired they are. They can even do this after a whole night of sleep.
5. Being fussy at eating and not wanting to be held when you try to feed them.
6. Overly tired pitching fits when it’s time for bed (this is usually around bedtime or nap time).
7. Not wanting to play and acting very cranky is a sure sign that your baby has become overtired.
How to help an overtired baby sleep? Best 11 Ways
Here are the best 11 ways to help an overtired baby sleep:
1. bath the baby before bedtime and put on a fresh diaper. This will help them feel more comfortable in their crib and ready to sleep.
2. Have your baby use a white noise machine next to the crib or have them wear a sleep shade. These can be found at most department stores. These can help your baby relax and drift off to sleep by blocking out the noises from the rest of the house, so they feel calmer (turn on soft music to help).
3. Use a pacifier to help your baby drift off to sleep, calming them down and making them feel more secure.
4. Feed your baby while they are asleep, it may take some time to learn how to do this without waking them up, but you can start by feeding them before they go down for the night. Do not hold or rock them while feeding, this will not help your baby fall asleep and only encourage the idea that they need to be held or rocked to fall asleep.
5. Be sure to feed your baby on a schedule so that they know when it is time for a nap and eating.
6. If you spend the night with your baby and are unsure how much sleep they need, do not stay up for more than 3 hours before putting them down for rest; go on less than 2 hours.
7. Always put your baby to sleep on their back using a firm mattress, put soft pillows on either side of the crib and avoid bumpers, blankets, and toys in the crib.
8. Make sure your baby has plenty to drink during the day and at bedtime but do not overfill them. This will not help them sleep better at night but instead make them wake up more often during the night to pee.
9. Give your baby a bath using gentle soaps and lotions free of fragrances, harsh chemicals, and artificial dyes.
10. Make sure your home is very clean with no clutter. This will help your baby fall asleep faster and give them a more restful sleep.
11. Place a small soft blanket or comforter on the sheets in their crib (do not cover the entire mattress). This will help keep their legs warm and make them feel more secure.
What can parents do to avoid the baby becoming overtired?
Here are the best ways for parents to prevent overtired babies from becoming cranky and irritable during the day by teaching them how to fall asleep on their own:
◉ Always put your baby down for sleep on its back. This will help them fall asleep faster and stay asleep.
◉ Make sure your baby has plenty of play time before bedtime, then bathe them at bedtime.
◉ Try to put your baby down to sleep right after they have eaten. This will help them feel satisfied and get to sleep faster.
◉ Do not let people keep you up in the late hours. Put your baby to bed at a reasonable time and then go to bed too.
◉ Try not to play with your baby before bedtime. Make it part of their routine that when it is time for bed, all that happens (you don’t feed them or play with them).
How to prevent your baby from getting overtired?
Take your baby’s temperature every night before bedtime; this will tell you if they are getting too hot or not getting enough sleep. Remove or adjust blankets and clothing if they are getting too hot. If they aren’t getting enough sleep, try to keep their room cooler at night and ensure all lights are turned off.
What the professionals say about babies becoming overtired?
Overtired babies can often be helped by better care and attention to their sleep requirements of infants. Good habits can be established by recognizing when a baby is tired and putting them down for natural naps or bedtime while they are still awake or drowsy.
How to get an overtired baby to sleep?
Getting an overtired baby to sleep is a difficult task. You can try some of the following suggestions:
◉ Do not feed your child while awake and in their room; this will only keep them up.
◉ Make sure your baby’s bedding is clean and smooth; remove any toys, blankets/pillows that may be in the way of sleep.
◉ Give your baby plenty of time to fall asleep during the day, do not rush things or allow anyone to keep you up.
◉ If you are unable to get your baby to go down for a nap, then don’t worry; try again later or give them a small bottle (at this age, they should be drinking at least 18 ounces of milk per day and be drinking 6-8 ounces of water) and give them plenty of time to digest their meal before trying again.
◉ Be sure that you offer your baby a drink before bedtime and that it is free of excess sugar or milk (try 2 oz of breast milk).
◉ Put your baby to sleep on their back. Use a firm mattress so they are not squirming (also, make sure there are no pillows, blankets, or other objects between your baby and the bed).
How does an overtired baby’s cry sound?
An overtired baby can often cry as they toss and turn in their sleep. This crying will usually be long and loud and can last for hours. They may also make other noises such as humming, squealing, or making animal sounds (such as a pig snort or dolphin sound).
Conclusion
As you can see, babies can get overtired for various reasons, and there are plenty of things you can do to encourage your baby to sleep peacefully. As long as you learn why your baby is overtired and take appropriate measures, there should be no reason for you not to get a restful and peaceful night’s sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be put to bed at least 1-2 hours before they fall asleep.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.
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FAQs
Are there things parents might do that can make sleep more difficult?
Yes, this is one of the many things that can make it a little bit more difficult to sleep when you have a baby. If you don’t establish good sleeping habits from the beginning, you will have to work harder to get your child to sleep.
Will an overtired baby eventually sleep?
Yes, this is normally what happens. Overtired babies will eventually sleep, but they can also become very fussy as they get tired and irritable. You can do many things to help with this problem and make your baby feel more secure and relaxed.
Should I wake an overtired baby to feed?
Of course, you shouldn’t wake an overtired baby to feed. Let them fall asleep on their own. You will have to be sure they are fed often and have enough milk to sleep through the night.
Are overtired babies normal?
Yes, overtiredness is very common in babies and even some adults. Overtiredness can trigger other problems with sleep, so parents must look for signs of excess tiredness in their children and take the appropriate steps to help them sleep better.
How to get an overtired baby to sleep 6 weeks?
If your baby is overtired at 6 weeks, then there are some things you can do to help them sleep. Pretend to take a nap with them and then gently put them down. Make sure they take their bottle and are fed before they fall asleep. If they don’t fall asleep during the day, try to go to bed earlier and wake up before the sun.
How do you get an overtired baby to sleep?
If you have an overtired baby, you have to watch when they fall asleep and ensure they get the sleep they need. Make sure you watch the clock and don’t feed or play with them while they are still awake. It would be best to establish good sleep habits early on in your child’s life, as poor sleeping habits can be very hard to break as your child gets older.
Will overtired baby eventually sleep?
Overtired babies will eventually sleep, but it will not be a long and restful sleep. Make sure that your baby has enough time to get the rest they need during the day, and make sure that you don’t keep them up too late. Overtired babies may also wake up in the middle of the night, which can be very exhausting for parents. Establish good sleeping habits early on to ensure that your child has a peaceful sleep as they age.
