Have you experienced a night when your overtired baby keeps waking up? That must have been frustrating. You know they need sleep to regain all the energy that they lost. But they're not getting it because they can't stay asleep. It also does not make sense. You might think that, logically, tiredness would make them very sleepy. So why did the opposite happen?
This article will tell you why. Continue reading to learn more about overtiredness in babies. Learn its effects and find preventative tips.
Signs Your Baby Is Overtired
You first need to ask, "Is my baby really overtired?" The answer will explain their behavior. So, how do you know if they are overtired or not? You should look for these signs:
- Lots of yawning - Babies yawn when they are tired. As you would expect, when they are overtired, they will yawn more frequently.
- Irritability - An overtired baby is very fussy. On top of that, they have low pain tolerance, so they cry very easily. The problem is that they are also difficult to soothe.
- Overactive - Even though they are overtired, they may show signs of overactive-ness. This is the effect of cortisol and adrenaline in their system.
- Sleeping at Wrong Times - Overtired babies sleep at the wrong times, and they wake up easily. They may fall asleep while you are still preparing their food or preparing for their bedtime routine. However, these are short-lived naps. They do not allow your baby to regain energy.
Why Is Your Baby Overtired?
Emotional exhaustion makes babies overtired. As we stay awake, adenosines - a type of protein - build up in our brains. This makes us sleepy. Adenosines will go lower and will eventually disappear when we sleep. The problem is that anxiety, fear, and other emotions can block our ability to sleep. When babies experience this, they become overtired.
Why Does Your Overtired Baby Keep Waking Up?
As mentioned above, an overtired baby will fall asleep, but it is not deep sleep. The chemicals in their brain prevent them from staying asleep. They will wake up easily, making them unable to regain energy. This will then make them more tired, effectively making them more fussy and irritable.
Why Does Your Overtired Baby Tend to Cry?
Your overtired baby will cry a lot because of fussiness. Their emotions may also be overwhelming, causing overstimulation. This makes them more easily irritated. As a result, they tend to cry a lot.
Should You Get Your Overtired Babies to Sleep Earlier Than Usual?
Yes, you should make your baby sleep earlier. If this is a consistent problem, we can view it as a sign that you should adjust your baby's sleep schedule. The current one gets them to the stage where they are overtired. By making their bedtime earlier, you can prevent this from happening.
How To Get An Overtired Baby To Sleep?
There are many things you can do to help your overtired baby fall asleep. That is the good news. This is not an unsolvable problem. Here are some ways to help them.
Create a Relaxing Environment
Overtired babies are irritable, and their emotions overwhelm them. That said, it is wise to create a calm environment. You should dim the lights and reduce the noise in your home. You can also use white noise to help your baby fall asleep. It will cover household noises, plus it mimics womb sounds, which will make your baby comfortable.
The Momcozy Sound Machine lets you play lullabies, white noise, or nature sounds. Furthermore, you can use it as the only light source in the room. It doubles as a lamp with brightness you can adjust using a mobile app.
Physical Touch
Skin-to-skin contact also helps a baby fall asleep. So, we recommend cuddling, patting, and rocking your baby to help them fall asleep. But remember that you should put your baby in their crib before they are fully asleep. This gives them a chance to learn how to fall asleep on their own.
Swaddling
If your baby is a newborn, you can try swaddling. This is the practice of wrapping your baby in blankets to limit movement. Like white noise, it mimics the womb, which will make your baby comfortable. But please remember that you should not swaddle a baby once they can roll while sleeping.
Take a Break
Your baby may get more and more irritable if you force them. So, consider taking a break if they have been refusing sleep for quite a while. After a 15-minute break, try again.
Monitoring
The thing with overtiredness is you don't know if your baby stays asleep or if they will wake up again. That said, you should continuously monitor them until you're certain they will sleep through the night. The Momcozy Smart Baby Monitor can help you with this. It lets you monitor your baby even if they're in a different room. On top of that, this smart camera can determine whether you should be concerned about the movement in the room or not.
The Importance of Sleep for Your Overtired Baby
Sleep is important for an overtired baby because it breaks the overtired cycle. It allows your baby to regain all the energy they lost and reset their system for the next day. Admittedly, helping them fall asleep can be challenging. But as long as you keep supporting them, they will eventually fall asleep, allowing you to take a rest too.
Tips for Preventing Overtiredness in Babies
Here are some tips to prevent overtiredness in babies so you don't have to deal with the problems that come with it.
- Always make sure that your baby's sleeping environment is comfortable and not overstimulating. The lights should be low, and there should be as little noise as possible.
- Put your baby to sleep early in the evening, typically 7:00 - 8:00 pm.
- You should develop a consistent sleep schedule to ensure your baby is getting enough rest through naps. However, please ensure that your baby would not have too much nap time because that will also make it difficult for them to fall asleep at night.
FAQs About Overtired Baby Keeps Waking Up
Here are some more questions about overtired babies that keep waking up at night.
Will an Overtired Baby Eventually Fall Asleep on Their Own?
Eventually, an overtired baby will fall asleep on their own. But that would take too long because overtiredness will really make them fight sleepiness. That said, it is better to help them fall asleep by creating a calm and comforting environment.
How Do You Break an Overtired Baby's Cycle?
The only way to break an overtired baby's cycle is through sleep. The next day, you should adjust their overtired baby's sleep schedule. You can make their bedtime earlier than usual. Also, you may need to add more naps to ensure they are not staying awake for too long. With these, you can break the cycle.
Should You Let an Overtired Baby Catch Up on Sleep?
Yes, you should, and you can do that by making your baby sleep early. You may think that that would only make their wake-up time earlier. But that is not the truth. It will actually let your baby sleep longer, allowing them to catch up to their sleep depth.
Why Does Overtiredness Cause Night Wakings?
Overtiredness causes night wakings because of the chemicals in your baby's brain. These don't allow your baby to stay asleep and make falling asleep more difficult. Creating a sleep-friendly environment is essential to combat these effects.
Conclusion
Does your overtired baby keep waking up? That's because of emotional exhaustion. The presence of certain chemicals in their brains makes it difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
So, what should you do? You should create a sleep-friendly environment for your baby. If they keep resisting sleep, try taking a 15-minute break before trying again. Then, the next day, adjust your baby's sleep schedule. You should make sure to put your baby to bed earlier than usual to break the cycle and prevent a repeat.
