Why won’t my baby fall asleep if they’re really tired?
Think back to a time you were exhausted…overtired…and fell into bed…but felt like your mind couldn’t turn off. You had a second wind …adrenaline and cortisol is spiking, making it tricky of fall asleep. Same thing happens to babies when they get overtired!
Signs of OVERTIRED babies include:
★ Crying uncontrollably
★ Flailing arms and legs
★ Fussing
★ Making more jerky body movements
★ Being more easily startled
Begin the nap/bed time routine when you see EARLY SIGNS of being tired (swaddle, shush them, paci, etc). This will help them gently ease into sleep.
EARLY SIGNS of tiredness include:
★ Looking away / looking through you / zoning out
★ Sucking more slowly
★ Redness around the eyes / droopy eyelids / breaking eye contact
About the Author: Kathleen Stern is the founder of Boston Area Doulas and a birth and postpartum doula. She and her team love helping parents find their rhythm and build their confidence with their babies.
📞 (857) 600-1907
✉️ kathleen@bostonareadoulas.com
