Your baby will at times become cranky and overtired. This may be especially so during the ‘silly season’ when life is hot, hectic and exciting and there are lots of festivities to attend. Even if your little one is a good sleeper, sleep can go a little pear shaped when life gets busy and there are so many things to think about and fit in.Three vital steps to helping an overtired, overstimulated baby or toddler.
1. The first thing is to really look for early tired signs.
Yes I know we bang on about it but it really is one of the foundations for good sleep for all of us. I am a seasoned sleep pro and a self-aware adult - and even I feel it! When I am overtired, if I go to bed even half an hour later it takes me longer to go to sleep than when I feel like I am just tired. If I push myself past the point of being comfortably tired too much I lay awake waiting and praying for sleep.
I also notice this when I have had a few late nights in a row. I wake up earlier and earlier in the morning feeling tired and wishing for sleep but my body just has a little trouble with it. It is easily fixed by going to bed earlier when I can. This is why your baby is inexplicably waking at 3am - he or she is just too tired to sleep well. Help them catch up on sleep and then watch carefully for early tired signs to prevent them getting overtired again.
2. Give your little one more opportunities for sleep in the day.
Even little bits of sleep are good- it all adds up. Often parents will debate whether it is worth putting a baby or toddler to bed when they will need to be woken to go out or go home. The answer is yes! Some sleep is better than no sleep!
Remember that overtired babies have a lot to work through before they can wind down and go to sleep.You may have to help your little one with sleep or your efforts at helping may make it worse. Just work out which one works for your baby
3. Get into bed on time in the evening
Making sure you get your little one into bed on time in the evening is a big winner when things are out of whack. This just allows him or her to build the good restorative sleep that we get before midnight. It usually helps chunk on a big lot of catchup sleep relatively easily.
All our teaching with sleep has the aim that your baby will be portable with sleep - able to go to sleep in different environment. There are individual differences and preferences and there certainly are some little ones who really like their own bed for sleep.
As your little one gets older and more inquisitive going to sleep when there is a lot of activity may be harder to get them to sleep. However please don’t just abandon efforts to give your little one a sleep when you are out and you see he or she is tired. Sometimes, with a bit of practice, sleep can happen when you are out and about for even the most inquisitive baby.
And a bonus tip, because it is Christmas after all!
4. Sometimes it pays to retreat for a day or two
Sometimes when all your efforts are not seeming to gain traction, you may need to spend a day or two at home and really catch up on sleep for both of you. It may mean that you choose which events you attend or attend for a shorter time than you would usually. Or it may mean that you offer to host the event so that your baby can sleep in their bed and ask everyone to bring food so that the workload doesn’t fall on you.
Festive times do not mean that everyone has to suffer when little ones find it hard to sleep. With a few of these tweaks it can be enjoyable for everyone. Keep in mind that if you’re feeling overwhelmed or tired your little one certainly will be. Give them all the help you can, follow these three simple steps and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Find out more about how to help your little one when he or she is over tired or cranky at http://insyncwithinfants.com/baby-sleep/
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