Start by implementing a really early bedtime sleep routine, if only to reset your baby's sleep patterns. Limit his wake time even shorter so that he catches up on lost sleep. Hold him if need be, or use baby gear like swings and wraps to get him to nap longer.
They can! It can take a few days to recover depending on how overtired/how much sleep they've lost. But it's not a lost cause and you're not doomed to poor sleep forever. That's why we always say it's worth skipping a nap or staying out late for something like family plans.
That's why it's important to put your baby down tired but awake – when possible! Life happens and sometimes things, like sleep, don't go as planned. Try to use sleep aids like a pacifier, the Dreamland weighted swaddle, sleep sack or blanket, white noise, and eventually your baby will fall asleep.
They may finally fall asleep, but chances are they will only take a short nap and then continue the cycle for the rest of the day. It's always ok to assist your overtired baby with falling asleep. Once they're well rested, you can get back on track with your sleep goals.
Babies also become distressed owing to over tiredness, but unlike adults who become lethargic when overtired, babies and young children become hyperactive. A sleep-deprived baby: receives well below the average amount of sleep for her age (see How much sleep a baby needs);
If your baby hasn't had enough day sleep and was very overtired at bedtime, this can also cause an early morning wake. This is because when a baby gets overtired, their body is flooded with the stress hormone called cortisol, which is similar to adrenaline or caffeine.
When your overtired baby finally does fall asleep, he or she may wake frequently, wake up screaming, and/or wake up early. A vicious cycle is created: as an overtired baby gets less quality sleep, they become more tired, exacerbating the problem.
Bath, Bottle, Bed
Try the “three-Bs” method to soothe your overtired baby. Start by giving your baby a quiet, warm bath. The warm water and gentle massage in the tub will soothe muscles that have tensed by fussing. Generally this will start to calm your baby's crying and prepare her for sleep.
It Affects Sleep Cycles
Some kids might be able to sleep through the night even though they're overtired. But typically what I see, then, is that they end up waking early. The reason for this is because any extra cortisol in their system will compound early in the morning.
They Need a Better Nap Routine
The issue: If your baby isn't sleeping at night, take a look at their daytime sleep, says Dr. Sears. If they don't have a consistent nap schedule and they're sleeping too much, they may not be tired enough to sleep through the night.
Between colic and the cold, conditions for an infant to fall asleep are not always optimal. However, in newborns, proper sleep is essential for their physical and mental growth. The hot water bottle can turn into a very useful accessory to help baby (and parents) get a peaceful night's sleep.
The more overtired your baby is, the less likely they are to settle easily at naps and bedtime. If they're overtired at bedtime, they're also starting off the night on the back foot and you're pretty much guaranteed a have a bad night of restless sleep and possibly an early wake the next morning too.
Screen-time for our youngest children is simply an intense and unnatural sensory experience. Cocomelon, along with many other popular infant/ toddler shows such as Little Baby Bum, Blippi, Ms. Rachel, and Baby Einstein, are so overstimulating that they actually act as a drug, a stimulant.
Offer a pacifier or try to distract the baby with a rattle or toy. Swaddle the baby with a soft blanket. Take the baby for a ride in a stroller or in a car seat in the car. Turn on some music or noise, such as a vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer.
So, if you are seeing your baby wake up at the 30 minute mark, or the 45 minute mark, it's because they are shifting between sleep cycles and briefly moving into a lighter stage of sleep. This is often referred to as the '45 minute intruder'.
Overtiredness can sometimes be the reason behind a 'false start'. You might notice that if your baby doesn't nap as well as normal that they wake shortly after going to bed that night, and can have quite a disturbed night.