It's important to remember that the occasional overstimulation has no long-term effect, but constant overstimulation that puts a baby under the ongoing pressure of intense stimulation can have an impact on his physical, cognitive and emotional development.
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.
Late signs of fatigue
Crying is a late sign of fatigue. The “I'm tired” cry often has a cough-like sound in it. It may sound a bit like this: “wah, wah, WAH – cough – WAH – cough – WAAAAAAH!” Late signs also include furiously rubbing the face/eyes/noise.
For the cry-it-out method, you let your baby cry until they fall asleep, and rest assured they will. Some babies may protest for 25 minutes, others 65 minutes, and some even longer. It's important not to put a time limit on it (that's a different sleep-training method).
One of the reasons why overstimulation in babies happens is because life itself is stimulating. For a baby, everything is a new experience. By the end of the day, it can cause a baby to be overstimulated and overtired.
Some of the most common causes of sensory overload include: Exposure to bright lights. Bright, fluorescent, or flashing lights are common triggers for many sensitive people. Particularly if these lights are accompanied by loud music or large crowds of people.
Two types of medications are typically used to treat sensory overstimulation: gabapentin and/or benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam. My doctor says that first generation antihistamines (the ones that make you drowsy) can also be helpful.
Being constantly needed, touched, and hearing overlapping sounds all while trying to run a household and complete mental tasks is very overwhelming. Feeling irritable because of these things is not a sign you are a bad mom, it is a sign that you are experiencing overstimulation as a mom…
What is Overstimulation? Overstimulation (OS) occurs when there is “too much” of some external stimulus or stimuli for a person's brain to process and integrate effectively. This leads to an unpleasant sensation of being flooded and an impulse to escape the stimulus – or, failing that, to cry or scream or thrash about.
What is a sensory meltdown? Sensory meltdowns are what I consider to be extreme temper tantrums that have a sensory trigger to them. These typically involve extreme aggressive behaviors (head banging, hand biting, scratching or pushing others), and require a lot of assistance to recover.
Overstimulation is what happens when there's too much sensory input for your brain to handle. It can make you feel overwhelmed, irritable, and uncomfortable.
Cries from Boredom or Overstimulation
Sounds Like: Usually not as loud as other cries, and often staccato. Boredom can easily transition to laughter; overstimulation can escalate to shrieking. Other clues: An overstimulated baby might turn their head away from you or other stimuli. They may also bat angrily at objects.
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.
All newborns cry and get fussy sometimes. It's normal for a baby to cry for 2–3 hours a day for the first 6 weeks. During the first 3 months of life, they cry more than at any other time.