Let them get their sleep so they can continue having enough energy to feed well. Don't push them past their awake window just because you want to show them off. Some babies have easy enough temperaments that they will still be able to get to sleep even though they're getting overtired.
Start with a few recovery sleeps.
Normally only allow him to sleep 2 hours max for a nap during the day (if he is napping more than once per day). However, if we are recovering from sleep debt, I usually allow him to sleep for 3-4 hours if he so desires.
Put baby skin to skin to smell the breast. For the first few days you may need to wake them to feed if they are still sleeping by 3 hours from the last day feeding and 4 hours at night. If baby still won't eat, allow baby to sleep another hour and try again to wake and feed them.
Don't worry, baby will ask to be fed as usual as soon as his stomach feels empty again. Your baby may be constipated and appear less hungry than usual, however once this passes everything will go back to normal. Or it may just be that your baby was enjoying the sleep and took longer to wake up.
As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often and have longer stretches between feedings. Newborn babies who are getting formula will likely take about 2–3 ounces every 2–4 hours. Newborns should not go more than about 4–5 hours without feeding.
Get your baby outside and in the sun (make sure they're well protected, of course). Natural light helps reset their internal clock. If you can't get outside, place your baby's crib or sleeper near a window that gets steady, bright light. Avoid sleep-inducing activities, if at all possible, during the day.
When your baby becomes overtired, their stress response system goes into high gear, triggering cortisol and adrenaline to flood into their little bodies. Cortisol helps to regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle; adrenaline is the fight-or-flight agent.
Babies also need a lot of sleep—most babies need several naps a day, and need to sleep about 12 hours a night or more. Overtired babies tend to cry and whimper. If they are very tired, they will likely cry so hard it can be hard to relax them and get them to sleep.
Late signs 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. 40-60 minutes, or awake the duration of their last nap.
Signs of An Overtired Baby
Baby will yawn, hiccup, or sneeze often. She will fuss and whimper. Eventually, the fussing may spiral into full-blown inconsolable crying. Baby will become clingy with mom or dad, or with a caregiver, making it impossible to put her down for sleep.
Your young child is lethargic if she stares into space or won't smile. She won't play at all or hardly responds to you. Your child is too weak to cry or hard to wake up. These are serious symptoms.
Babies fight sleep for a variety of reasons the seven most common being separation anxiety, overtiredness, overstimulation, teething, hitting a milestone, traveling and discomfort or illness.
While it may sound counterintuitive, an overtired baby may have a harder time falling asleep and also, staying asleep. 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.
For an overtired child, however, the brief wake-up in-between each sleep cycle is going to feel much more significant than just a toss or turn in the night. 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.
Sleeping through the night is usually defined as sleeping six to eight straight hours overnight. But remember, that's only a fraction of the total 10 to 12 hours (or more) of sleep babies generally need at night, depending on age and stage, in addition to daytime naps.
When baby fights sleep, it can look all sorts of ways. Most commonly it's exactly what it sounds like- a fight. There might be screaming, crying, squirming out of your arms or fighting at the breast or bottle, and maybe even some tears out of you! Naps and bedtimes don't have to be this way.
Newborns will wake up and want to be fed about every three to four hours at first. Do not let your newborn sleep longer than five hours at a time in the first five to six weeks.
Here are the most commonly believed causes of infant colic:
Overstimulated or Overtired Newborn. Immature Digestive System/Gas Pain. Food Allergies or Sensitivities. Infant Reflux Pain.
Your baby is inconsolable. If your baby is younger than 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row, it's time to see a doctor. If the level of crying sounds like hysteria, and you would describe it as inconsolable with no times of stopping, then perhaps it's time to go to the ER.
Babies and children can get overstimulated when they're around too much noise or activity. Overstimulated babies and children might cry or get cranky. Toddlers might have tantrums. Help children deal with overstimulation by reducing noise and activity or setting up a quiet activity.
Most babies will have a period of increased fussiness starting at around 2 weeks of age and usually peaking between 6-8 weeks of age. Although, this is a normal developmental stage for infants it can be very stressful for parents and caregivers.
Babies often prefer their primary caregiver
Most babies naturally prefer the parent who's their primary caregiver, the person they count on to meet their most basic and essential needs. This is especially true after 6 months when separation anxiety starts to set in.