Preventing Overtiredness in Newborns

Overtiredness is a common issue many parents experience with their newborns. Preventing overtiredness during the first handful of months is going to help make getting your baby to sleep much easier. When a baby becomes overtired (especially a newborn) they can get very fussy and have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep.

An overtired baby is going to have a harder time falling asleep. This typically looks like your baby fighting their nap while very upset and clearly tired. Overtired babies can also have shorter naps (usually waking up cranky and tired but having a hard time getting back to sleep). They can also have more frequent night wake ups when they are overtired. 

The trick to preventing overtiredness is to get your baby down for a nap or bed as soon as they are sleepy. It is going to be easiest to get them down when they are sleepy, not tired.

So how do we know when our baby is ready for a nap? Find your baby’s “sweet spot” by looking at a combination of their awake time and their sleepy cues.

Wake windows

A wake window is the amount of time your baby is awake before they go down for a nap or bed. Your baby's wake window includes the time they spend feeding.

Most newborns are only awake for somewhere between 45-90 minutes before naps. The older your baby gets, the longer their awake time will get. For example, a 4 week old may only be awake for 45-60 minutes before needing a nap. A 3 month old may be awake more like 75-90 minutes before needing a nap.

Sleepy Cues

Every baby is different. So rather than only looking at the amount of time your baby has been awake, you want to also look for sleepy cues your baby is showing you. Sleepy cues are signals that your baby is sleepy and it is time to get them ready for a nap.

Common sleepy cues we see in newborns are:

• a calm, peaceful demeanor

• a subtle yawn

• reddish eyelids/eyebrows

• eyes staring off into the distance

• body is still

Many parents mistake tired signals for sleepy cues. Tired signals are signs that your baby should have already been asleep, so you should get them to sleep as soon as possible.

Tired signals can include:

• fussing

• avoiding eye contact

• tugging on ears

• rubbing eyes

• rigid body

Watching your baby’s awake time in combination with their sleepy cues will help you determine when it is time to get them down for a nap.

What if my baby doesn't show sleepy cues?

Some babies don't show obvious sleepy cues and it can be hard to determine when they are tired. Some babies will seem perfectly awake and happy one moment and then seem completely overtired the next moment.

If you have a baby who does not show obvious sleepy cues it can be helpful to experiment with wake windows and watch the clock. When you find a wake window that works for your baby, you can follow the clock when it comes to determining their nap times. You'll know a wake window is working for your baby if you can get them to sleep relatively easily and they can take a decent nap (with your help).

Struggling with newborn sleep? Check out my First Four Months Guide here.