Understanding Under Tiredness vs Overtiredness in Baby Sleep
Understanding Under Tiredness vs Over tiredness in Baby Sleep
When it comes to baby sleep, two common challenges often leave parents scratching their heads: under tiredness and over tiredness. But how can you tell the difference between the two?
In this blog, we’ll break down these sleep states, explain how they affect your baby, and share practical tips to help you find the right balance for better sleep.
What Is Under Tiredness?
Let’s start with under tiredness. In an effort to avoid over tiredness, parents sometimes put their baby to sleep too early—before they’ve built up enough sleep pressure.
An under tired baby simply hasn’t been awake long enough to feel ready for sleep. And unlike us parents, who would gladly take a few extra minutes of rest, babies need just the right amount of awake time to settle properly.
Signs your baby might be under tired:
Short naps, often around 30 minutes
Struggling to fall asleep or taking a long time to settle
Waking early from naps but appearing happy and alert
Resisting bedtime or taking longer to settle at night
Frequent night wakings
Split nights (awake and content for over an hour during the night)
Early morning wake-ups
What Is Over tiredness?
Now, imagine this: your baby has been yawning and rubbing their eyes, and it’s clear they’re ready for a nap. You take them to their room, hoping for some downtime yourself, but instead, they seem wired and won’t settle. What just happened? Chances are, your little one has gone beyond being just tired—they’re overtired.
Over tiredness happens when your baby misses their ideal sleep window. When this happens, their body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, making it much harder for them to relax and fall asleep. This is often when you notice a “second wind” of unexpected energy after those earlier sleepy signals.
Common signs of over tiredness include:
Fussiness and irritability
Difficulty settling to sleep
False starts or waking shortly after falling asleep
Short naps, often lasting just 20 minutes
Frequent night wakings
Early morning wake-ups
Waking up upset or unsettled
How to Strike the Right Balance
Finding the sweet spot between under tiredness and over tiredness can feel like a constant juggling act. But with the right strategies, you can make it much easier to keep your baby’s sleep on track.
Here are some tried-and-true tips to help:
Follow an age-appropriate routine that includes wake windows and total daytime sleep needs for your baby’s stage.
Pay attention to your baby’s sleep cues, like yawning, rubbing eyes, or sudden fussiness.
Stay flexible with bedtime to adjust for shorter or missed naps during the day.
Seek support if needed. If finding the right balance feels overwhelming, reach out for help to break the cycle and create a consistent sleep routine.
Navigating baby sleep can be challenging, but with patience and the right tools, you can set your little one up for restful nights and happy days.
Struggling with your baby’s sleep? Let’s create a plan together—reach out today for personalised support!
