How to get an overtired baby to sleep: Signs of an overtired child

Trying to can feel like a balancing act. You may think your little one is exhausted but they’re fighting sleep. So are they fussing because they aren’t actually tired yet? Or are they too tired already? Although it sounds counterintuitive, overtired babies generally have a harder time falling and staying asleep (it’s confusing, we know). If your little one crosses over into the “too tired” zone, here’s how to get them through it and help prevent it next time. 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

Signs your baby is overtired

Babies can’t tell parents exactly what they want or need (unfortunately!). However, they may give caregivers hints by displaying baby sleep cues. These signs often indicate a baby’s level of exhaustion: when they’re getting tired — or have reached the overtired zone. 

Every baby is different and so are the specific sleep cues they show. However, when your little one is getting tired, you may notice yawning, a glazed expression, avoiding eye contact, reduced responsiveness, red eyebrows, and slowing in activity. As they reach the overtired stage, your baby’s sleepy cues may subtly change. Common overtired signs include:

• Fussiness

• Crying and upset

• Arching away from parent or caregiver

• Difficulty settling, irritability

• Rubbing eyes

Learning your baby’s individual sleep cues usually makes it easier to recognize them sooner. Overtired babies have a harder time falling and staying asleep, so promptly responding to their cues (when possible) and offering sleep when they’re tired — but before they’re officially overtired — can help little ones get better sleep. However, keep in mind that sleepy cues are often fleeting and easy to miss. In addition to looking for sleepy cues, we also recommend using age-appropriate to gauge when your baby may be ready for sleep again. For example, newborns can often comfortably stay awake for 30 - 90 minutes before being ready to snooze again while 5 month olds usually have wake windows that are 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Typically 12 month olds can stay awake 3 - 4 hours at a time.

Causes of overtiredness

Sleep is mainly guided by two factors []: homeostatic sleep pressure and the circadian sleep-wake rhythm. Overtiredness happens when a baby has been awake too long, causing sleep pressure to build up and making them overly fatigued. There are many reasons why your little one may be overtired. Some possible causes include:

• Irregular sleep schedules

• Insufficient daytime sleep (skipped or short naps)

• Disrupted night sleep

• Early wakings

• Mismatched bedtime

• Wake windows are too long (staying awake too long between naps)

• Sickness

Why do overtired babies tend to cry?

It’s no secret that overtired children tend to be fussy. Our team of experienced sleep consultants has consistently observed that overtired children have a harder time settling down and staying asleep. And at some point, you’ll likely find yourself wondering why your clearly overtired infant is crying and . When a baby stays awake too long, it’s not that they’re trying to be difficult; rather, evidence suggests that they’re struggling against a biological response. 

Research [] supports that babies with later bedtimes have higher cortisol levels which makes it harder for them to relax and drift off to sleep. This heightened alertness means that, despite being clearly exhausted, they may resist sleep or wake more frequently. Understanding this natural response can help you approach these challenging moments with empathy and patience. Your little one isn’t trying to be difficult or deliberately put up a fight. They’re struggling because it’s biologically harder for exhausted babies to sleep. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic [], the body releases cortisol as well as “fight or flight” hormones, like adrenaline, to help keep you on high alert. This may make it physically harder for to settle or relax enough to fall asleep in the short term. Your baby will eventually sleep...it just may be a little harder to soothe them this time. 

How to get an overtired baby to sleep?

Create a calm environment

To help settle your overtired infant, aim to create an environment that’s peaceful and conducive to sleep. Try keeping their sleep space cool, dimming the lights, and getting away from any background noises that can add pressure to an already overtired and possibly overstimulated baby. Most little ones sleep better in cool, dark, and quiet rooms. Although newborns can often fall asleep wherever they are — no matter the amount of noise or bright lights — as babies age, it usually becomes harder for them to fall asleep in stimulating environments, especially when they’re overtired.

Try swaddling newborns

aren’t just for warmth or a safe sleep alternative to blankets. Swaddling also creates a womb-like environment for young babies that can bring a sense of calm, security, and reassurance. But remember, if your newborn shows signs of rolling, it’s time for them to .

Play white noise 

White noise also helps babies feel like they are back in the womb, where they were used to a constant muffled hum from the outside world. It also helps that may disturb sleep as well as provide a strong cue that it’s time to wind down when played consistently at sleep times.

Use a pacifier 

Pacifiers can be a helpful tool for fussy or overtired babies. For some little ones, the rhythmic sucking brings a sense of calm and helps soothe them. 

Keep them close — and in motion

Whether you babywear or hold your tired baby, your warmth and presence can be a huge comfort to them. Try walking, rhythmic shushing and swaying, or cuddling them — and no, you’re not starting bad habits. It’s OK to do whatever you can to get your overtired baby settled to avoid them becoming further overtired. 

Take a break

If you’ve been trying to settle your overtired baby for a while and they’re still resisting, try taking a break. Taking a 15-minute breather and then trying again is often helpful. Sometimes babies need a reset too! 

Teach independent sleeping skills

Once your baby is past the newborn phase, consider encouraging . Babies who can self-soothe typically fall asleep easier, whether overtired or not. Independent sleep skills also help infants fall back to sleep more efficiently, allowing for consolidated, quality sleep [].

7 tips for preventing overtiredness in babies

Tip #1: Look for sleep cues

Sleepy signs may help you determine if your little one is getting tired. Responding to these  signals can help you offer your child sleep at optimal times, before they cross into overtired territory and become fussy and harder to settle.  Although every baby is different, sleepy cues may include:

• Slowing in activity or interest levels and drowsiness

• Glazed expression

• Yawning

• Reduced responsiveness

• Droopy eyelids or red eyebrows

• Glassy-eyed 

• Avoiding eye contact or staring into space

Tip #2: Prioritize naps 

With busy schedules, it can be hard to always fit optimal naps in. But try encouraging consistent daytime sleep when possible (we get it, life happens and if your baby naps better at home than on the go, it isn’t always easy). But babies who struggle to fall asleep or skip a nap entirely, miss out on getting that much-needed daytime rest. One bad nap can end up having a knock-on effect on other naps and if they don’t get sufficient daytime sleep, it can also impact night sleep. 

Tip #3: Monitor wake windows

As you look for your baby’s sleep cues, keep an eye on the amount of awake time between their sleep periods (i.e., ). For each age group, there tends to be an average range of time that most babies can comfortably stay awake. 

Timing is key to preventing overtiredness. If your baby stays awake too long between naps, they may be fussier, fight falling asleep, or have trouble staying asleep. If your baby is nearing the end of their wake window, it’s a good time to help them settle for sleep. For example, if your newborn’s wake window is 1 - 2 hours and they’ve been awake for 1 hour and 45 minutes, aim to have them asleep by the 2-hour mark. 

The Huckleberry SweetSpot® tool can help you manage wake windows and help predict when your baby is ready for a nap.

Tip #4: Maintain an age-appropriate sleep schedule

Don’t feel pressure to establish a set sleep schedule if you have a baby under 6 months of age. Babies under 6 months old aren’t typically developmentally ready for a true sleep schedule just yet. Keeping track of and during this phase can help you determine when it’s time for your little one to sleep again.

Once your baby transitions to a 2-nap schedule (usually by 8 - 9 months), it’s typically easier to follow a predictable clock based schedule. At this age, getting infants on an can help improve the quality and length of their sleep since both over- and under-tiredness can lead to shortened naps and can prevent children from getting the rest they need. Keep in mind as your little one grows, their sleep needs will change. The  number of naps per day, overall daytime sleep total, and optimal bedtime will shift as they’re able to stay awake longer.

Tip #5: Create a consistent bedtime routine

For babies over 8 weeks, establishing a with the same activities (like diaper change, sleep sack, and cuddle) before bed can help them transition from playtime to sleep time. The pre-sleep ritual doesn’t have to be complicated, however, aim to make it consistent with the same activities, in the same order, each time. Following these predictable steps before bed builds up your baby’s understanding of what is about to happen next, and thus prepares them for sleep. Start your baby’s nap or bedtime routine when you notice sleepy cues (or when they’re nearing the end of their typical wake window) to help prepare them for sleep before they become overtired.

Tip #6: Follow an on-demand feeding schedule

Hungry tummies make it harder for newborns to fall and stay asleep. We recommend feeding your little one when they show hunger cues throughout the day. Feeding your baby on demand helps them get in enough calories during the day to stay full for . With fewer night wakings due to hunger, little ones can hopefully get better, more restful sleep and avoid being overtired the next day. 

Tip #7: Remember, overtiredness happens

It's challenging to navigate baby sleep — and all the changes that come with it. Overtiredness happens and that’s OK. What helped your baby sleep one day may not prevent overtiredness the next. But when you can, aim to establish healthy sleep habits. Laying a solid foundation can make it easier for kiddos to sleep and adjust when there are changes (i.e., sleeping in the crib instead of on you or). With smoother transitions, there’s usually less time spent resisting sleep and more time getting that much-needed rest.

When to seek professional help

If your kiddo's overtiredness or seems to be linked to pain or sickness, check in with their pediatrician. Keep track of other signs of sickness that may include:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea (loose or bloody stools as well)

• Not eating

• Not alert as usual

You may also want to consult your child’s healthcare professional if your little one frequently has difficulties being consoled [] or if you ever have concerns about their breathing. 

If helping your child get the sleep they need feels out of reach or overwhelming, we've got you. The free app helps you track daily activities with your baby, and we offer personalized, step-by-step Sleep Plans through an optional Premium membership.

Takeaway

• Contrary to what your aunt told you about keeping the baby up for hours so they sleep better later, overtired little ones generally have a much harder time falling and staying asleep than children who are sufficiently rested. It's not unusual for an overtired infant to fight sleep. When babies are overtired, fatigue-fighting hormones kick in, making it more challenging to fall and stay asleep.

• Babies often exhibit sleep cues that indicate how tired they are. Although there’s variation among babies, overtired baby signs include fussiness, crying, difficulty settling, irritability, rubbing eyes, clinginess, arching away from parent or caregiver, and eye rubbing.

• There are many reasons why a baby may be overtired. However, staying awake too long in between sleep periods is the most common. 

• Since overtired babies are more likely to cry and have difficulty settling, you can try different strategies to help get them to sleep. These include creating a calm environment, swaddling newborns, playing white noise, giving them a massage, holding them, and offering a pacifier.

• To help prevent overtiredness, parents can try looking for sleep cues, prioritizing naps, monitoring wake windows, maintaining an age-appropriate sleep schedule, creating a consistent sleep routine, and following an on-demand feeding schedule. 

• Check in with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about their overtiredness, fussiness, or sleep difficulties.