Have you been following the sleep table I gave in my last blog? What’s important to note is the Periods of Awake Time between naps, remember, if you have a newborn, they can only stay awake for about 45-60mins! They’ll be spending most of their time asleep as their little bodies adjust to day and night.
In my last blog, I spoke about recognising tired signs for babies and toddlers, and there’s a fine line between being tired and OVERtired. If you’re good at catching that “sleep window”, your child will probably be tired enough to fall asleep easily, but… if you missed that window… you’ll have to deal with an irritable, cranky and even hyperactive child altogether!
Children and infants who are suffering from overtiredness manifests their symptoms in different ways as compared to us adults, watch out if they start having:
- Frequent night wakings
- Early wake ups
- Broken naps
- Excessive crying or extreme giddiness
- Night terrors
It can also cause behavioural issues such as:
- Meltdowns
- Clinginess
- Refusal to eat
- Hyperactivity
- Temper tantrums
It can be a spiraling cycle and it is no wonder parents with overtired children find it hard to implement a good sleep schedule for their child.
Sharing the 5 tips to help you get back on track if you’ve got an overtired child:
- Know how much sleep your child needs (refer this table)
- Do not skip naps. Having adequate rest during the day is just as important as having a good night’s sleep.
- Have a consistent routine and get your child’s body back to rhythm
- Keep bedtime early and catch up on those lost sleep
- Stay consistent throughout step 1 – 4! Your child should get back on track with some time and patience.
Sleep well and let me know how it goes!