Too much or too little sleep pressure will make your baby overtired or undertired. This can result in crying, fussing, or refusing to sleep altogether. Because your baby can’t speak up, you have to rely on other clues to know the best time to put them to bed.
In this article, we’ll help you understand the differences between an overtired baby and an undertired baby. Then we’ll talk about how to know when your little one is ready for bed and how to help them snooze soundly.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Why your baby may be overtired or undertired
- Signs baby is overtired vs. undertired
- How to know your baby is ready for bed
- How to help your baby sleep
Why your baby may be overtired or undertired
Your little one’s tired-factor has a lot to do with something called sleep pressure. Sleep pressure is that increasing feeling of tiredness that tells the body it’s time for bed. It’s actually caused by the buildup of a natural chemical in the brain called adenosine.
Adenosine builds up quickly in infants, resulting in their need for frequent naps. As babies get older, the chemical builds up more slowly, allowing for longer and longer wake windows.
Basically, an overtired baby has too much adenosine, making it difficult for them to settle. Undertired babies have not accumulated enough of the chemical to get a restful sleep. Your goal as a parent is to figure out what “just right” looks like.
Signs your baby is overtired vs. undertired
Before we get to “just right,” let’s first look at signs your baby may be overtired or undertired.
Signs that your baby is overtired
It can be tougher to spot in an infant, but if you have a toddler, you know what overtired looks like: crankiness, unreasonableness, and sometimes physical clumsiness. Is your toddler tossing toys in frustration or literally walking into walls? They’re overtired.
It’s helpful to know that, in fact, younger babies exhibit the same signs of being overtired (minus walking into walls). They can become unreasonable, too.
Something that interested them just five minutes ago, like a toy or music, now brings frowns, batting away, and crying. That’s a clear cue your little one needs sleep.
The issue is that not all babies give you much of a warning, going from zero to overtired in no time flat. If you’re lucky, though, you have a baby who short-circuits the whole overtired scenario by just…falling asleep wherever he or she is at the time.
But since most babies don’t put themselves to sleep at exactly the right moment, a few signs of overtiredness to look out for include fussiness or crying unrelated to hunger or a dirty diaper, a “second wind” (when your baby seems a bit too active), and easily becoming frustrated.
In addition, if your baby’s taking short naps and then crying or getting agitated when they wake up, it’s likely they’re overtired.
Signs that your baby is undertired
The hardest part of identifying if your baby is undertired (not quite tired enough to go down for a nap) is that its signs can mimic being overtired.
You try to settle them to sleep in what is normally a nap or nighttime sleep window, and they resist, crying when you put them in their crib. If they could talk, you’d know they were saying, “Come on, mom, not yet!”
The problem with trying to compel an undertired baby to go to sleep is that you may well succeed…and then end up with a baby who takes a much shorter nap than usual and wakes up more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed than expected.
And you can be sure you have a classic undertired-baby situation when you confidently whisk your baby off for a nap when you’re sure they’re ready for it, and then spend 45 minutes trying to convince Bright Eyes that, no, it’s actually not playtime anymore.
If you find this happening regularly, it means you have an undertired baby. The best thing you can do is not force sleep but, instead, wait a bit longer before trying again.
Think about it this way: if you tried over several days or weeks to get your baby to sleep at noon and it took until 1 p.m. to finally get them to settle, why not just wait until 1 p.m. next time?
It could just be that, as your little one gets a bit older, they’re better able to remain alert, interested, and engaged and can go longer between naps.
A final point about undertired babies: Pay attention to how much activity and stimulation your baby gets while awake. Perhaps more activity, like daily walks in the fresh air, is warranted to be sure your baby is sufficiently tired.
Just watch that they’re not getting overtired in your efforts to keep them from being undertired.
How to know your baby is ready for bed
Hopefully, now you have an idea of how to tell if your little one is overtired vs. undertired and why they are that way. But how do you know when your baby is ready for bed and their sleep pressure is just right?
Figure out your little one’s sleep schedule and watch for their sleep cues.
Your baby’s sleep schedule
Babies thrive on routine, and that goes for nighttime and naps as well! Pay attention and try to learn your baby’s natural sleep patterns.
Keep in mind that this is usually not based on a certain time (which will also change during daylight savings time) but, rather, a certain number of hours since they woke up. These periods between naps are called wake windows.
Wake windows are shortest when your baby is an infant and get longer as they grow. An infant’s wake window is normally 60 to 90 minutes long. That’s just enough to get a feed, a diaper change, and a little snuggle.
Once your baby is around four months old, their wake window grows to about 1.5 to 2.5 hours long.
That said, age isn’t the only thing that causes a baby’s wake windows to shift and sleep patterns to change. Sleep regressions, illnesses, and dropping a nap can affect sleep too.
Your baby’s sleep cues
To put your baby down at the right time, you’ll need to learn and look for their sleep cues. What are sleep cues? Little signs that your baby is ready for bed.
For example, crying is a late sleep cue. It means your baby is overtired. You want to put them to bed before that!
Every baby is different, but some typical sleep cues that let you know your little one is sleepy and it’s the right time to hit the sack include getting fussy, yawning, and eye-rubbing.
Tired babies may also start moving more slowly, lose interest in things that had been engaging, and stare off into space.
How to help your baby sleep
All of that being said, we know that some days it’s just hard to get your little one to doze off. Here are a few tips and tricks to help your baby fall asleep, stay asleep, and stay safe in their crib every day.
1) Create a comfortable atmosphere in the nursery.
Temperature
Keep the room cool: not hot, but not cold. Somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit should keep your little one comfortable.
To help your baby regulate their body temperature even more, use a breathable mattress! The Wovenaire core of the Newton Crib Mattress is 90% air, allowing for more air circulation under your baby’s back.
Light
Adults and babies alike sleep more soundly in a dark room. Dim the lights for your baby to sleep or hang a blackout curtain over the nursery window.
Noise
Since your baby takes naps and goes to bed when the rest of the world is still busy, a white noise machine will help drown out the clamor from the rest of the house and the street.
Humidity
Using a cool mist humidifier can help make your baby’s room more comfortable and sleep-ready. If your baby’s room is too dry, it will be hard for them to get proper rest.
2) Swaddle your little one.
If you’ve got a newborn on your hands, they’re probably missing the cozy comfort and security of being inside mommy’s tummy. Wrapping them in a swaddle makes them feel safe, soothes them, and calms their startle reflex.
To learn how to swaddle a baby like a pro, read our article here.
Note: for safety reasons, you should stop swaddling your little one around two months old or once they start experimenting with rolling over. At that point, you can transition them to a sleep sack or regular pajamas.
3) Put your baby down sleepy.
Rocking your sweet one until they doze off feels so good! But, for the best sleep habits, don’t put them in their crib sound asleep.
Instead, place them in their crib when they’re sleepy, and let them fall asleep there. This teaches your baby how to go to sleep by themselves, which helps them learn to put themselves back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night.
4) Stick to a bedtime routine.
Sticking to a bedtime routine (and a naptime routine!) will help your baby clue into the fact that it’s time to sleep. Choose what activities you want to include in your sleepytime ritual, and do them in the same order each night.
Your little one’s bedtime routine should suit your family. It can include steps like taking a bath, reading a book, or telling a story. You could also put on some soothing music, sing a song, or give your little one a massage. Don’t forget to leave time for snuggling and a good night kiss!
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you decide to put in your baby’s bedtime routine as long as the routine is soothing, easy, and repeatable. Fifteen minutes should be enough.
5) Promote safe sleep.
While you want sound sleep for your baby, sound sleep that is also safe is the most important! Here are a few tips for safe sleep.
Only let your baby sleep in a sleep-safe space.
Your little one should only be put to bed in a crib, travel crib, or bassinet. Never let your baby sleep in rockers or bouncers, car seats, couches or chairs, high chairs, or other alternative spaces.
If you notice they have fallen asleep in the wrong spot (don’t worry, it happens!), just gently pick them up and place them in their crib.
Choose a firm crib mattress.
When deciding on a crib mattress, be sure to choose one that’s firm and breathable. If your little one rolls onto their stomach during the night, some mattresses, like Newton’s, will help reduce the risk of suffocation.
Newton’s crib mattresses are firm, breathable, and even washable from cover to core for easy clean-up. That means no more mold, bacteria, or allergens!
And if your little one rolls onto their stomach during the night, a Newton mattress will help reduce the risk of suffocation.
Check the fit of the crib and mattress.
Your crib mattress should fit snugly in your baby’s crib, leaving no more than two fingers of space on any side (this is called the “two-finger rule”). A poor-fitting mattress that leaves gaps larger than two fingers can be an entrapment and suffocation hazard.
Most cribs are standard-sized, so standard-sized mattresses should fit perfectly. For non-standard cribs (an oval-shaped crib, for instance), the manufacturer usually offers a properly sized mattress and bedding. Either way, it’s always smart to double-check the fit.
Keep the crib bare.
When it’s time to sleep, there should be nothing in your baby’s crib except for the mattress, fitted sheet, and your little one. Keep blankets, pillows, and toys out of the crib until your baby is at least one year old, as these are suffocation hazards.
Say no to bed sharing but yes to room sharing.
We know that having a baby requires a lot of middle-of-the-night feedings. Although it may seem cute and convenient, never share a bed with your baby. Your mattress may not have the firmness necessary, and the blankets and pillows pose suffocation hazards.
On the other hand, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) gives a big thumbs up to room sharing. Sharing a room with your baby reduces the risk of SIDS and is great for bonding.
Put your baby to sleep on their back.
The AAP recommends putting your baby to sleep on their back until they are 12 months old. This is the safest sleep position for a baby as it reduces the risk of SIDS.
Try a pacifier.
Using a pacifier is another practice that lowers the risk of SIDS. That’s because it keeps the baby’s airway open and stabilizes their breathing and heart rate.
On top of that, pacis are soothing, as the non-nutritive sucking can trigger calming hormones in your baby’s brain.
Dress your baby in sleep-safe clothing.
Because babies under one year of age should not use a blanket, once your baby has outgrown a swaddle, you may opt to dress them in a sleep sack. A sleep sack is a wearable blanket that doesn’t pose a suffocation hazard.
Don’t let your baby overheat.
When dressing your baby for sleep, consider the room temperature. Your little one should be dressed in one layer more than what you would be comfortable in if you slept in their room.
Another tip: don’t dress your baby in a hat, as this can cause overheating.
Breastfeed if you can.
The AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding your baby, if possible, for the first six months at least. Breastmilk has a perfect balance of nutrients, and your baby will love feeling so close to you.
On top of that, breastfeeding is yet another practice that reduces the risk of SIDS.
Keep a smoke-free house.
It’s important to keep your home smoke-free because exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of SIDS. Not allowing smoking in your home is good for your baby and a healthier choice for everyone in the family.
6) Increase daytime activity.
Getting good sleep is not only about the shut-eye. What you do during the day with your baby is also important. Set their Circadian rhythm by getting them out in the daylight early in the day, and keep them active during the hours they’re awake. Maybe some tummy time?
With all that energy expended, when it’s time to hit the hay, getting to sleep will be a snap!
7) Adjust wake windows as needed.
If you notice that your baby is overtired or undertired consistently, it’s probably time to give a closer look at their sleep schedule. Adjusting their naptime by small increments, anywhere from five to 15 minutes, can really help.
Overtired, undertired, or just-right tired?
Once you’re able to read the signs and tell whether your baby is undertired vs. overtired, you’ll have a better idea of when to put them down for a little rest and relaxation. To get there, figure out your baby’s sleep schedule and cues to know when they’re ready for bed.
And, for the inevitable days of sleep woes, follow our tips to help your baby get to sleep and sleep safely all night:
Create a good atmosphere in their nursery, swaddle your newborn, put them in the crib sleepy, stick to a bedtime routine, promote safe sleep, and put them down on a Newton breathable Crib Mattress.
Rest well, little one!
Frequently asked questions
Will an overtired baby eventually sleep?
Yes, an overtired baby will eventually sleep, but it may take a long time to get them to settle. This is because of an uptick in stress hormones. When they do finally get to sleep, that sleep may be fragmented rather than restful or restorative.
What are the five S’s for overtired babies?
The five S’s for overtired babies refer to Dr. Harvey Karp’s mantra of swaddling, side/stomach position (while awake), shushing, swinging, and sucking. These actions aim to mimic the womb’s environment and calm the baby, allowing them to feel more secure.
At what age is SIDS no longer a risk?
By the time your baby is one year old, the risk of SIDS is nearly gone. The largest risk of SIDS is before six months of age, namely between one and four months.
