to find the term 'overtired' irritating

[dorisbonkers]

I don't know why, but I hear this many times and find it irritating, irrationally I suspect, but it sounds glib, and often not used in the right context.

Put me right (because I reckon I'm actually BU)

[Tidey]

It's because of that car ad with the two smug children talking about their parents.

Or possibly because some parents use it to excuse their children acting like thugs.

[ChasingSquirrels]

I am using it about myself atm, I am! Don't think I am behaving like a thug though

[Wonderstuff]

I don't think I knew what overtired meant until I had dd, and actually it was only when I stopped being overtired (I am now just tired) that I understood.

Don't really understand your issue sorry.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Oh, I don't know....I seem to be in a permanent state of over-tiredness

In what context are you hearing it? I hate it when used wrt babies all the time....cranky baby = "oooh, he's overtired". erm no he is teething/hungry/poorly/plain old tired.

[cornsilk]

They can be overtired though.

[Tidey]

Yes, they can be overtired, but wouldn't you think 'Well, let them have a nap then' if someone said it to explain why their child has just spat in your face or something?

[dorisbonkers]

Not sure of the car ad, I've been in SE Asia for a few years, but about the explaining away thugs!

I'm a new mother of a 7 month old and any time I've been in a mother/baby setting (which is rarely to be honest) it's all I've heard. Well, all apart from "my baby's on the 98th centile".

I don't have a routine and have drifted more to the Dr Sears school but yes, I've seen my baby tired. I've witnessed her a little bit cranky. I've breastfed her to sleep so many times it's driven me crazy. But I still don't know what overtired is. (I might be mad or blind....-- well, I know I'm mad...)

[isittooearlyforgin]

generally a saving face phrase

[dorisbonkers]

Wonderstuff, I don't have an issue with it, just a nagging, niggling annoyance with the way everyone I've met with a small baby says it.

I am an insomniac and have gone too long without sleep (4 days, which landed me in a mental hospital) so I'm not belittling sleep deprivation.

[paisleyleaf]

Do you mean it's irritating in the same way as a bloke saying "PMT"?

[Olifin]

It doesn't bother me. I've used the phrase myself a few times to describe DD (3.5). She's not a thug but, very occasionally, if she's had a very long and exciting day she will tend to go into meltdown at about 5-6pm. Completely loony, screaming, lying-on-the-floor meltdown. Impossible to reason with her, get anywhere near her or calm her down. That's my definition of overtired.

[bigted]

doris yanbu!

[barnsleybelle]

What Olifin said....

[Tommy]

I used to hate it too until DS3 came along. If he doesn't get his nap in the day he is horrible by tea time and we usually have a really dreadful night with him

[LackaDAISYcal]

oh yes babies can be overtired, as can small children (and even seven year olds...I have one), but it does seem to get trotted out all the time, when there is another explanation.

I'm with the OP in thinking that it seems to be used more commonly as an excuse for bad behaviour.

[puffling]

I do agree that a child can be overtired bit I do dislike the word being used glibly buy people like MIL.

[Linnet]

I have a dd who is the same as olifin's. Meltdown around dinnertime, unable to reason with/calm down. Which can be followed by a second wind meaning that if you miss the 5 second opening for getting her into bed and asleep she'll still be awake 3 hours later full of beans while I'm ready to fall asleep.

[pinkyp]

why dont u like the word?

[hmc]

Well I am mystified how a mere, innocuous expression can wind you up...but then, as you say, you have a 7 month old.

With older children I think it is more meaningful - if ds (5) didn't go to bed on time or had trouble dropping off to sleep and is shortchanged on his 11 hours then the next day he is noticeably more irritable / difficult to deal with, and that is because he is overtired.

I get overtired and irritable too. In fact, looking at the time, tomorrow is heading that way

[JemL]

I never used it in respect of DS until he was a toddler - and then the difference between being overtired, and simply tired became evident through his behaviour.

I can see that it is tempting to think, "well just put him / her to bed then" when someone claims their toddler is overtired but the problem is, they are too wired - unlike a child who is simply tired, it is very difficult to just put them down for a nap, and it is usually at a time of day when it is difficult to do so anyway!

[FairMidden]

doris, if you haven't seen it then I can understand the mystery. However, it is definitely a real phenomenon and it isn't fun.

Agree that it's sometimes used as an excuse for thuggery though.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[JackBauer]

I get overtired and get very silly and petulant, especially when DH tells me to go to bed

DD's have inherited it, DD2 isn't so bad but DD1 gets really loud and hysterical and will go from running about bouncing off the furniture to dissolving into hysterical tears in a split second.

It is overused but then sometimes it is right. IYSWIM.