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How do you deal with an overtired baby?

10 replies

loveulotslikejellytots · 11/06/2016 22:24

Dd (5months) has so far always been what I would class as a decent sleeper, she would nap when tired either in the pushchair (I walk a lot during the day, either walking the dog or running around town etc.) or in her cot at home. I've never been able to put her down to nap/bed awake but when I've seen her getting tired and rubbing her eyes I would give her a quick cuddle and she'd be out like a light for 30 - 60 mins depending on how tired she was. I know you should put them down awake but this worked for us.

But in the last week she has stopped with the obvious tired cues, which means I don't realise she's tired until she spontaneously burst into a sobbing/screaming fit. Nothing I do will soothe her, if anything I make her worse. Picking her up, rocking her etc just increase the screaming. Putting her down in her cot in the hopes she'll fall asleep does the same. All I can do to calm her down and stop her screaming is to sit her up on my knee and play with her. I did this to start with to then try and get her off to sleep once she's calmed down, but it doesn't work. The only thing that does is the pushchair, either going for a walk or just rocking her off to sleep in the kitchen.

I know she's overtired and probably overstimulated but what do you do when they reach this point?

Is this just a phase?

Just more info that might help, she's formula fed, usually naps an hour before her next bottle, (not necessarily for the full hour) but even trying to anticipate her tiredness hasn't worked so far. I'll be going to bed soon myself so I may have to reply in the morning!

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orangebird69 · 11/06/2016 23:24

Do you have any routine at all for naps? At that age, I would expect them to need a nap after 90 mins/2 hours max of being awake.

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loveulotslikejellytots · 11/06/2016 23:54

Thanks for your reply. Her old routine was: wakes around 6:30 (but is never hungry first thing), bottle at 8am, nap 10am - 11am, bottle at 12pm, nap 3-4 pm, bottle at 4pm, nap 5-5:30pm, bottle at 7:30pm then asleep and in bed by 8pm.

Now she seems to have dropped the naps completely, but she's knackered.

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loveulotslikejellytots · 11/06/2016 23:55

Not that it matters but her last nap is usually 6-6:30pm not 5-5:30pm m, sorry.

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Skiingmaniac · 11/06/2016 23:58

She's probably transitioning to two naps....how about:
6.30 up
8.00 bottle
10.45-11.45 nap
12.00 bottle
3.30-4.30nap
5.00 bottle
7.30 bed

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TheOddity · 12/06/2016 00:26

What I do when I think dd2 is about due a nap is put her in her sling (a proper wrap sling so she is right next to my body) and do tidying up jobs while humming, or go for a walk like that and when she is ready she drops off. It may be that the four month sleep regression has hit a little later. Dd2 is just approaching five months and we are having similar crisis moments. They are learning a lot at this stage, so it may pass in a couple of weeks. But definitely try borrowing a sling as it is a lot easier than rocking them in your arms as you can get on with other stuff.

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orangebird69 · 12/06/2016 07:05

My ds would be beside himself if he had that 4 hour stretch in the morning. He moved himself to 2 naps a day a couple of months ago (he's 8mo today)
Up at 6am
Breakfast about 6.30am
Play
Nap at 8am
Awake about 10am
Play lunch etc
Nap approx 1pm
Awake about 2pm
Play, dinner, bath, fed to sleep bewteen 6 and 7pm.

He kind of fell into the 2-3-4 routine himself.

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orangebird69 · 12/06/2016 07:08

Just to add, unless he's in the pram and we're out walking, all naps and bedtime he's breastfed to sleep. Not ideal but it works. Naps indoors are in bed with a grobag on.

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loveulotslikejellytots · 12/06/2016 09:03

Thanks for the replies. I have a stretchy sling, I will give that a go. I haven't tried it because it's been quite warm here and I didn't want her to overheat. But I'll strip her off a bit and give it a go.

2 naps might work rather than 3. I'll see what she does over the next few days.

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orangebird69 · 12/06/2016 17:04

Good luck. FlowersWineCake

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Diddlydokey · 12/06/2016 17:20

I think she's probably teething or working on sitting up? They like to mess up naps.

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