Baby overstimulated?

[K2012]

FTM- Baby is 9 weeks old, we haven’t taken him out much yet only to the park 2-3 times and shopping mall twice. First time to the mall was about 2 weeks ago, baby was awake in the mall and fell asleep in the pram about an hour after we arrived. Then last Sunday we took him to the mall again, he was awake the whole time we were there (3 hours) and when we went home fell asleep in the car and when we came home had some milk and he couldn’t fall asleep and was restless, overtired, screamed and cried the whole evening and it took us many hours to calm him down.

What does it mean? Was he overstimulated?
Shall we stop taking him to malls, is it too much for him or…?

Thank you in advance

My baby is 12 weeks tomorrow and we have had similar crying episodes after going to shopping centres (she’s only been a couple of times), I think it’s the sensory overload leading to a long awake time. Is he the same when you go to the park and he has fresh air?

I think that if you can it would be good to get your baby out most days for a walk and fresh air as that does help to calm my baby, and If you go somewhere like a shopping centre maybe use a snooze shade to help your baby nap in the pram without getting too hot (muslins draped over the pram can cause overheating). And watch wake windows to try to ensure your baby naps after about 1hr 15-30mins of being awake or when showing tired cues. I’ve learnt this through experience over the last few weeks as DD was getting rather overtired now she’s interested in her surroundings so I’ve had to ensure she naps!

Sounds like it’s more overtiredness than overstimulation. Like pp said just try and make sure baby doesn’t go too long between naps.
You don’t need to stop taking them out though, it’s good for your mental health as much as baby’s benefit. Maybe just go for shorter periods instead of several hours

Your 9 week old has only been out of the house 4-5 times?
I don’t think there is any major link between the mall and the babies behaviour. Could have been tired, or sometimes they just have a fussier day. The takeaway shouldn’t be to not go out in future, if anything it sounds like baby might not be used to being out of the house.

I would also say that's overtiredness. 3 hours is a LONG time for such a little baby. You can (and should) continue to go out, but try to have baby fall asleep in the stroller

You've only taken the baby out of the house a handful of time? I'm happy to be corrected but that's how I read it. You need to get out with your baby every day, it's vital for mental and physical well being and the immune system of the baby.

If they are overtired then as a pp said don't let them go for too long without a nap but don't stop taking them places.

I was out and about every single day with mine, to parks, walks, coffee shop, but lots of fresh air. Not to malls, only when needing to run a specific errand or pick something up. Going out is important, but a quiet walk with the pram so they can sleep is needed sometimes too, as is natural daylight.

Thank you for all the replies. Baby has been out for walks, GP and hospital appointments but haven’t been out of the house everyday but I will start now.

Is there a reason you’ve not been out much? If you’re not feeling up to it or you’re having a tough day/after a sleepless night it won’t hurt to have a chilled out day at home. And going out hasn’t got to be long, just a quick stroll is fine too. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself

Are you in the U.K.? I’m just wondering as my friend escapes to the mall with her baby when it’s hot because of the AC!

totally ok to skip the odd day going out and enjoy your baby at home by the way. A lot of the time going out for light and fresh air is good for your mental health.

Not over stimulated, over tired.
You can't really over stimulate a 9 week old, they have no idea what's going on.

Mine both detested shopping centres in the early months. I don’t blame them tbh!

Fresh air walks are much better, though we did often find ourselves in coffee shops and neither minded those.

I’ve often heard of little babies getting upset in shopping centres. Maybe it’s a sensory thing?

@Timeturnerplease I took DD shopping today and she still dislikes it, I think we last went when she was about 6 weeks old and she’s 12 weeks now. She’s ok in small shops but really doesn’t like department stores, I do think it’s sensory overload particularly with the smells of different perfumes etc. She was fine on the bus and happier outside. She’s also not great when naps get disturbed so she’s overtired as well. But we have to go out and try these things!

@TashieWoo If it helps they’re now 3.5yo and almost 12mo and love shopping centres now - possibly because we rarely go! DD1 loves conning us out of money for those little rides and DD2 enjoys smiling and yelling HIYA at old ladies 😂

I've definitely read that certain types of lights in shopping centres / supermarkets can upset babies. It could also be a total coincidence and he'd have been upset whatever you did. Sometimes babies have grumpy phases and it's not necessarily linked to what you're doing at the time (and, in my experience, 8-9 weeks is a very grumpy age for babies - I've had 3!).

At nine weeks, they definitely have some idea of what is going on.

@Skinnermarink i agree, I think DD started engaging more with her surroundings after the 6 week growth spurt / leap.

That’s good to know @Timeturnerplease ! I’m not much of a shopper but I think I’ll leave it to when DP is free to look after her for the time being. She’s been napping well at home so I thought she’d sleep with the snooze shade on but I was wrong!

Yeah, I remember very clearly 7 weeks was when DS would start trying to bat and gurgle at his toys on the play mat, and he smiled a week or so later. I know people often think babies are basically potatoes with faces on for a good few months but that’s not true.