21 Ways to Soothe Your Overtired Baby to Sleep Quickly
Hey Mom and Dad I know why you are here, a crying, fussy baby who won’t sleep is tough. It can make you feel stressed, helpless, and just plain exhausted. Being a parent you just know that they are extremely exhausted. So why won’t they just FALL ASLEEP?!
You’ve tried everything like feeding, changing, rocking but nothing seems to work. First, take a deep breath. You are not alone, and you are not doing anything wrong. Babies cry because it is their only way to communicate.
Becoming a parent is a journey filled with challenges, and one common hurdle is getting an overtired baby to sleep. An overtired baby is simply one who has been awake longer than their little body can handle.
This stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flood their system and making it harder for them to settle down.
In other words, the more exhausted they are, the tougher bedtime can feel for both the baby and the parent. Understanding this is the first step.
But I have a good news for you! There is something you can do to end this bad cycle of overtiredness and soothe the baby. Hang in there mama! There are many gentle, practical strategies you can use right away.
These parenting tips draw on expert advice and real-life experience to help soothe your little one. Each of the 20 tips below is a simple, nurturing way to help your overtired baby drift off – and to give you peace of mind as a first-time parent navigating kids care for your newborn.
But I have good news for you! There is something you can do to end this bad cycle of overtiredness. You need some restful nights like your baby and that is coming to your way.
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Signs of Overtiredness
Babies can not speak up when they are tired, but they do give clear signs when they need some rest or want to sleep. But you badly need to check your baby is actually tired or something else is bothering.
First, check their body temperature, is it cold or hot? too many layers make their body hot and few clothes can make them feel cold. Make sure to make them layer according to the weather. Also monitor the room temperature.
Just check to ensure they do not have fever. Sickness always keeps baby awake and uncomfortable.
Next, is the colic issue. Mostly newborns have colic issues that can make their stomach upset and painful.
If everything seems good to you, so your baby must be overtired. Though it is difficult for both the baby and the parent and you must want to get out of it immediately.
One of our best parenting tips is to watch for these cues:
- Baby is yawning and rubbing their eyes constantly.
- They are taking short naps.
- They wakes up in every hour.
- Fussiness that escalates quickly.
- Baby is having wired bursts of energy.
- Baby falls asleep in your arms but wakes immediately when you put them down.
- They seems to be zoned out or disinterested.
- Their body becomes rigid or pushing you away.
- Baby will show physical signs of overtired stress.
- Most irritable and crying loud like never before.
- They have a hard time of self-soothing.
- Their awake times were too long throughout the day.
By these signs you can easily catch that your baby is overtired. Now, let me give you some quick tips to try to get your baby to sleep as soon as possible.
How To Soothe An Overtired Baby To Sleep Quickly
1. Check the Basics
Yes, if baby is fussy make sure they have feed properly and burped. To not have any sort of uncomfortable their diaper should be changed and check the temperature of their body and room.
This will help to soothe an overtired baby to sleep in a few minutes.
2. Skin-To-Skin Hold
You can hold them on your chest or in your arms for this option. Babies do feel your scent and presence, so this will help them to soothe to fall asleep.
This can take some time but I am surely telling you they will grow and you are gonna miss this phase to holding them back in your arms. Shower your love while doing this.
3. Massage
This one is almost the working one. Massage makes their body calm and relax. Give some gentle strokes on the back and legs to relax muscles.
4. Soft Singing or Humming
Baby is addicted to their mother’s voice and heartbeat sounds.
Your voice will make them calm. Hum or sing in a low voice a song, rhyme or lullaby. Make a habit to sing it on daily basis, so that the baby will start loving it, calm their selves and sleep quickly.
5. Swaddle
Try swaddle your baby, if age-appropriate for your baby’s development.
A swaddle will help in calming a baby which makes them feel that they are in utero and will feel cozy.
6. Change Your Place
Baby can be bored of a specific place or try to change your place or room just to make them sleep. Sometimes they do not like the scent of the room or light. Being with a new one, you have to experiment with new things to make them understand.
7. The Dark Cave or Dim Light
This one is key! Babies have a difficult time in bright as they can see everything. And they are curious to know what is around them.
In order to ensure healthy sleep habits, try putting them to sleep in a dim light or dark room. It is recommended by the Pediatrician.
Black-out curtains are available in the market. Any Outside light is coming to your room and you do not want to spend such money, you can simply put up black construction paper or a cardboard box to cover it. Try this trick!
8. Let them Sleep in your Arms
This is similar to the skin to skin hold. You can hold them in your arms and give a few minutes of walk. Newborns usually sleep in this way because this makes them feel they are still in womb and safe.
Curd also helps in soothing their tummy if baby is above than 6 months.
9. Bouncing and Rocking
Grab a yoga ball and start bouncing because this will help in soothing both baby and you. It is not ideal for sleep training but can try sometimes. Babies often sleep while rocking. After feeding and burping, a might rocking will help them to relax and get a better sleep.
10. Make a Routine
You should make a good routine of their wake up, feed, poop and sleep. Not starting it today will show you tomorrow. I know you can not set a routine with a screaming baby on first day but starting it asap will make you happy at last. Later on baby realize and start a day according to the routine. It is helpful for working parents.
11. Check the Temperature
Temperature can leave an impact on babies sleep. Check if the room is at an optimal temperature. You can grab a device online to check the room temperature.
12. Bath
A warm bath cam calms a baby. The water makes their body relax and helps them to focus only on sleep.
After bath, their body will be cozy in sometimes. Rock or pat them while feeding will make them sleep easily. If they are full, let them sleep immediately after bath.
13. Take a Ride
The car’s motion and vibration are instant sleep inducers for many.
Sometimes baby just needs a change of a place. Put them in the car and drive.
Then transfer them to their bed once home again, if they fall sleep. You have to be careful so the baby will not wake up or you might have to start the process all over again. I know it sounds funny and scary but we have more options to opt.
14. Let Baby Sleep in Their Own Way
Do not panic if baby is sleeping in their own way. Most important thing is baby should get enough sleep, does not matter how they sleep.
If they want to sleep with your touch, go for it. If want to hear a lullaby, sing it. Just do all the things so that baby can get enough sleep.
15. Offer a pacifier
Sucking helps babies calm down and settle them for any sort of irritation. If baby is at teething stage, a cold pacifier will help to soothe their gums and prevent itchiness.
16. Wear Baby
Just put your baby in a carrier and start doing you household chores cleaning, laundry, dishes etc. Baby will feel like they are still inside. They will start feeling the womb again because they know how do you walk and it is completely soothing. Do a little hum and soon you find your little one will be sleep.
17. New Toy or Rattle
Your child always needs you but when they are fussy and cranky, they need some kind of distraction. It stops tears sometimes. Offer them a new toy or a rattle to keep them busy and distracted.
18. Try Tummy Time
Colic babies always make trouble while sleeping. Laying baby on their tummy (while supervised) can relieve gas.
19. Read a Book
Whatever you do in your entire pregnancy, your baby has a habit of it and reading a book is one of it.
20. Know When to Reset
If nothing works after 20 mins, change the scene entirely. Go to a different room, offer a small feed of water/milk, then try making them sleep again with a lullaby.
21. Remain Calm
Your calm energy is contagious. Take a breath before you engage. Babies can easily sense our fear and stress. And if they find you to be tensed, rocking and bouncing them fast, then they will be more fussy and unable to sleep.
So, considering it the most important parenting tip while making a baby sleep because a happy mother makes happy baby.
If being an elder you starts screaming, shouting and speaking loudly then baby will definitely cry harder. One should be calm before soothing a baby. You can take your spouse help for this. Let us know which one is your personal favorite to calm and soothe an overtired baby to sleep quicky.
