When a baby needs to rest, the signs are there. A newborn might yawn, rub his eyes or pull on his ears, and a baby older than 6 months might get fussy, bored or clumsy. If these signs go unnoticed or your baby loses sleep for medical or environmental reasons, exhaustion ensues, leaving you with a crying baby who can't settle down to sleep. Try different techniques to help your baby fall asleep, but always check with your pediatrician before using medications.
Causes
Determine what causes may be contributing to your baby's exhaustion. He may have had an overly stimulating day and missed a nap. Or, he might be having trouble sleeping at night due to a cold or flu, stomach problems, teething, or excessive heat or chill. Some babies also get overly tired during growth spurts when they wake up during the night for more feedings, explains Dr. Joan DiMartino-Nardi in an article on the Parents website.
Medical Solutions
Some solutions can help your overly tired baby by removing the cause of their exhaustion. Teething rings and creams, for example soothe your baby's gums so she can get a full night's sleep in spite of the discomfort. Use any drops or medications that your pediatrician has recommended to remedy stomach problems, sinus infections or other illnesses. Priobiotic drops, for example, "strengthen the integrity of the bowel and stimulate the immune system," and thus help relieve colic in infants, claims an article on the WellAdjusted website, which promotes chiropractic care.
Soothing
Different methods of relaxation can help your overly tired baby fall asleep more quickly. Give your baby a bath, followed by a stomach massage. The warm water and muscle relaxation often makes babies drowsy. Play classical music at a low volume. Feed your baby. If you have moved from breast-feeding to formula or pump your milk, give her a warm bottle. Sing to her while you rock her back and forth in your arms. These soothing techniques often coax over-stimulated and exhausted babies to sleep.
Prevention
Try to prevent your child from reaching the point of exhaustion. Develop a daily schedule and put your baby down for his naps at the same time each day, even if he doesn't seem sleepy. Develop a bedtime routine that helps your baby fall asleep each night. After her bath and feeding, dim the lights, read her a story or sing to her, and then put her in bed. If it appears that your child is going through a growth spurt, schedule an extra nap.
References
- Raising Children Network: Recognizing Tiredness
- BabycareAdvice.com; Why Babies Become Over-Tired; Rowena Bennett, R.N.; February 2004
- AskDrSears.com: 6 Ways to Help a High Need Baby Go to Sleep and Stay Asleep
- MayoClinic.com: Teething: Tips for Soothing Sore Gums
- Parents.com; Grow Baby Grow; Clara Ogden
- WellAdjusted: How to Relieve Colic
