Signs of an overtired infant: How to spot them early

Early signs of tiredness in infants

Before overtiredness comes tiredness. Your little one’s going to get sleepy before they hit the exhaustion phase, and if you catch the signs early, you might be able to skip overtiredness altogether. Good news!

Here are the early signs of tiredness in infants²:

• Yawning
• Becoming quiet
• Pulling at their ears and rubbing their eyes
• Frowning
• Becoming less engaged
• A glazed look or expression
• Drooping eyes

Your baby might also want to feed when they’re sleepy, and show you by opening and closing their mouth, sucking on their thumb (or their fingers, toes, or feet), and rooting (preparing to latch).³

Signs of an overtired infant

When a tired baby doesn’t get the sleep they need, they can become overtired. This is a state of exhaustion that, while not uncommon, is important to address. By getting to know the signs your newborn is overtired, you’ll be ready to spring into action when they need to rest and start settling them down for a snooze.

Here are the most common overtired newborn signs:

• Crying: It’s no surprise that little ones cry when they’re tired. At the point of overtiredness, you can expect your newborn to take it up a notch, with inconsolable screaming and crying that makes it clear something’s wrong.
• Arching and tensing: Your baby might use their body to show you they’re tired. Typically, this comes in the form of arching their back and/or tensing their limbs, both of which are common signs of an overtired infant.¹
• Eye rubbing: Just like adults, babies rub their eyes when they’re tired.⁴ If your little one is doing this repeatedly alongside the other symptoms, they’re likely overdue for a good sleep.

These signs can be accompanied by the early sleep cues we mentioned earlier, such as yawning and pulling at their ears.

Overtired babies can be hard to settle, too, with increased clinginess and ​fussiness. If your baby’s fighting their nap, don’t panic - we’ll take a look at how to get an overtired newborn to sleep in the next section.

Tip: Not sure if your baby’s overtired? Use the ​Philips Avent Premium Connected Baby Monitor to keep an eye on them. With scientifically proven, advanced Cry Detection and Translation, it interprets their cry so that you can work out when they’re tired, hungry, gassy, or uncomfortable. Keep track of your little one’s sleep status and breathing rate, too, and know for certain that they’re getting the rest they need.

How to get an overtired newborn to sleep

When it comes to how to deal with an overtired newborn, your top priority should be settling them down for a sleep as soon as possible. To make that easier, here are some tips for how to soothe an overtired newborn:

• White noise: In a study, 80% of babies fell asleep in 5 minutes or less when listening to white noise, making it a smart move for an overtired newborn.⁵ Try a white noise machine or find white noise sounds online to help your baby get to sleep. The Philips Avent Premium Connected Baby Monitor features built-in white noise tracks, soothing sounds, classic lullabies and even can store your own voice recordings to gently soothe your little one to sleep.
• Using a soother: Pacifiers are a well-known tool to help little ones get to sleep. The Philips Avent Pacifier Ultra Start Nighttime can be safely used for newborns up to 6 months and is designed to mimic their natural mouth movements to lower the risk of malocclusion. It also glows in the dark, so comfort and relief are easy to find after lights out. With a 98% teat acceptance rate* and 8 out of 10 parents saying it helps their baby fall asleep**, this is a handy tool to have when exploring how to help an overtired newborn sleep.
• Reduce other sounds: Try to find a quiet spot for your little one where they can settle without stimulation. Reduce light and visual clutter, too, to create a calm space that promotes sleep.
• Rock your baby: Rocking’s well known for its ability to induce sleep.⁶ Try gently rocking your baby in your arms or holding them while in a rocking chair, and maintain a smooth, gentle motion to calm them down.

Overtired infant FAQs

When should I seek help for an overtired infant?

If your baby regularly struggles to settle, seems unusually distressed, or has ongoing sleep difficulties, speak to your GP or a paediatrician for advice. Seek urgent medical help if your baby is experiencing breathing problems or skin colour changes alongside their lack of sleep.

Why does my baby fight sleep when they’re tired?

When your baby’s overtired, they can become distressed and alert, making it harder for them to settle. Overtired newborn signs like excessive crying and ear pulling don’t help, and it’s important you step in to soothe them.

How to get my overtired newborn to sleep quickly?

Start by creating a calm environment with low light and noise levels. Try giving them the Philips Avent Pacifier and rocking them gently. Feeding, skin-to-skin contact, and soft white noise may also help them relax, and remember that settling can take time, so don't worry if they don't drift off straight away.

Sleep is a notoriously tricky part of having a newborn, and it’s normal to have bumps along the way. Just remember the signs of tiredness in infants, like yawning, crying, and rubbing their eyes, and have these tried-and-tested soothing methods ready to go.

Want to learn more about your baby’s sleep? Take a peek at our guide to ​baby sleep schedules.

*2023 US consumer test confirms 98% teat acceptance of the textured Philips Avent teat used in our ultra soothers (n=201).

**Based on the results of a US consumer test (2023, n=201).

Sources 

¹Sleep Problems During Early and Late Infancy: Diverse Impacts on Child Development Trajectories Across Multiple Domains, ScienceDirect 

²Safer Sleep Leaflet, NHS 

³Feeding Cues and Signs of Getting Enough Milk, NHS 

⁴Why Do Babies Rub Their Eyes When They’re Tired?, Live Science 

⁵White Noise and Sleep Induction, NIH 

⁶The Effect of a Slowly Rocking Bed on Sleep, NIH