Is my baby tired? A common question we ask not only ourselves as parents but it is a common question I am asked. Tired signs can be mistaken for hunger and what do we usually do when we think they are hungry? Yep, we feed them, but they won’t take that bottle or breast will they? They will fuss and wriggle and arch their back so you start rocking and swaying and boom, baby is starting to close their eyes. Then you are left in a pickle (lucky it is a cute pickle) whether to place baby down into their cot or bassinet or just stay still and let them sleep. Trust me, I’ve been there, this is normal and it is very common to misread some tired signs.

Good news though- although they can’t talk, babies are able to show us when they are tired, but it is up to us to know and read those signs before our babies become exacerbated. I like to call them “sleepy cues”. Once you see these signs in your baby and they have been awake for approximately the right amount of time, you know it is time to winddown and put them down for the nap or bedtime.

Some common newborn signs:

• Pulling ears
• Rubbing eyes
• Becoming more grizzly than usual
• Difficulty focusing
• Clenching fists
• Yawning
• Staring off into space
• Frowning or worried look
• Sucking on fingers

Although I often tell parents that newborns 0-6 weeks should be awake no longer than 40-60 minutes it is important not to look at the clock but rather look at your baby. Use your common sense and if they are starting to look tired at 30 minutes then commence your wind down routine. It is important to start winding down for a nap and reducing stimulation. This can be done by:

• Taking your baby into their room if in their own, or your room
• make sure bub has a full tummy so offering breast, bottle or a will switch on the calming reflex
• Swaddle your baby (if age appropriate) with their arms wrapped snuggly and allow hips to be loose.
• Turn on white noise
• Place them in their bassinet or cot awake and either leave the room and allow them to fall asleep on their own, or, help soothe them off with a back rub or some patting

As you get familiar with your baby and reading their sleepy cues, it will get easier to recognise when they are tired or hungry and if you can stay consistent with their winddown routine and allowing them space and time to drift off to sleep on their own, you are onto a winner!

Sleep well x