Overtired toddlers - Mouths of Mums

Toddlerhood is such a time of wonder and delight, blended with an emerging sense of self. As a toddler finds out more of how they fit into the world, they look for independence to discover and grow.

The downside to that wonder and excitement in life, is not wanting it to stop. There are very few toddlers who actively instigate sleep time.

Toddlers love being around ‘the action,’ so the notion of leaving the fun to meet sleep needs, can result in challenges. Remember at all times, toddlers love positive attention about what they are doing, their achievements and their abilities. When a toddler is happy with an achievement, their behaviour says it all.

So firstly, notice the good behaviours in preparation for quiet time and resist the negative statements which are common for adults experiencing frustration and despair. If your toddler takes some time to calm, start preparing for sleep time well in advance of the actual sleep, to prevent overtiredness.

As much as it would be great if overtired toddlers just fell to sleep, they don’t. In fact, many toddlers wind up and up, and it all ends in tears. Toddlers are known for their inability to self calm, especially when tired so they require assistance before sleep time for the essential wind down time. A quiet environment is a great start, away from that action and activity of the world. Wind down is not the time for computer or phone screens, it is the time for a quiet book read, a cuddle and maybe a swaying rhythmical snuggle or a massage. It is helpful to have a rhythm to sleep preparation so your toddler can anticipate and even participate in the preparation. It may be helpful for you to begin, and then involve your toddler in activities, such as packing up the toys into the toy box, to show sleep time is imminent.

Watching your toddler participate in the ‘sleep time’ preparation can be soothing for you, and in turn, be a positive experience for your toddler.

If, despite all your efforts, your toddler becomes overtired, you will need to offer more comfort and support to help them calm for sleep. We live and learn, so next time you might consider starting sleep preparation a little earlier to avoid the challenges that can be associated with overtired toddlers.

Safe Sleep Space www.safesleepspace.com.au

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156 Comments

- - crystalangela said
  - 09 Nov 2015
    10:00 pm
yep so true. calm baby is a sleep baby.

- - levismumma said
  - 09 Nov 2015
    7:09 am
Love this thank you! We used to struggle with my son getting to sleep will keep this in mind for when my daughter is a little older and is over tired

- - mom81879 said
  - 11 Sep 2015
    1:00 pm
They sure are hard to handle when they’re tired. Getting over tired also prevents sleep for them. Lots of handy hints here

- - mom94125 said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    12:25 am
you have to find the way that calms them down again and reduce stimulation
- mom94125 replied
  
  12 Jan 2015 , 5:44 pm
  thanks for posting this anyway.
- - shortaez said
  - 20 Sep 2014
    1:46 pm
A good read thank you for sharing

- - ginoula5 said
  - 27 Aug 2014
    7:09 pm
Over tired baby = over tired mum, these are great tips and advice you have shared, thanks.

- - eestigirl said
  - 02 Jun 2014
    8:57 pm
We’ve all learned the hard way haven’t we, that delaying normal bedtime because there are visitors or we are visiting friends, rarely ends well. I have been at family gatherings where parents stay on until their exhausted children are being a pain to everyone. At that point screaming kids are bundled into the car by their stressed parents.

- - mom57758 said
  - 30 May 2014
    11:36 am
Thanks for sharing was a great read.

- - mom57522 said
  - 27 May 2014
    3:02 pm
I used to have a cuddle and a book with my toddler.

- - no1ladydj said
  - 22 May 2014
    6:50 pm
Few things can be more frustrating than an over-tired toddler who desperately needs sleep, and yet fights it every step of the way. Patience and persistence with settling them is the key, although it’s not always as easy as we’d like it to be.

- - krissy333 said
  - 13 May 2014
    7:03 pm
my toddler is the crankiest when overtired!!! a walk in the pram or a sit in the garden usually calms her right down

- - alioop said
  - 14 Apr 2014
    10:20 pm
My toddler has just started fighting sleep. I’m finding it very challenging so thank you for the advice

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 10 Apr 2014
    8:28 pm
Thanks for sharing a very valuable article

- - mle00 said
  - 26 Mar 2014
    11:53 pm
Stop resisting arrest! funny how they all do the same resistance, then they become teens…and wont get up!

- - mummy liana said
  - 24 Mar 2014
    10:28 pm
thank you sharing this article good read

- - jenny9761 said
  - 14 Mar 2014
    2:57 pm
It is so much harder to get your toddler to sleep when they are over tired

- - linda197 said
  - 08 Mar 2014
    8:54 am
It is so hard when our littles get tired and start down the slippery slope of behaviour we do not encourage. Agree patience and persistence will get them to sleep

- - angel_mon said
  - 07 Mar 2014
    9:52 pm
Persistence, patience, understanding and then more persistence

- - mummy liana said
  - 03 Mar 2014
    2:17 pm
thanks for sharing was a great read

- - yyon4699 said
  - 28 Jan 2014
    10:45 am
Very informative. Thank you for this