Is It Bad to Over Stimulate Your Baby

Learn the signs of an overstimulated baby also every bit tips on how to soothe your baby if they go overstimulated and how to forestall it for next time!

I'm someone who can appreciate a adept schedule. I loved scheduling my days and tracking to-do lists even before I was a mom.

I read a lot of parenting advice about "getting baby on a schedule" and I figured it would be no trouble. I'd been training for that my whole adult life!

For the well-nigh part, I establish that my newborn daughter really thrived on our eat-play-sleep routine. Unfortunately, there were just some naps and bedtimes that seemed doomed from the start.

Do you know what the trickiest role of keeping a schedule is? Information technology's when everything looks right on paper, but in reality, one person (ahem, baby!) is simply non able to keep upward their cease of the bargain.

By now you've probably heard a million times that babies need a lot of sleep. Just did y'all know that your infant's brain can be too active—also overstimulated—to let them to residual?

How Do Babies Become Overstimulated?

The fact is, your infant needs concrete and neurological stimulation to acquire new things. Merely when your baby is a newborn, it doesn't take much for them to go overstimulated. Their brains are working overtime to have in all the newness around them!

It's no wonder that all the new sounds, movements, sensations, and people start to become overwhelming for your baby afterward a menstruation of time.

Here are some fairly common causes of an overstimulated baby:

Chaotic environments with sudden and unexpected loud noises

This could include public places similar crowded restaurants and outdoor spaces well-nigh decorated streets or construction. Even at home, things like a loud goggle box or excited older siblings might be enough to overstimulate your newest family unit member.

If you notice your newborn starting to fuss, take a infinitesimal to look around the room. Do things look or sound a fleck cluttered? If so, information technology might exist time to retreat to a more calming space.

Any activity that is a new awareness (touch, sight, or sound) that lasts for a long time with no breaks

We also call this babe sensory overload! Maybe you've introduced a new toy that plays a song or makes a crinkling sound when touched. Or maybe your babe is watching something on a screen.

Continue in mind that these new sensations are going to make a big impression on that growing brain, and they might leave your lilliputian one wired.

Even if your baby seems to be enjoying their new toy or activity, don't forget to accept breaks. Switch things upwardly with some quieter or more soothing activities.

And nigh of all, recollect that a new experience may keep your baby and so stimulated that their sleep cues are piece of cake to miss.

A sudden disturbance in your baby'south typical routine

For example, perhaps information technology'south nap time but y'all lost runway of time at a friend'due south business firm. When babies are kept up past their optimal wake window, they can get a second wind and have an actress burst of energy, leading your baby taking a short nap.

A solid routine is so important for baby'due south sleep, especially for your newborn. Of course things will come up and your schedule volition have to flex!

Just keep in mind that when y'all switch up the schedule, your babe's slumber may exist temporarily impacted.

Frequent exposure to new people

This is an especially tricky ane to avoid, because of course you want everyone to meet your sweet little bundle! And chances are pretty good that everyone in your social circle is trying to meet your newborn, too.

Seeing new faces, hearing unfamiliar voices, and being held past people who don't smell or wait like momma is a lot for your baby to handle. Specifically, unfamiliar visitors can hands overstimulate newborns.

Consider spacing out visitors and try non to have more than than a couple new faces around at a time.

I know yous hear it a lot, just let's also remember that every babe is different. Something that might completely overstimulate your best friend's babe (like an excited dog sniffing around their toes) might be no big deal to your fiddling 1.

The all-time style to know for certain if your baby is overstimulated is to pay attention to their cues.

How Do You Know if Your Babe is Overstimulated?

In general, an overstimulated baby is not a happy baby. Even worse, an overstimulated or overtired infant is going to have a really hard time getting to sleep!

Our aim here is to be able to identify when your babe is starting to feel too stimulated. If we grab on, we tin help ease them back into a setting that'south more conducive for rest before they reach a indicate of overstimulation.

Simply like you, your baby will accept unlike levels of tolerance for stimulating situations. Sometimes y'all can predict whether a sensation will be besides much for your little one to handle. Other times, you might not even realize that your infant is overwhelmed until they get-go to show you they're upset.

Signs of an overstimulated baby can include:

Crying more usual
Loftier-pitched crying
Eye-rubbing or covering their confront with their hands
Fist-clenching
Squirming or frantic movements (more than usual)
Frequent yawning, sneezing, or hiccuping

Ane of the biggest learning curves in new parenthood is figuring out your baby'southward cues. If yous learn to observe these signs of overstimulation, yous can pace in before it goes on for too long.

Is Overstimulation Bad for Baby?

While overstimulation isn't necessarily dangerous for your infant, it tin can be highly confusing to their sleep schedule and overall comfort.

Just like other situations when your babe is cranky or stressed (like during your baby'due south witching hour), overstimulation makes information technology much harder for your babe to sleep.

When your baby has also much stimulation, their cortisol levels—also known as the "fight-or-flight" hormone—begin to increment. This increase in cortisol makes it very difficult for your baby to settle down for naps or for the night.

How to Soothe an Overstimulated Babe

If you lot've read the cues and you suspect your baby is overstimulated, try these steps to calm and settle them.

Dim the Lights and Cut the Dissonance

When your baby is cranky, anything other than white dissonance will likely contribute to overstimulation. Even when using a white noise machine, you'll want to make sure it isn't too loud.

Making things darker with blackout curtains and less noise is automatically going to remind your babe of the comforts of the womb. Keeping stimulation to a minimum is one of the benefits of blackout curtains.

When Moving your Infant, Exercise it Slowly and Gently

Is your baby rocked and patted and bounced into an overwhelmed frenzy? The more gentle your movements are, the easier it will exist for your baby to match your level of at-home.

Utilize a Quiet Voice and Talk Soothingly

I know it'due south tempting to raise your voice so your infant tin can hear you over their own wailing, but adding to the noise isn't what your baby needs right now. Speak calmly and in reassuring tones, bringing your baby closer to you so they can hear you.

Provide a Lovey, Comfort Item, or Aid Infant get their Hands to their Mouth

The all-time mode to assist an overstimulated babe is by making them feel secure and comfy again. Familiar soothing items can assist calm their busy brains. Also, sucking is one of the main sensations your babe remembers from the womb. Sucking on a pacifier or their ain mitt can trigger your baby's innate calming reflex.

Bring Infant's Arms and Legs Closer to their Trunk and Aid them Maintain a Tucked Position

Again, reminding your baby of the womb is going to help them calm downward. It'south comforting for them to have their limbs close to their body, and it tin can besides prevent the startle reflex or further physical stimulation. That'southward why babies oftentimes detect a swaddle so comforting for slumber.

I know how frustrating it is when your babe is fighting slumber and you know they're tired. I also know that it's like shooting fish in a barrel for our protective momma brains to worry that there's something really wrong—is it colic, or illness, or is their sleep schedule way off?

The reality is, your lilliputian one might just need help calming down their overstimulated encephalon! I promise this has helped y'all acquire to identify those signs and will get you both back on schedule in no time.

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I'yard Amy and I'm so glad you've stopped by! Every bit a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, my goal is to walk you through the process of getting your infant to sleep, so your whole family gets the balance they need!

My blog is full of things to help you celebrate motherhood including baby nursery ideas, sleep schedules and slumber tips, fun printables, baby registry must-haves, and so much more.

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