Why Do Babies Fight Sleep?

If you ever find yourself wondering “Why do babies fight sleep?” you are not alone. This is actually a common wonder amongst parents. You do all the right things, and your baby still struggles to fall asleep when he is oh-so tired.

I remember taking care of my son in the first months of his life, and he was incredibly fussy. Fighting sleep for naps and bedtime, he definitely did not sleep like a baby.

So if you are like me and find yourself in a similar situation, here are a few tips to help your baby stop fighting sleep and start enjoying some much needed rest:

Over-tired.

Keeping a baby up in hopes of tiring him out will, unfortunately, result in the opposite effect. Babies who are overtired or overstimulated will sleep for shorter amounts of time and wake more frequently. Carefully watching for your baby’s sleep window will help you gauge how much awake time is right for your baby.

How exactly do I watch for the ‘sleep window?’

A baby’s sleeping cue may come in the form of an eye rub, a yawn, a fuss, or looking away. This is the signal that you’re baby entered the ‘sleep window.’ Keep your eyes peeled to determine what an appropriate wake time is for your child. After you know your baby’s approximate wake time, it can help you gauge when to set the stage for sleep.

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