How do I help my baby who fights sleep at bedtime?
It can be exhausting when your baby puts up a fight to go to sleep at the end of a long day! You are tired, and chances are your baby is too! If your baby fights sleep in the evening, here are a few things to consider.
First, there’s a chance that your baby is overtired. Babies who are overtired tend to be more difficult to soothe and can have a harder time winding down for sleep. Think back to how the day was…Did your baby get enough daytime sleep through their naps? Was there a particularly interesting or stimulating part of the day that may have made them tire more quickly or more easily? Are they staying up for a longer stretch of time between nap and bedtime than they might be able to handle? If you notice your baby regularly has a hard time soothing at night, you might consider moving their bedtime a little earlier to prevent them from becoming overtired.
Another thing to consider is that as they grow and become more aware of their surroundings, babies often have a hard time winding down for sleep because they are curious about the world. If that sounds like your little one, try to implement an extended winding down period in your house along with a consistent and soothing bedtime routine to help cue their brains and bodies that sleep is on its way.
