It can be challenging to predict when your baby is ready for sleep, especially during the first few months when their patterns are too irregular for a consistent schedule. However, you can learn some sleep cues that make reading your baby’s body language a little easier.
Common cues that your baby is tired:
Yawning, stretching
Rubbing eyes or bringing hands to their face
Red, flushed eyebrows or eyes that appear glossy
Disengagement (losing focus and interest in what they were doing)
Rooting, asking to feed
Often, these will appear before fussiness. If your baby starts pushing away from you and crying inconsolably, they are likely in a late stage of being tired, called overtiredness.
By responding to these earlier signs of fatigue, you can prevent overtiredness, which will be easier on both of you.