Sleepy, Not Exhausted!
I know, I am not very good at communicating my needs yet. It is something I am working on. In the meantime, I need you to listen to my non-verbal cues to help me not get overwhelmed. My cues may be small and subtle, but I promise they are there.
Some pretty unmistakable signs that I am tired are rubbing my eyes and yawning. Although this may seem like a good time to put on pajamas, read stories, and sing songs (or whatever we have agreed upon as my bedtime routine,) it is likely too late for that at this point! You can try but you may just need to put me in bed and let me sleep! Long before I get to the obvious point of tired there will be those more subtle signs of tiredness. I might start
taking occasional long, deep breaths
blinking more frequently than usual
staring at nothing in particular and getting fussy during activities that I normally enjoy. (You may be able to “cheer me up” by giving me extra attention and stimulation but this will ultimately backfire and create a situation where I am overtired and VERY uncooperative.)
At times, I may start getting tired at an inconvenient time. It is better to put me in bed and let me play alone until I fall asleep than it is to try and put me down later in the usual fashion.
One important thing you can do to feel certain that my signs are pointing to tired is to ensure all my other needs are met. At this point, my needs are few. Mostly, I want a full belly and a clean diaper! I may get fussy during the day for other reasons, such as needing a change of scenery, wanting your attention, or just because I am exploring my newfound abilities to affect the world around me with my sounds. However, if this happens anytime near my regular nap or bedtime, I am probably (also) tired.
Something Else To Keep In Mind
Now, here is where it gets tricky! I may start showing these tired signs much earlier, or later than you expect even if I am typically very predictable. Many things can affect my sleep patterns as I grow including, but not limited to
teething
growth spurts
particularly busy or emotional days
Remember to "listen" to my non-verbal communication rather than going by the clock.
A Final Note
I can understand and communicate much earlier than I will be able to speak. The earlier we start using baby sign language, the earlier I will be able to communicate this and other needs to you more clearly! You can contact Mindful Family Management for help with this or any of the aforementioned concepts. (Yes, Babies use the word aforementioned!)
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