🥱 Spotting your baby's tired cues

Signs to keep an eye on

• Yawning or looking away.
• Less interest in faces or play.
• Eye rubbing or fussiness.
• A change from your baby's usual activity.

Your game plan

1. 1. Notice patterns

   Watch what your baby does before naps over several days. Check hunger, nappy and comfort too; one cue alone does not diagnose tiredness.

2. 2. Lower the stimulation

   Pause busy play, soften your voice and dim the lights. Offer a cuddle or feed if your baby shows hunger cues.

3. 3. Settle safely

   Place your baby on their back on a firm, flat mattress in their own separate, clear cot or bassinet, in your room for at least the first 6 months. Keep pillows, blankets and toys out.

4. 4. Stay flexible and alert

   Sleep timing changes with age and from day to day. Use light clothing suited to the room temperature and no hats indoors. Unusual difficulty waking or poor feeding needs medical advice; call 999 or 112 for breathing difficulty, blue colour or floppiness. Emergency response is not guaranteed; if help cannot reach you promptly, arrange safe backup transport to the nearest emergency facility.

Classic mistakes

• ❌ Treating wake windows as deadlines Online timing charts are not rules for every baby. Follow your baby's needs and any feeding or growth advice from their clinician.
• ❌ Assuming all crying means overtiredness Crying sounds do not diagnose the cause. Check comfort, hunger and illness. If you feel overwhelmed, place your baby safely in their cot and take a brief break; never shake them.

Same topic

• 😴 Safer sleep for baby: reducing SIDS risk
• 🧸 Setting up a bedtime routine
• 🌧️ Using white noise for baby sleep
• 🌙 Dressing baby for sleep: the TOG guide