😴 Sleep · 0–12 months
🥱 Spotting your baby's tired cues
Learning your baby's patterns can help you offer rest before they become very upset. Tired cues overlap with hunger, discomfort and overstimulation, so check the whole situation rather than following a rigid clock.
Possible signs to notice
- Looking away or becoming less engaged.
- Yawning or rubbing the eyes.
- Fussiness or increasingly restless movements.
- A change from your baby's usual alert behaviour.
Your game plan
1. Notice patterns
Look for several cues and consider when baby last slept or fed. Awake periods vary with age and from day to day; a schedule is not a test.
2. Check basic needs
Offer feeding if hungry, check the diaper and make sure baby is not too hot or cold. Crying alone does not prove overtiredness.
3. Wind down gently
Reduce noise and bright light, then offer a cuddle or quiet song. Use light sleep clothing suited to the room temperature.
4. Use a safe sleep space
Place baby on their back on a flat, firm mattress in their own crib or bassinet, with only a fitted sheet. Keep it in your room for at least the first 6 months. Leave out pillows, loose blankets and toys; do not settle to sleep together on a bed or sofa.
Classic mistakes
- ❌ Trying to hit a perfect window Some days are unpredictable. Responding calmly matters more than preventing every cry or meeting a fixed awake-time target.
- ❌ Mistaking illness for sleepiness Unusual difficulty waking or poor feeding needs medical advice. Under 3 months, a temperature of 38°C or higher needs urgent assessment. Call 911 for breathing difficulty, blue colour or floppiness.
A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team
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When in doubt, contact your doctor or midwife. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.