One of the most common reasons for sleep difficulties in babies and young children is getting the balance of awake time wrong.
Both overtiredness and undertiredness can lead to disrupted sleep, and they can sometimes look very similar.
An overtired baby may fight sleep, wake frequently at night, and take short naps. This happens because their body is producing cortisol, which makes it harder to settle.
An undertired baby may also resist sleep, but for a different reason. They simply are not tired enough yet.
This is why looking at age appropriate wake windows is so important.
For example, a four month old will have very different sleep needs to a nine month old.
Small adjustments can make a big difference. Even changing awake time by 10 to 15 minutes can improve how easily a child falls asleep and stays asleep.
There is no one size fits all approach, but understanding this balance is often a turning point for families.
If your child’s sleep feels unpredictable, this is one of the first things worth reviewing.