how to get an overstimulated baby sleepy???

[torontotwinmom]

Hoping someone can help...

We've had a busy few weeks around here, and on days (like today) when there is a lot going on, the kids get so overstimulated that even though they're tired, they just can't get themselves into sleep mode.  We stick to our usual wind-down routine, but when they go into their beds they will lie there 'cooing' and tossing and making noise (not unhappy noise) for ages - I'm not sure they would ever fall asleep.  It's like they're still so excited about the day. If I go in to try and help them get to sleep they just want to play and it gets them more excited - if I try shh/patting (which works on them if they're tired & cranky) it just gets them upset and then it's not long before they're in hysterics, since they're so tired.

Any suggestions?  It happened today - they had a poor 2nd nap (only 30 mins) and then I had to take them into work with me for half hour or so later in the day, so they were late getting home for their third nap - they slept in the car (about 20 minutes) but I just could not get them to go to sleep when we got home.  I really have no idea how to help them when they're in that state!

Thanks!

[empowered mama]

hi there - you think they might be UT for that first nap?  Often when my LO plays and coos it means I have put him down too early and he's just not quite ready for the nap yet...

[tigerlilly905]

I agree with the PP... maybe UT?... I find if that happens to us a few days in a row, it's time to increase our "A" time a little

[torontotwinmom]

They act like I would expect them to act when they're UT, but she shows all the sleepy signs before I put them to bed (cranky, rubbing eyes, sucking thumb).   She's making noise in there now - she alternates rubbing her eyes and sucking her thumb with poking her head up (she sleeps on her tummy). 

I know by now they should be able to stay up longer than 1.5 hours ,but the reality is they show all these classic sleepy cues at about the 1hr20min mark almost every time.

Arrgh!  it feels like the more time goes on, the less I know!

[empowered mama]

hmm....sometimes LOs can show their sleepy cues at the time they are usually going down for a nap, but in reality they need a little more A time to get that long nap - make sense?  So often, I would keep them up - distract them for 10 min or so to stretch them out a bit and see if you get a longer nap.

[tigerlilly905]

*JINX* empowered mama... I was going to type the exact thing!...

so in anycase, I agree w/ the PP   DS confused me a little with that... especially when extending "A" times... I found he sometimes showed me his cues out of "habit"...but in actual fact I just needed to keep him up a wee bit longer and the naps clicked...

[torontotwinmom]

wow, that's tricky.  Just when I thought I'd figured out sleep cues!!!

thanks for the advice ladies, will try that tomorrow....