5.5 mth old tired signs - what are they??

[Nic and Jackson]

Hi
this probably sounds pretty dumb but i have a great deal of trouble in identifying when my 5 1/2 month old DD is tired.  (i also can't tell when she's hungry).

I see other kids and can say oh he's tired - he's rubbing his eyes, or she's tired - she's yawning but my DD doesn't seem to do this.  She'll get cranky and i think she's tired and try to put her down but then she starts to play in her cot and screams if i try to pat her down.  it seems she just wants attention or something else to do.

What other things should i be looking for to know if she is tired, i've totally lost all confidence with this baby even though she is my second and i should probably no better.

thanks in advance
Nic

P.s. - routine is pretty much 2 hours up and 45 minutes down, then wait 15 minutes for next feed.  This is pretty much a 'forced' routine (except for the sleep part) as i have to do something!!!  sometimes i think she could go longer for feed but then she'd be ready for her next sleep and everything would go wrong from there.

[Dree]

Hey N&J,

At 5mths Sofia did not always yawn or rub her eyes to let me know when she was tired. You actually have to be with her every second to catch the yawn. So maybe your LO is yawning but you missed it. It is totally possible.

As they get older, they make it very obvious to you that they are tired. You want to put them down for a nap before it turns into overtired. This has happened to me once or twice. Once they start crying you have passed the window and it gets harder to put them down.

Sofia has always been an independant sleeper, so what I do is put her down in her crib and check on her until she is asleep. 

If you stick to your EASY plan then you will know when she is ready for a nap. Sofia did not always follow it either. I used EASY as a guide. It was never set in stone for me. That is what I tell pp all the time. All babies are different.

Good Luck
Dree 

p.s It isn't dumb to ask questions no not matter what it is.... Information is power. You are being a good mommy.