Baby Bitesize | Is It Really Overtiredness? The Sleep Myth Keeping Parents Stuck
About this episode
Jen Cuttriss explores the misconceptions surrounding overtiredness in babies and toddlers and offers insights on understanding sleep needs.
Overtiredness has become one of the most talked-about explanations for baby and toddler sleep struggles, but is it really the cause of every difficult nap, early wake-up, or bedtime battle? In this Baby Bite-Sized episode, Jen unpacks the truth about overtiredness, why it's often misunderstood, and how the fear of getting sleep "wrong" can leave parents feeling anxious, exhausted, and stuck. You'll learn why true overtiredness is usually the result of accumulated sleep debt over time, what signs to look for, and why factors like under-tiredness, overstimulation, development, and changing sleep needs are often overlooked. This episode encourages parents to step back from rigid sleep rules, trust their child's resilience, and focus on understanding the bigger picture rather than stressing over every missed nap or shifted routine. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What overtiredness actually is and why it's often misunderstood Why one missed nap or late bedtime is unlikely to cause long-term sleep issues The difference between overtired, under-tired, overstimulated, and under-stimulated behaviours How to identify genuine signs of accumulated sleep debt in babies and toddlers Why sleep…
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