How to Get Your Baby to Stop Fighting Sleep

Babies and their new parents look forward to bedtime and enjoy the familiar tuck-in routine. But even after a nice warm bath, one last feeding and that special ditty you croon each night, your baby might fight the sleep that you're sure she's ready for.

Take heart and know that while protesting the crib put-down is pretty common, there are several potential reasons behind it. Read on for more so you can get your babe back on the bedtime track.

Why does my baby fight sleep?

A few tears at bedtime are standard operating procedure for most babies. In fact, many babies can't get to sleep without crying first. But if the fuss goes on and on, even after you’ve ruled out hunger, a wet or dirty diaper and illness, consider these other factors:

• Overtired baby. It may sound a little crazy, but not getting enough Zzzs can lead to a baby who’s so wiped out she's wired and has trouble settling down at night.
• Overstimulated baby. A bright, busy household, screens, beeping toys or a crying spell can be too much to handle, resulting in overstimulation and the urge to fight sleep. Try to avoid stimulating activities at least an hour before baby's bedtime.
• Sleep regression. This setback in your baby’s regular nighttime routine can crop up throughout the first year, including at 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months and once more at 12 months.
• Separation anxiety. Around 8 months (though it can happen a bit earlier or later), this clingy phase may kick in, resulting in tears when you leave your babe alone in the crib.
• Teething. Most infants start to cut teeth around 6 months (though it can happen earlier or later), and teething pain can cause a baby to wail and fight sleep.
• Hitting a milestone. Babbling, rolling, sitting up, crawling and walking are all big developmental milestones that some infants like to practice at night.
• Traveling. A vacation means a different crib or a shift in the usual bedtime schedule, which can prompt a baby to fight sleep. 
• Baby's not tired. Between 1 and 2 years, babies sleep 11 to 14 hours, rather than the 12 to 16 hours they logged when they were younger. If your baby isn’t hitting the hay easily, she may not need as many Zzzs now. 
• Baby dropped a nap. Around 12 to 15 months, babies start to skip their morning nap, so if yours isn’t keen to be put down, it could signal she's a one-nap tot from now on.

How do I get my baby to stop fighting sleep?

Consistency is key when it comes to getting your baby to stop fighting sleep. Your best bet is to stick to your plan and the tuck-in should become easier over time. Here's how:

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Signs of an Overtired Baby

• Memorize drowsy signs. An overtired baby is too worked up to sleep, so strive to spot the signs that she’s drowsy, such as yawning, ear pulling, eye rubbing, thumb sucking and fussing.
• Keep things low-key. Overstimulation can be caused by too many people around, bright lights or a noisy environment. Do what you can to remove your baby from the din.
• Practice separating. You go away, but you always return. Teach this by leaving the room for a few seconds at a time and your tot will get better at being away from you.
• Get to know your baby’s "wake windows," or the amount of time your baby can handle being awake at a stretch, which varies by age. A 1-month-old, for instance, can be awake for about an hour at a time, and a 3-month-old can go for up to two hours.
• Make daytime for playtime. Give your sweetie lots of practice with her newly minted milestones (sitting up, crawling) so she nixes the urge to try them at night and stops fighting sleep.
• Take the routine on the road. Bath, bottle, cuddle, bed! Babies with a solid bedtime routine will cry less and sleep more, so stay the course even when you’re traveling. 
• Change her bedtime. A bigger baby needs a little less shut-eye, so be ready to push your little one's bedtime back a bit as she ages.
• Plan a longer afternoon nap. If your babe seems ready to drop her morning nap, consider moving lunch up a bit and putting her down for a longer afternoon snooze.

Wondering if your fussy baby will ever settle down in the crib? Keep in mind that fighting sleep is likely due to a predictable phase. Once you’ve identified the issue, you can help her through it and then ease her back to the sleep you’re both craving.