Signs your baby is tired
Common signs are yawning, rubbing eyes, staring off and turning away. Catching these early cues, rather than waiting for crying, usually makes a nap easier to start.
Early signs: a good time to start winding down
- Staring off
- Looking past you, or losing interest in faces and toys they were enjoying a minute ago.
- Going quiet
- Less babbling and wriggling; slower, heavier movements.
- Yawning
- One yawn might be nothing. Two or three close together usually means something.
- Rubbing eyes, ears or face
- Often with a fist or against your shoulder.
- Turning away
- Burying their face in your chest or turning from light and noise.
Later signs: sleep soon
- Fussing or whining
- Grizzling that builds, especially if feeding or play doesn't settle it.
- Jerky movements
- Arms and legs flailing more than usual, particularly in younger babies.
- Clinginess
- Older babies may want to be held and cry when put down.
Cues and the clock together
Tired cues can be subtle, and easy to miss while you’re feeding, playing or looking after siblings. A wake window gives you a time to start paying attention. Use the next nap calculator to see when your baby’s window opens, then let the cues decide the exact moment.
Every baby shows tiredness a little differently. Over a few days you’ll learn which signs are your baby’s.
Common questions
What if my baby shows tired cues before the wake window opens?
Follow the cues. Wake windows are typical ranges, and your baby may simply need sleep sooner today. It's fine to offer a nap early.
What if my baby shows no cues at all?
Some babies are hard to read, especially when there's a lot going on. That's when the wake window helps most: when the window opens, start winding down anyway.
