When she’s so exhausted...

DD hates hot weather, and the last couple of days have been shockers. So we've had 2 afternoons of no sleep, and 2 pretty wakeful nights here. I'm fairly certain she woke up already overtired this morning or if not, she was certainly overtired by the time she was fed and changed.
It's a bit late in the day to ask, but what do you do? Do I spend the day trying to get her to catch up on sleep, or will that keep her up all night?

I chose to catch her up on sleep, and its only now that I've felt her finally relax and feel properly asleep (I've got her in the moby) even though she's been sleeping for most of the day. So I think we've just finally passed the overtiredness. But it's just occurred to me that she may not sleep at night now

In her fractious state, I've only been allowed to sit down in the last hour or so, after spending most of the day walking her around. I could really use a few hours of sleep tonight

Advice for next time?

My DD was about the same age last year and was just the same with the heat, so unhappy and uncomfortable. Day sleeps sometimes never happened

I found in my experience that catching up on the sleep and getting past the overtiredness during the day meant that she slept better at night, and on the days where she was still overtired when bedtime rolled around it was very hard to get her to sleep and then she was unsettled for the rest of the night. So I would do what you did today, but I guess it will be best to wait and see how your night goes, before taking my advice. I hope you both get some good sleep tonight.

i suppose all you can really do is make sure she is as comfortable as possible. at that age it may not affect her night sleep anyway. and an overtired baby is hell!

Do a really short up time. Don't do the play cause that will only add to the over-tiredness. You aren't going to form any bad habits in a few days at that young.

Soon as you put her down to sleep, go & have a zizz on the couch. If you go to bed you'll probably end up tireder but you catch up when you can as well, house work & that other stuff can wait. DH can cook tea.

As everyone has said sleep breeds sleep

I know this prob sounds pathetic and obvious but have you got a fan on her? WE have a fan going at night and even though Jesse still in the bassinet which has sides etc the air circulating in the room obviously helps.

The baby whisperer on channel one was saying about having a fan in the room but not directly, but just the circulating of the air should keep them cool and a light muslin wrap..........

and now i just realise im completely off topic

Edited by Chickielou

T Rex I have had the same with Esme, yesterday she had 2 1/2 hours of sleeps (3 short ones) and went to bed at 7.15 but was up from 8.15-8.45 then had feeds at 12,3 and 6.30

Moby's are great! Today I kept play to a minimum and tried to get her to have more sleeps we managed 4 and she's in bed now. Sleep definately promotes sleep! I try to catch her up if she's had a wakeful night it hasn't affected her night unless she does more than 2 1/2 hours in a row.

In my case it's the heat, and her teeth are moving

Well, it was obviously the right move! She was up for just over an hour at 1am, but once we got past that, I only had to get up again at 5, and then I just took her to bed with me until she woke at 8.30. And today she seems like a much happier baby

Or maybe it's just that I've had some sleep so I feel like a much happier mum

The fan works some of the time, certainly makes her less cranky, but not always enough to get her to sleep. But at least it's nice for me to stand in front of too!

Thanks for the feedback