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Right from the time a baby is born, doctors and relatives alike mention the benefits of interacting with your little one and exposing him to newer things. All of these help in making him a social individual and children do need as much attention as they can get. But the effects of overstimulation in infants are pretty real and a lot of cuddling, playing around, and actions happening around a baby can easily get him overwhelmed, and feel unsafe. Knowing what might cause this and soothe him successfully is important to know, too.
What is Overstimulation?
Babies are experiencing pretty much everything around them without any filters. While it works in their favour when they are in a calmer environment, the presence of a lot of sounds, people, and changing places and so on, can easily put a huge load on the sensory perception of the baby. This causes them to get worked up and failure to control the situation could lead them to burst out crying.
What Causes Overstimulation in Infants?
Each child is different in its own way. What might get too much for one baby might end up being the very thing that seems to calm the other down. But most common signs for overstimulation generally are:
- Continuous exposure of new people who keep interacting with the baby
- An environment of unending commotion, combined with loud unexpected sounds
- Disturbance from the established routine out of the blue
- Any new activity that seems to last for a long time and leaves no space to catch a breath
Common Overstimulation Signs in Babies
Most babies are quite adept at letting others know that they have been exposed to a lot of information that is overwhelming for them to process. Noting these signs can make you quickly aware that your little one might be getting overstimulated.
1. A Red Face About to Cry
Babies generally attempt to keep their overwhelming emotions under control and this can easily manifest outwards in the form of an expression, which might be akin to them passing poop forcefully. A tight mouth with redness on the face and their expression of absolute discomfort could be a strong sign that your baby isn’t feeling happy. Any further interactions could get him to break out and start crying uncontrollably for long durations.
2. Moving Around in an Erratic Fashion
Children’s movements are rarely smooth in the early years and they do take some time in getting a hold of them. However, when your baby faces a lot of stimulation, he starts struggling between distracting himself and controlling the cries, all of which results in his movements to be a combination of jerks. This is usually accompanied with a face that is absolutely confused.
3. Breathing Rapidly in Short Breaths
The heartbeats of babies are quite rapid and their breathing pattern, too, is quite fast as compared to adults. But when overstimulated, this gets even faster and begins to resemble a baby catching its breath after a marathon. A sure-shot sign of overstimulation is your little one’s breathing settling down once the environment around his calms down.
4. Looking Away from Others
Unknown environments and strangers can take quite a toll on the baby as he generally needs his own space to cope with them. This usually manifests in an action where he will turn away from anyone approaching him, and it can even be you. Being in areas that are quite loud and filled with commotion can usually cause babies to do this.
5. Staring into Space
While some babies do tend to start crying the moment things get overwhelming, others might try to avoid the stimulation as much as they can. This is observed in babies who start staring into space and completely ignore calls or other actions happening around them. Many times, this does end up calming the baby quite a lot, unless disturbed by physically holding them or playing with them.
How to Calm Your Overstimulated Child?
For parents wondering how to deal with overstimulation in their child, the key is to know what can make the baby feel safe and secure all over again. Carrying out those actions can help calm down your child easily.
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Revert Back to Usual Schedule
Babies hate changes when they keep taking place constantly. This leaves them hanging in the blue and totally unaware of expecting what might happen next. In such cases, bring your baby back to a schedule he is aware of. If afternoon time is where he prefers to listen to some music, play it to him so that he feels safe in the environment of the known.
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Take a Small Walk
At family functions or other places, the constant noise and approach of new people can get your child over-excited and exasperated at the novelty of it all. Take a small break from all that and go to a quieter place with your baby. Nurse him if you can or hum a song to him so that he knows he is in safe hands and calms down.
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Opt for Skin-to-Skin Contact
Babies are quite adept at knowing the presence of a person that they are used to and the ones that they are not. If your child has been interacting with numerous new people for a long time, hold him for a few moments and hop into a washroom if you can. Let him feel your skin, your breasts, and your presence so that he doesn’t feel threatened anymore.
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Leave Him Alone for a While
Constant cuddling, rocking, and carrying them around may not appeal to some babies, who prefer to being left alone by themselves for some time. If your child is one of those, let him lie in the crib or on a sheet quietly by himself, while simply keeping a watch on him without any interaction.
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Cry It Out and Sleep
Most children feel better after they let out their frustration. If your child is overstimulated and has started crying, try soothing a little or let him cry it out while you hold him close. Most babies usually cry themselves to exhaustion and then fall asleep. That will help him feel much better later on.
How to Avoid Overstimulation?
Soothing your baby might be easy for you but avoiding overstimulation in the first place can help keep your child peaceful for a longer duration. This can be achieved in a few simple ways.
- Avoid technology as much as possible. The constant exposure of mobile phones and digital devices can overload their sensory perception for long times.
- Intersperse any activities or periods of stimulation with breaks, where your child is left by himself or can catch a quick nap if possible.
- Be prepared when taking your child outside to a new place. Carry his favourite toy or sipper bottle, which can easily comfort him when needed.
- If your child usually likes it quiet in the afternoons or the mornings, avoid any visits or activities around that time period.
- Be vigilant when your baby is in a new space. The moment you start seeing signs of overstimulation, intervene and calm him down.
Benefits of Avoiding Overstimulation
Having a child that is calm and not succumbing to the harrowing exposure of overstimulation can be quite beneficial for the little one as well as the people around him.
- New people can easily have fun with the baby when spaced out properly
- Your child will get used to the schedule and will be prepared for any new experiences
- Staying away from sweets or scolding your child can help him calm down naturally
- A crying baby can easily disturb the mood of the environment, which is best when prevented
- The bond between you and your baby can be stronger and make him feel even safer
FAQs
Overstimulation might not be new for people, but young parents do tend to have some queries that need to be resolved.
1. Is It Possible for a Baby to Remain Understimulated?
Just as an overdose of stimulation can affect the child, a lack of stimulation can get him bored and lead him to cry out as an attempt to get someone’s attention towards him.
2. Why Does an Overstimulated Child Cry a Lot?
A baby could have trouble falling asleep due to constant stimulation or may experience fear due to constant novelty. This usually leads babies to cry and look for help.
3. Can an Infant Overcome Overstimulation?
Yes, they can but only after they grow up and start doing certain things by themselves. The early years usually make them susceptible to overstimulation.
Taking care of a baby is no easy task and soothing a disturbed one is even difficult. By keeping a lookout for overstimulation symptoms and nipping them in the bud, you can ensure your child feels safer as well as make sure he experiences the new in a safe and controlled environment for him.
