Baby needs a break!

Parents may find themselves confused about their babies’ responses as they play. It’s not uncommon to wonder: We were having so much fun a minute ago, and now he’s crying. What happened? It may be that your baby reached their limit for stimulation and was telling you he needed a break. Babies have their own individual ways of responding to stimulation—light, sound, touch, activity. Some can take in a lot of stimulation before they top out and become distressed. Other babies get overwhelmed very quickly by what may seem to be just a small amount of stimulation (like brightening the lights in the room.) There’s no right or wrong way to be. A baby’s ability to manage stimulation is based on their unique wiring.

Some common “I need a break” signals include:

• Turning their head away
• Arching their back
• Closing their eyes or falling asleep
• Crying
• Fussing or making “fussy” sounds
• Hiccupping

When you see these kinds of signals, try giving your baby a rest for a little bit. Put aside their toys and perhaps rock and sing quietly to them. If that’s still too much, just hold them. And keep in mind that even eye contact can be very stimulating for young babies, so just snuggling them against your chest may feel best to them, It’s all about trial and error.

You’ll know your baby is ready to play again when their expression is calm and clear-eyed, when they meet your gaze, moves their arms or legs, turns toward you, or makes sounds. Watching your baby to see how they react to, manages, and responds to stimulation gives you very useful information. You can begin to understand what and how much play your baby enjoys, how to recognize when they need a break, and how to comfort the when they are distressed.

Don’t worry if you don’t get it right immediately. Learning about your baby’s individual needs and temperament takes time.

Make photos with your calm baby, upload to the App. Write how the little one shows when he/she needs a break.