# How to Stop Your Baby from Fighting Sleep
Babies often resist sleep when they're overtired, not well-rested. Parents frequently miss the window when their infant becomes drowsy and ready for bed. Once that window closes, babies enter a state of hyperarousal. Their nervous systems flood with cortisol and adrenaline, making sleep nearly impossible.
Recognizing overtiredness matters. Signs include rubbing eyes, arching the back, turning away from caregivers, and increased fussiness. Some babies go quiet and glassy-eyed. These signals tell parents the sleep opportunity is slipping away.
The solution starts with watching wake windows. Newborns typically stay awake 45 minutes to an hour. By three months, babies handle 1.5 to 2 hours. By six months, 2 to 3 hours becomes standard. Putting a baby down before overtiredness sets in prevents the fight.
Parents can reset an overtired baby's schedule by moving bedtime earlier for several nights. This gives the nervous system time to recalibrate. Dimming lights, reducing stimulation, and establishing consistent routines also help. White noise and swaddling soothe activated nervous systems.
The key insight: fighting sleep signals a baby has passed the optimal sleep window, not that the child resists rest itself. Catching the tired cues early prevents hours of struggle for both parent and child.