Which nursing actions limit overstimulation of the preterm infant? select all that apply.

What is overstimulation?

Overstimulation happens when children are swamped by more experiences, sensations, noise and activity than they can cope with.

For example, a newborn baby might get very unsettled after a party where they’ve been cuddled by a lot of grown-ups. A preschooler might have a tantrum after a big event like a birthday party. A school-age child might be cranky if they go to school, then after-school care and then a swimming lesson.

Overstimulated children get tired and can feel overwhelmed. When this happens, they need quiet time and a familiar, calm environment.

Signs of overstimulation

Newborns or babies who are overstimulated might:

• be cranky or tired
• seem upset or turn their heads away
• move in a jerky way
• clench their fists, wave their arms or kick
• cry, especially if the overstimulation has gone on for a long time.

Toddlers or preschoolers who are overstimulated might:

• seem tired, cranky and upset
• cry and not be able to use words to describe their feelings
• throw themselves on the floor in tears or anger
• say they don’t want to keep doing what they’re doing
• refuse to do simple things like putting on a seatbelt.

School-age children who are overstimulated might:

• seem cranky or tired
• be more clumsy than usual – for example, drop or spill things
• be more clingy or need more attention than usual
• become bored easily
• fuss over food
• cooperate less with requests to help
• ask for more help than usual with things like homework or chores.

You’ll get to know the particular signs that your child shows when they’re overstimulated.

Balancing activity time and quiet time

In the first five years of life, children’s brains develop more and faster than at any other time in their lives. Your child’s early experiences – the things your child sees, hears, touches, smells and tastes – stimulate your child’s brain, creating millions of connections.

This means your child needs a stimulating environment with plenty of different activities that provide many ways to play and learn, and a lot of chances to practise what they’re learning.

But babies and young children also need quiet time in predictable and familiar settings to feel secure and calm down.

Your child will benefit from quietly entertaining themselves and exploring their environment in their own way and at their own pace. This time lets your child learn how to occupy themselves, work out when they need quiet time, and find things to do in that time to help themselves calm down.

Babies: dealing with overstimulation

When you see that your baby is overwhelmed, take baby somewhere quiet and less bright, if possible, where they can calm down – for example, the cot. If you’re out with your baby, you can put them in the pram and cover it with a light wrap or blanket. Just make sure you leave a gap for airflow.

Wrapping newborns can help them calm down because it reduces physical sensations. Your baby might also find it soothing to be carried next to your body in a sling or something similar, as you go about your everyday activities.

Toddlers and preschoolers: dealing with overstimulation

Here are some ideas for helping your toddler or preschooler handle overstimulation:

• Try to stay calm yourself. This will help your child to calm down too.
• Reduce the noise and activity around your child. For example, turn off the TV or radio and take your child to their bedroom, or let your child spend time near you if they need to be close to you to wind down.
• Help your child put into words the feelings that they’re expressing through behaviour. For example, you could say, ‘I can see that you’re upset’ or ‘I can see that everything is too much right now’.
• Sit quietly with your child and choose a calming activity. You could read a story, lie down with your child, sing some quiet songs or just stroke your child’s back. When your child is calm, give them some time to play by themselves.
• If your child says they don’t want to keep doing what they’re doing or they're very upset, give them some time-in or work through some steps to calming down. Then see whether you can find out why they felt that way or what they might like to do instead.

If you’re seeing behaviour problems because your child is overstimulated, it’s almost always helpful to tackle them by changing the environment.

School-age children: dealing with overstimulation

At this age, children can start calming themselves down. Here are some ideas to help:

• Help your child put into words the feelings that they’re expressing through behaviour. For example, ‘I can see that you’re upset. It looks like you might be overdoing it’.
• Suggest that your child goes to a quiet place if they’re tired or cranky from overdoing it. For example, they could read or listen to quiet music in their bedroom.
• Talk with your child about which activities your child finds most interesting or valuable. Your child might need to think about letting some activities go if they have too much to cope with.
• Look into mindfulness strategies for your child. You might be able to find some that you and your child could do together.
• Help your child calm down. You can do this by noticing your child's emotions, naming the emotions and pausing. Wait for the emotions to pass and then address behaviour or other problems.

Your child needs enough time during the week to do homework, spend time with family, socialise with friends and just be by themselves.

Finding the right amount of stimulation

The amount of stimulation your child likes will depend on their temperament. Some children cope with stimulating environments better than others.

Let your child be the guide, and remember that a balanced approach is often best.

It’s a good idea to give babies and young children some time each day to spend quietly playing or resting, apart from sleep time.

School-age children probably benefit most from one or two extracurricular activities that they’re really interested in. Sport, music and other clubs can be a fantastic way to develop skills, make new friends and pursue interests. But too much time spent on organised after-school activities might mean your child misses out on time to relax and entertain themselves.

The ability to occupy yourself is an important life skill. By encouraging it, you help your child on their journey towards becoming an independent adult.

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