Premature babies are born before the nervous system is matured  enough to handle outside stimuli. As a result they are easily overstimulated. It is okay for your baby to sleep most of the time and not interact a lot with you. However your presence is also important. You have to keep your voice low when you are with your baby. You should also keep outside voice and light at a minimum.

How do i know if my premature baby is overstimulated ?

If your premature baby is overstimulated , there may be :

• a drop in blood oxygen
• rapid heart rate
• drop in heart rate
• fussing, squirming to get away, arching his back, sticking his tongue out or yawning
• looks away from you when you make eye contact or speak

These may be due to too much sound, touch , light or movement. If you notice the above signs, you need to give the baby some quite and peace.

Signs that my premature baby is relaxed

You can look of for signs that indicate that your baby is relaxed and ready to interact with you  such as the following :

• relaxed face, mouth, fingers and toes
• eyes opened and engaged
• normal color
• breathing is regular

It is important to know that premature babies go through a lot of handling, procedures and stimulus before their neurological system is matured. It is important to pay attention to the cues of overstimulation and give the baby some quiet time.
Content Sources