As parents, we learn about overstimulation of a child. We often worry about our babies missing their naps because a baby crash-out after being awake for long periods is literally every parent's nightmare. We are told not to expose babies under three years to screens because it messes with their tiny brains. The constant switching of images, colours and sounds is triggering for them.

We are careful not to overplay, overtire, overuse, overexpose and so on just so we do not overexcite them because they do not know how to regulate their emotions. What we don't talk about a lot is the overstimulated parent.

As I have recently mentioned, my baby is transitioning from the ‘newborn lying down’ phase to the excitable ‘trying to sit up’ phase. As a result, the baby is constantly on my person. Either in my arms, sitting with me as support or in a carrier. Since he is a breastfeeding baby, I can confidently affirm that he is clinging to a part of my body at least 20 hours in a day.

It's a phase, but a rough one. As soon as we transitioned from the newborn phase to this one, I could feel the difference. I was more tired than I was freshly postpartum, my brain was mush, my arms and shoulders were sore, emotions ran high and low and I couldn't sleep.

As tired as I am, I just cannot fall asleep. Being needed all day and night has my body shot. I fear falling asleep from being woken to breastfeed. My head feels heavy but my brain won't power down. My eyes sting from soreness but I see clear images from behind shut eyes. Just this morning, I rolled over in my sleep and dreamt that my husband had put the baby in the crook of my arm, and I could see every detail of his sweet round face clearly. Yet I was deep asleep.

Between playing and trying to achieve developmental milestones, caring for the other members of my family and breastfeeding through the night, I realised that overstimulation is a real thing for parents. By the time evening comes and I have put the baby to sleep, I want the least human interaction possible. Dad is on duty for a couple of hours before mum's bedtime. I just need to be alone and wind down my day.

It's important for parents to get a timeout to recharge. It might not be a spa getaway or a child-free vacation, but those few moments I am alone are useful to recharge. Mothers are constantly giving and sharing, if they do not get a chance to refill their own cups, how can they keep giving when they are empty?