15 month old asking for food at night

[StepDoor]

Hi

My DS (15 months) has multiple allergies and doesn't drink milk as such, but gets his calcium etc from other sources (all cleared from dietician).

He has plenty of water before bed and during the night, but since being weaned off breast milk has started asking and screaming for food at night.

Should I give in and wake up give him food in the middle of the night, or is this the start of a bad habit? I do try to give him porridge just before bed so his tummy is full but he doesn't always have it.

Thanks

[Iggly]

More food in the day. Milk is full of protein and fat so fills them up. Dairy substitutes usually are not as filling so you need to make sure he's getting enough calories.

So get more meat and fat in if you can (my two couldn't have dairy much until 2)

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with iggly. Could you tell us what he eats in the day?

[Brugmansia]

I'm currently trying to night wean my 19 month old. Sometimes he has been Ok sometimes he clearly wants milk at night because he's hungry.

Personally I think the "more food in the day" isn't a solution. You can offer but they may not eat. Some children may be Ok with only eating in the day. Others are not.

Factor in things like growth spurts and things change again - a couple of weeks Ds basically feed all night then when we got up wolfed down 3 1/2 bowls of cereal in less time he'd usually have one.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Brug agree its not a complete solution but it can help. My DFs Dd was constantly waking for a feed. She was advised that rather than giving 3 meals and 2 snacks she gave 5 or 6 small meals. It took a bit of getting used to, for my DF I mean, but it worked like a dream.

[Iggly]

I would suggest milk at night too - the OP was asking whether to give food at night. Which isn't really ideal. As she isn't giving milk then giving higher calorie food.

My two were bf in the night until about 2.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Could you do a bowl of porridge at bedtime?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Mine were bf at night until 2.8. I think its normal to want milk at night for busy toddlers

[StepDoor]

Thanks everyone Started giving porridge with koko chocolate milk just before bedtime and seems to have helped.

I'm struggling to find high calorie food that is dairy and wheat free. Any ideas?

[Anotherchapter]

My dd s the same and same age too. So frustrating to be making a bloody bottle at 1am when she has slept through for ages now.

[Iggly]

Meat is high calorie and dairy free....

Pulses are another option. E.g. lentils and beans.

[purplemurple1]

Eggs esp if you use more yolks and less whites
Avocado, and chickpeas as dips or spreads

[purplemurple1]

We also add fruit (stewed apple, banana etc) to the porridge to make it more appealing and semolina ( in addition to the rice) to thicken it.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Meat, salmon, sardines, smooth nut butters and avocados are all good sources of fat and protein