foods to aid sleep?

[rockyroadbite]

DS (8.5 mo) still has two feeds in the night which I'm ok with but he will sometimes wake up to six times. We just shush him back to sleep if it's not time for a feed.

I've been reading about foods to promote sleep, i.e. Banana, diary, oats, so wonder whether to give that at dinner (5pm) to help him settle at night. Anyone tried this, any success?

I would need to shift his main meal (meat/fish, veg, fruit) to lunchtime. And then what do I give him for breakfast? At the moment he has weetabix or porridge with banana or some other fruit so I wouldn't want to give that twice a day.

But I do wonder if having his main meal in the evening is contributing to the night waking.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Don't the amino acids in meat and fish also promote sleep too?

[rockyroadbite]

Apparently there's sleepy ones and others that get you revved up. There's a thing on the Dr Sears website about it, although I think the basic message is to have carbs with your protein so that the sleepy ones can do their thing.

DS had cheesy pasta and banana for dinner last night and woke five times. Hmm. Slight improvement on six I guess, not that I was expecting a magic bullet or anything (although would be nice). Will try giving more potato and less chicken tonight.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Is this a new thing? If he's 8.5 months could it just be the 9 month sleep regression hitting early?

[rockyroadbite]

Alas no, has been waking 4-6 times since 3mo. Low point was spring bank holiday when he was waking 8+ times (remember it well).

Have been working on a few things. He will now self settle at bedtime and we're down to two night feeds. Trying to ensure at least two hrs nap time during the day. So thought tweaking his diet was worth a shot too.