A full tummy to aid a peaceful night

[Taler]

I've had a few people now comment that maybe the reason why DD (18 months) has many restless nights is because she's hungry.

My SIL said with her 3 boys she'd feed them some cereal before bedtime, even when they had a bottle too!

I'm not so sure that hunger is the reason why she wakes (although no idea why she does!!) as she at home she has dinner at 5pm followed by fruit and/or pudding. At nursery she has dinner at 4pm and a snack around 5:15. Then she has her bedtime bottle at 6:30/6:45 where most nights she has 6-7oz.

Sometimes it's definitely teething why she wakes but can't be always!

Just so frustrating when you hear other parents say things like "my 9 month old has been sleeping through for ages". Helpful!!! Not!!

[purplemurple1]

I gave porridge at night from around 7 months, it was obv it was what he needed as he woke for food. But at around 18ths hw started waking again and it has been moslty that he needs kess sleep in the day. You just have to try a few things and hope somethin will work, you've nothing to lose after all.

[DeeWe]

They can wake with hunger, but for mine it didn't make any difference.
Dd1 slept 12 hours at 8 weeks, and continued doing so, even on days where she hadn't eaten much. I never gave her an evening snack other than milk.

Dd2 never slept through, often waking 2-3 times until she was gone 18 months.
I did exactly the same with them both, the only thing I did do was at about a year I tried giving cereal at bedtime. It made no difference whatsoever-I kept a food diary for about 3-6 months to see if what she ate made any difference to how she slept.

[squidgyapple]

I fed my DD some cereal before bedtime like your SIL and it did help her sleep better - HV recommended this.

[purplemurple1]

I assume you've googled 18 month sleep regression, seems to be a common age for sleep problems.

[Nectarines]

Sorry no advice, but I'm going through exactly the same! Knackering isn't it?!

[slightlyconfused85]

I've never given an extra snack before bed; surely this would just keep them awake while they digest? Same reason I don't eat late. If she eats well at 5pm and has milk can't see why she'd be hingry. More likely separation anxiety, twerhing or just being a toddler!