8.5yo regularly waking at 1/2/3am hungry - growth spurt or habit? Should he eat or not eat?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure what may work, it’s happening more often. Dinner is different each night and the kids do get to pick a dessert if they are hungry to follow. He has a snack after school, dinner, dessert then bath/bed. (Activities are mainly weekends but the routine of waking still happens.)

It started with him occasionally waking at around 11:45p/12a during the winter and I did start to allow him a quick snack and I’m not sure if this got his body adjusted to eating again in the night but he is full after dinner which I pushed back to 7pm. But hungry again in the middle of the night. My husband thinks it’s better to not eat in the middle of the night even if he is hungry as he does eat breakfast before school at around 7am.

He’s about 93lbs and always ranged around/above 99th percentile for height.

Do you allow snacking late into the night? Does it create a bad habit over time?

[Anonymous]

We don’t. Not for weight/body image issues for practicalities - don’t want crumbs, what about brushing teeth again, hard to fall back asleep once you are awake enough to eat and do teeth.

Maybe try more healthy fats and proteins at dinner to stay full longer, but we do t allow snacking after lights out.

[Anonymous]

Yes he should eat!

[Anonymous]

Can you do a bedtime snack right before bed?

[Anonymous]

He's not a baby. I can't imagine letting my 9 year old eat in the middle of the night. Sounds like he's in a bad habit now.

[Anonymous]

I also have a kid with similar stats and a big appetite. I’d do a heavy snack with fat and protein before bed (bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter, Greek yogurt), then leave a banana or apple in his room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's not a baby. I can't imagine letting my 9 year old eat in the middle of the night. Sounds like he's in a bad habit now.

I agree with this. Also would ask the doctor about it—could be he’s not getting enough protein during the day/filling up with carbs or sugary stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes he should eat!

At 2am?? Sleep is critically important for kids. He can eat a snack before bed and a big breakfast so that he actually gets a good night sleep.

[Anonymous]

Does he have a lot to drink before bed? Is he waking up middle of the night because he needs to use the bathroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes he should eat!

At 2am?? Sleep is critically important for kids. He can eat a snack before bed and a big breakfast so that he actually gets a good night sleep.

Taking 5 minutes to eat a snack when hungry doesn't impede a good night's sleep.

[Anonymous]

I'd give the same exact snack every time. Something with fat - maybe half a piece of toast with peanut butter and banana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd give the same exact snack every time. Something with fat - maybe half a piece of toast with peanut butter and banana.

Who is making toast at 2 am?!? That will absolutely disrupt the sleep of the kid at least if not a parent as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes he should eat!

At 2am?? Sleep is critically important for kids. He can eat a snack before bed and a big breakfast so that he actually gets a good night sleep.

Taking 5 minutes to eat a snack when hungry doesn't impede a good night's sleep.

The OP proves it does. The kid now has a habit of night time waking to eat.

[Anonymous]

I would not allow food in the middle of the night--I think it's likely to become a habit and bad for teeth (kid won't remember to brush). But I have no problem with a filling and healthy snack before bed. One of my kids doesn't like to eat much breakfast but he has a plate of, for examples, cashews, grapes plus a banana (or yogurt, almonds and an apple) a few hours after dinner. He's done it for years.

[Anonymous]

Is he fat?