So, as you know, I'm always embarking on some part of my continuous
journey to get LM to sleep....sleep better, sooner, more solidly, enough
to keep me sane after over a year of crappy sleep etc etc.
Recently,
TH was on daddy duty while I went to a panel for incoming parents next
year. I came home shortly before bedtime and LM was in his high chair
going to town on some ham. Apparently, he was fussy so instead of
assuming it might be time to wind down for bed, he fed him.
AND....because why not...LM went immediately to sleep after his
bedtime bottle and slept all night. TH is quite proud of himself of
course and insisted it was the snack. Since LM does get cranky bananas
for dinner around 5-530, I conceded it was possible he might be a bit
hungry. So, we kept giving him a little snack a bit before bed---mostly
proteins. And he slept really really well.
Now, it's
not perfect by any means...we've had a few bad nights that may have been
chalked up to not really much of a snack just as much as it could've
been teeth, nap issues etc. But--since I'm superstitious, if it works, I
repeat it until it doesn't. BUT--like all things that I feel like could
be habit-forming....I worry.
I worry that by
encouraging this very "fourth meal" habit, he'll either become dependent
on it or fat. And--is it really a good idea for a snack that time of
night to be ham or string cheese slices? Or, like the other night when
we were eating our own dinner around this time, some pork bbq. Am I
screwing this kid up? Will he be that college dude who has to hit up
"the bell" late at night because he can't sleep without a full belly?
Add to this that one of my pet peeves about my SIL and her kids is that
they snack ALL THE TIME, and graze at meals as a result. Super fun on
vacation...it's always time to stop for a snack.
Thoughts on "snacks" as a fourth meal?
i think at this age it's good to let them eat whenever they are hungry, including just before bed. you are so lucky you have a good eater, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get my daughter to eat much of anything, ever. i swear, i don't even know what she sustains herself on, it's very frustrating.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you should worry too much on it becoming a bad habit. I know it's hard now, but he will eventually sleep through the night all the time. Eating before bed at his age probably won't make him fat. They have fast motabilism and are very active throughout the day. By your one year update it doesn't sound like he is over weight, the extra calories might not be that bad for him. Don't worry, you're doing a great job :)
ReplyDeleteJust dropping by to let you know that I'm thinking of you and that I hope all is well!
ReplyDelete