https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:15:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295826 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:54:39 +0000 mdf106 2295826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have this problem. At 2, I got strict about not offering DS extra options for dinner, and he promptly started waking up earlier. Offering milk was not enough. I need my sleep, and am pregnant, so I had to go back to offering something he liked, and he went back to mostly sleeping until a reasonable time. I do make DS try at least a bite of new foods (i.e. foods he will not regularly eat, not necessarily something completely new), which he almost always does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295579 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 06:54:31 +0000 Tanjowen 2295579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we went for a walk after dinner and when we came back I offered his plate again, along with a very small cup of milk. He drank the milk and that's all, BUT he slept in this morning until 7 am! I'm still a bit in shock but it's nice to know he can skip dinner and be ok :happy: He woke up at least once to eat during the night until he was 15 months old, so it's crazy to me he just went 16 hours without eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295576 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 06:49:58 +0000 pinkb 2295576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: I am in this camp as well. If the child was older like 6 or 7 , I think this tatic is more appropriate. But for toddlers I always make sure there is at least 1 item I know they like included in the meal. At this age I don't think it is part of the power struggle like bedtime usually becomes. My DD has gone thru many food phases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295514 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 00:11:41 +0000 matador84 2295514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will have him have a cup of milk always. I asked our ped about this and she said no worries they have high metabolisms when they're little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295512 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 00:06:59 +0000 erinpye 2295512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This may be unpopular, but I don't agree in sending little growing bodies to bed hungry. If my kids try what I serve with an open mind, I will then give them something else if they dislike it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295491 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 23:15:07 +0000 mrskc 2295491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ugh the food pickiness stinks. We've gotten stricter with my son at dinnertime. No snacks after dinner unless he eats most of his dinner. He's gone to bed hungry a few times, but has never woken up early saying he's hungry. One time tho, he refused lunch and dinner. woke up in the morning and drank some water and threw it all up. I think the super empty stomach made him nauseous. I felt so bad!! </p> <p>I usually put something on his dinner plate that I know he likes along with what we are eating and he has to at least finish that portion of his dinner before he gets any snacks after dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295468 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 22:10:26 +0000 PurplePeony 2295468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: nope, mine will sometimes wake up STARVING even if she has eaten an okay amount for dinner. If we let her get away with eating nothing (or practically nothing) for dinner, it's a guaranteed 4-5 am wakeup. She usually plows through some combination of a dish of yogurt, a packet of instant oatmeal, a pouch, and/or a hardboiled egg if I've got one in the fridge when she wakes up hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295467 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 22:10:00 +0000 mrsjenbug 2295467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I give her a cup of milk before bed (regardless of whether she ate or not - usually doesn't finish it if she ate). I don't give her something else to eat. We haven't been woken up by hunger yet...she's become sooooo picky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295463 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 22:05:51 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2295463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has definitely skipped dinner many times because he refused to eat what I served. He is well nourished, his weight is great for his age and height, I am not concerned if he skips dinner a few times. </p> <p>But yeah he's never woken up in the night saying he's hungry though!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295452 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:47:39 +0000 Anagram 2295452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. Am i the only one whose toddler will wake in the middle of the night hungry she doesn't eat dinner?? She will loterally wake screaming, "hungwee! Pouch!". I just give her a pouch and she goes back to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295446 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:37:57 +0000 sungirl 2295446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree it hasn't happened. I do give him a cup of milk though so I feel like he's getting something </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295430 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:22:57 +0000 blackbird 2295430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also hasn't happened. E skips dinner A LOT big then wants yogurt, a banana, or Cheerios. I say no. She cries. I re offer the food before it gets too late. Then she eats a monstrous healthy breakfast (3 eggs, toast, etc) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295410 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:46:57 +0000 MrsSRS 2295410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for it hasn't happened. Maybe offer milk before bed next time IF it does happen. DS just eats a big breakfast the next day, no sleep impact. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295384 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:13:09 +0000 hilsy85 2295384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has also never happened that he woke up either in the middle of the night or super early. So I would just see what happens! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295380 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:12:17 +0000 kiddosc 2295380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It hasn't happened. He's gone to bed hungry plenty of times but never woken up early complaining he's hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-letting-toddler-go-to-bed-hungry#post-2295367 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:54:11 +0000 Tanjowen 2295367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been struggling recently with my LO and his food pickiness. He has a small list of favorite foods he will eat, and that's it. I know it's a power struggle, but man, this phase sucks. </p> <p>I have fought the good fight at lunchtime the past 2 weeks, and served whatever I am having, and he has eaten maybe 3 lunches. I value my sleep so I gave him food I know he will eat at dinnertime (along with what I"m eating). But, I've hit my limit and gave him only what I ate tonight (sweet potato, black beans and broccoli) and he ate precisely one bite.</p> <p>So the question is this - what do you do if you let them go to bed without eating, and they wake up super early hungry? Give him a cup of milk? Roll with it and be up for the day? </p>