https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:13:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409359 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 20:26:09 +0000 gilmoregirl 2409359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 21-month old has been going through phases of refusing most dinners which he is finally coming out of. Although I do serve him what we eat, and I don't make him special food if he rejects what's on his plate, I am careful to include some things that I know he will eat. Because he can be finicky about what he eats, the things I'm SURE about are like, bananas and cheerios. So tonight he had soup, a biscuit, a cheese stick and a banana on his plate. He ate the cheese stick and the banana. </p> <p>I don't think it avoids any picky eating habits, but it means dinner's not a battle. He eats what he wants, and there is always a fruit and a carb that help fill him up. I think he manages to eat enough that way. </p> <p>In the last week or so, he's started eating veggies again, though, so who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409092 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:45:01 +0000 KayKay 2409092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with trying to limit snacks, or at least snacking after a certain time. If my kids eat too late, dinner is hit or miss. </p> <p>I have always made sure there is 1-2 things they will eat with every meal, even if it's fruit or bread or whatever. In pickier phases, I will do 2 things I think they like, just to make sure they will eat 1 of them! I also like @kiddosc: approach about alternating adult-ish dinners with kid-ish ones -- hadn't tried that yet but will keep it in my bag of tricks!</p> <p>ETA: up until about 18mos...or maybe even 2ish...i would offer a pouch if my DD1 hadn't eaten a ton at dinner. she would almost always eat it, and i felt good that it was at least fruits/veggies filling her up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409087 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:40:07 +0000 sarac 2409087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, this is the flip side of 'you offer the food, they choose what and how much to eat'. I don't have a good solution. My daughter eventually figured out that we would give her unlimited snacks after bedtime, so not only was she skipping dinner sometimes, but also delaying bedtime. Now we offer one small snack (yogurt or banana) before bedtime, and only if she's eaten a decent dinner. But she's 4, so she's old enough to understand. No idea how I'm going to handle it with my new baby, to be honest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409075 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:31:13 +0000 kiddosc 2409075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say to give it a little more time. I don't think that two nights is enough to determine much of anything when it comes to sleep. I would also stay the course on only offering him what you made for dinner, but maybe modify the approach a little. If E hardly eats any of what I've made him for a few nights, then I will make something I "know" he will eat for dinner the next night (chicken nuggets, fruit, yogurt, etc.) That way he still gets the message that he only gets what I've prepared for him, but I get a night off from the dinner battle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409073 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:30:53 +0000 littlejoy 2409073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about kefir yogurt before bed? It's good probiotics &amp; protein. We don't do dairy in our house, but I've heard positive stories about adding that in before bed. </p> <p>Regarding food ... We always offer LO what we're eating. If she says she doesn't like it (or made a grossed out face when she was younger), I'd offer her something I new she'd like. If she threw that on the floor, mealtime is over. It's so hard, but after like 2 days of her not eating dinner, she started eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409065 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:23:00 +0000 BabyTsMom 2409065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: i hear you. I have so much anxiety about his sleep, so this is driving me crazy. I just don't want to continue fumbling for "acceptable" foods that he will eat- even that list is ever-evolving. SIGH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409057 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:18:13 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2409057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following because my 15 month old doesnt always want to eat what I offer, and then I end up pulling out all kinds of things so she wont go hungry. I have the same fears about early wakings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409056 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:17:46 +0000 Greentea 2409056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would let him eat what he will eat. (Within reason, of course.) To me, I'd rather have my kid live on snacks than nothing, especially if it is affecting our sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-going-to-bed-hungry-and-waking-up-early#post-2409053 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:13:08 +0000 BabyTsMom 2409053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 19 months old and very picky. Admittedly, I was a short order cook for a long time when he started becoming pickier. I've reached my limit on that, and now I try to provide at least one thing I *think* he will eat (that doesn't always work though).<br /> Well- the last two nights, he has eaten very little. Last night, he ate so little that I gave him a small cup of milk in fear that he would wake up early. Sure enough, the last two days he has woken up early.... It's hard for me not to think the early waking is connected to his hunger. (He does ask for snacks, bread, cookies, etc after dinner so I know he's hungry). I try re-offering dinner, and he refuses.<br /> I don't give him a lot of snacks at all. And if I do, it's usually cheerios, a pouch, or yogurt. I'm cutting out all snacks after nap today to see if it will help with dinner. </p> <p>I guess I'm looking to see if anyone has had this experience.<br /> I need advice. I can't force him to eat his dinner and I don't want to give him the snacks he wants to replace dinner, but I really feel bad if he's waking up early due to hunger.</p> <p>eta: He eats fine for breakfast and most days, lunch too. I would be ok with 2 good meals a day, but again I think he is hungry for dinner but just refuses to eat what I give him! </p>