Is she eating enough to sleep thry the night(13 months old)?

Question

I know everyone says try to get her to eat more during the day, but I can't force feed her. She was barely eating anything and only depending on her formula. She is getting better at eating and she is on milk now. Tell me if you think what she eats in a typical day would still make her hungry at night.

Wake up at 7 - breakfast -1/4 cup oatmeal and 1 container stage 2 fruit, water and a handful of puffs

8:30 - 5 oz. bottle of milk 11:00- snack - 2 or 3 wagon wheels and some water 12:00 - 6 oz. bottle of milk

1:30 - snack - 1/4 piece of bread, puffs and some cheerios 3:30 - 5 oz. bottle of milk

5:30-6:00- dinner - some kind of veggies, bread whatever i can get her to eat

7-7:30 8 oz. bottle of milk this is a good day of eating. She usually eats less than this. Should this be enough to sustain her thru the night? Do you think it is out of habit or is she hungry? Is the formula more filling than whole milk. I am so sick of her waking up. If I knew it was a habit, I would let her cry more than I do, but I can't be sure. I try to feed her more before bed. Last night she had a good dinner and snacks before bed and then an 8 oz. bottle before bed. She was up more than ever to drink. 2 feedings. She drank 11 oz. in the middle of the night. Maybe it is a growth spurt or she is getting use to the milk. The waking up more has happened since she has been on full milk. input please. thanks Debbie

Answer 1

Weight gain is what matters, not how much she's eating. As far as eating enough to sleep through the night, my son is in the 96th percentile for weight and STILL doesn't sleep through the night.

They have lots of changes in their sleeping patterns in those first few years, don't jump to conclusions that she's not eating enough.

You're absolutely right not to force or coax her to eat. Toddlers appetites drop off at about age 1 - they just don't grow as quickly as they did as infants. Her diet sounds a bit starchy, but okay. Maybe lighten up on the high carb stuff and offer fresh or dried fruit (cereal toppers with no added sugar). My son would also gobble up steamed corn or carrots as a snack.

ps: I don't sleep well myself if I've just eaten, maybe move up that last bottle?

Answer 2

Ok I am really going through the menu that I used with my son. Ditch the wagon wheels and puffs for now. I would give my son cheerios as a snack. In a small container, barely a cup with milk. For breakfast a full package of that instant oatmeal with milk. Fruit also as a snack. A whole banana, or a small cup of grapes. Dinner I would give him a bowl of vegetables, or those gerber little dinners. I still gave him a cup of milk at night before he went to bed. Formula is heavier then milk.

Now I know its getting frustrating, I know what you are going through. My son is 3 years now, and will still wake up in the middle of the night.

Another factor I don't know if you have considered. How active is she during the day? If she doesn't get enough exercise this can cause her to wake up during the night.

Answer 3

Ok so I agree with substituting junk for healthy stuff, and also to the fact that a warm bath before bed helps. The food is NOT the issue here- its ROUTINE, a schedule. She knows if she cries at night, you'll be there to give her a bottle. I had my 5 yr old and my 5 month old sleeping through the night by 3 months. Good for you for getting rid if the formula. One my daughters birthday, we threw away her bottles together, celebrating her being a "big girl." I weaned her off the bottle with a cup, and she was off the sippy cup by 18 months. The key for you is to slowly start keeping her in her own bed when she cries. If she gets out of bed, take her with you and let her sit on the counter while you fill a sippy with water. Add ice to make it fun. Then WALK her back to bed, and get her snuggly. Giving her 11 ounces of milk in the middle of the night is whats making her a picky eater during the day. If you try this, and help her feel more like a big girl, she'll make the transition between bottles and cups faster, and also to sleeping through the night.

I would get rid if the baby food stage 3's all together. Make finger foods, mash stuff up on her plate with a fork so she can see you. As long as you shop right, there's really no need to buy mashed up food in a jar when you can do it yourself for WAY cheaper. Your little one is getting picky because you need to make the transition between baby and real food, between baby and a big girl. My daughter eats wonderfully, not at all picky except a few dislikes. She even tries new things just to be grown up likke mom. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I would cut out the wagon wheels and the cheerios and substatute them with dried fruit or not dried fruit, i was told that a good rule of thumb with a fussy eater is what ever you give them make sure its good for them and save the treats for later.
I have a VERY fussy 4 year old that eats less in a day then what your 13 mth old eats.
so just try too get her to eat good stuff when she does eat so she is getting all the neutriants that she needs... As for wakeing up maybe its a growth spirt, I would give her water instead of milk she isnt missing out on anything. Also you can by toddler formula's now you could try giving her just one before bed it might fill her up.
Good Luck. Its all trial and error :)

Answer 5

I think the wagon wheels are a little much, they ar empty calories and won't do much of anything to help your situation. Personally, looking at your information, I would honestly say that this nighttime feeding issue is strictly out of habit, not out of need. My daughter still does it...she's 18 months. Its hard to say no, but she's starting to accept the fact that she won't get anything other than a bottle of water and now, she figures its a waste of time to wake up for. Don't put her to bed with a bottle of anything other than water but thats what I do, give my daughter a bottle of water in her crib and she pretty much sleeps through the night. Bottle is a bad word, I give her a sippy cup and soon enough, I will take it away altogether. Good Luck

Answer 6

As long as the Doctor does not see problems then try not to worry. I know it is hard not to. The baby is young, you are responsible for his care and well being. I understand your worry. But since the doctor said there is nothing to worry about then try not to. If he were thin, weak, and too small for his age then those are signs of him not eating enough. Is his crying while feeding him recent? If so, you might want to have him checked for an ear infection. They are common in young babies. If his ears are fine then his crying might be him telling you that he has had enough. Feed him often if you are concerned. If he only takes a 3 ounces at a time, that is fine. He will eat what he needs.

Answer 7

She is hungry. I would have dinner later and feed her something that will stick like pasta, cheese etc. I would be starving if all I ate was some veggies at 5:30. When my kids were that age, they ate almost everything I ate, but cut up real small.

Also, what's with all the milk? Milk is all sugar and spikes blood sugar. It's way too much.

Answer 8

I hesitate to answer this question but this is what I did with my children. (Incidentally, my sons were eating pureed meat at 12 mos.) I would keep them up as late as I could, then given them a nice warm bath, a bottle with a tablespoon of baby cereal in it. (I would make the hole a tad larger, now they have cereal nipples) and they would sleep thru the night. It does not seem she is getting enough food, I mean real food, use your blender and give her real carrots, fruit and meats, she seems under-nourished.