Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Bedtime Snacks | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
I have a 2-1/2-year-old and a 4-1/2-year-old. Should I be giving them bedtime snacks? I read somewhere that 12 hours or so (from dinner to breakfast) is a long time for a child to go without food. I also read somewhere food before sleep can cause nightmares. I worry about instilling a bad habit of eating before sleep, which is not healthy as an adult. If you have any informed advice, I would be very grateful.— Kari in Florida | | | ANSWER |
March 22, 2001 | | | Dear Kari,
You're right to be concerned about future eating habits while your children are young. Many young children do need a bedtime snack to hold them over to the next morning, but it really depends on how much they eat throughout the day.
If your children are eating reasonably well during their three meals and two to three snacks a day, and they're growing as they should, they won't need a bedtime snack. If they're gaining weight slowly or you feel you have to fit in an extra feeding, a healthy snack before bedtime might be helpful. If you do decide to give a snack before bedtime, try to schedule your children's feedings throughout the day so that you can give that snack at least an hour before bedtime.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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