[Cranky Kitten]

So in a typical day DS eats pretty well - breakfast is usually around 7am and will generally consist of either a piece of toast or 1.5 weetbix (he finishes most of it, maybe a mouthful or two left), morning tea he'll have fruit of some sort then lunch at around 11.30am which could be a sandwich or picking plate of cold meats, cheese, snow peas etc. Afternoon tea he'll sometimes have a biscuit or cracker, sometimes more fruit (loves apples at the moment) or yoghurt (shhhh!) and dinner is usually around 5.30pm where he'll have whatever we're having. He goes to bed sometime between 7-8pm *most* of the time. He guzzles plenty of water throughout the day as well.

The trouble is he's waking at 4.30-5am crying, and won't settle back down - if I offer him a small something to eat he'll wolf it down but generally be cranky and irritable until breakfast. I'm not a fan of 5am personally, wondering if a small snack after bath-time before bed or something will help him get through the 5-7am still sleeping rather than cranking for food. And what sort of snack to offer? More fruit, something else?

I should note that he was previously bfing 2-3 times a day, this is down to twice a day (morning and night) but I'm not sure he's getting much more than comfort from it any more, he asks for water as soon as he's done. My supply has dropped a fair bit due to pregnancy, so maybe he's needing something to replace what he was getting from me?

[sakura73]

Have you tried offering milk just before bed? If your supply is dropping perhaps some milk in a cup or bottle would help.

My 17 month DS is also waking very early and I think it is hunger. I am giving bottle just before bed and still doing a BF in the morning. Am trying to tank him up with milk before bed but also often if I BF him at 5-ish he will go back to sleep again.

[opethmum]

I would give him some milk, I usually do not stop milk before bed until they are approaching 2 years old or at dinner time give him banana, I know banana is a filling fruit and can aid sleep.
Good luck and I hope you find that maGIc combination for your DS.

[Cranky Kitten]

Hmmm, thus far he hasn't shown a lot of interest in drinking milk except from me, but might be worth trying a small cup of warm milk before bed...

He does like bananas though.

[Crombek]

We do this with our 16 month old, he gets as much yoghurt as he will eat around 1/2 hour before bed, then bf just before bed. Still wakes up between 4-5 every morning though! Although he will generally go back to sleep with the morning breastfeed for an hour or so in bed with us.

[meggs1]

My son has a sippy cup of milk while we read bedtime stories. He still wants a BF before sleep, but I don't think there's really anything there. I think it helps a bit with sleeping later.

[lucky 2]

If he would allow you could offer him more than 2 sides at the breast feed, ie switching sides and every time he swallows that's more milk intake, he'll get more from the breasts that way and boost supply somewhat.
What sort of things is he having for dinner, ? if it could be a bit higher in protein and/or some good fats?
I would stick with cup feeding at that age vs using a bottle.
All the best.

[lilwonder]

We have had this and milk and a piece of cheese just before bed seems to help

[Fire_fly]

My dd has had a small banana before bed since about 18mths it's sometimes painful because its such a habit but we are slowly getting rid of it now at 3. It seemed to help tide her over and she sleeps now until 6.30 - 7ish.

[madmax1]

My son is 15 months and has a nice big bottle of milk before bed. He still wake up between 4-5 am and has milk then too and that keeps him going till between 6 and 7am. Some days he doesnt need it and goes straight through. I am hoping to wean him off the bottle by 18 months but right now I need my sleep. I thought it was just something they did at this age, and am hoping he grows out of it.