Sleeping and Eating Habits: 15 Month Old Boy

Updated on January 19, 2009
A.B. asks from El Paso, TX
4 answers

My little boy has recently developed a few sleeping and eating habits that are beginning to worry me.

About the eating: until early last week, whether he ate on a given day was give and take. Some days, he ate a lot; some days, he ate a little. He's always eaten well: lots of fruits and veggies and never rejecting many foods. But lately, he has been eating non-stop. Last night at dinner, he ate three small steak tenders, a half-cup of lima beans, a few pieces of tomato, cucumber, and broccoli, half a cheese sandwich, and two oranges. After eating his normal dinner, he went to the refridgerator and when I opened it, he asked for the sandwich. When he wanted more, I offered the first orange instead; then he asked for the second. My first worry is why is he suddenly eating so much? Is it just a growth spurt? His belly is poking out a lot more in the last few days, and he's having issues with gas, so I'm worried also that the increased eating is causing digestion problems. Finally, I don't know if I should give him the food just because he asks for it. I know I don't need to let him have junk food, but if he's asking for his third orange, do I really need to let him eat it? How do I know if he's really hungry?

About the sleeping: About the time his eating increased, the quality of his sleep decreased. Never a GREAT napper, he has begun screaming as soon as I walk into his room at nap time, grabbing hold of my shoulders or hair, and crying as if he's terrified to be in the bed. For the past couple of days, I've gone through the typical nap-time routine--holding him in my lap if necessary--and have let him cry for a little bit before going in and getting him. For two of those days, he's immediately fallen asleep on my shoulder and slept for two-plus hours. He is a FABULOUS night sleeper and getting him to sleep at night has not become a problem, but keeping him asleep and in his bed has. For the past two days, he has woken after only an hour of sleep, cried a little, and gone back to sleep. Then, after another hour or two, he wakes SCREAMING, as if he's terrified. I've gone in to him at these points, but all efforts to get him back into his crib have failed. He puts a death-latch on my shoulders and starts crying as soon as I get near it--even when I think he's back asleep. I've resorted to sleeping in the recliner and putting him in the bed with us, and, though he does sleep, it's a restless sleep, with lots of whimpering and crying. My husband and I both think it may be gas from the eating issues, but we've given him Mylicon, and it doesn't seem to help. He's never had terrible gas or reflux issues before....

So, if any of you could tell me something reassuring--like this is a normal growth spurt and the night-time issues could be growth pains or something--that would be greatly appreciated!

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

A.:

Hello and good morning! First off - thank you to you and your husband for serving our country - VERY MUCH appreciated.

Now, on to your problems - I was getting tired just reading it - how hard that must be! My first instinct is to say tape worm - that he's eating so much and never really feeling full. I would take him to the Dr and tell them what's going on - ask them to run some tests just to be sure. It could be something as simple as a growth spurt - but his belly sticking out bothers me. Puts up my "mommy radar" if you know what I mean.

The sleeping issues sound like night terrors to me. 15 months is a little young for them, I think - but that's me. Check his bed and his body - do you see any marks? Like a spider bite or something like? DO NOT freak out. It happens, no matter how clean you keep your home. Spiders happen. He could've gotten a spider bite that hurt and he's remembering that.

Talk with your pediatrician. Write it ALL down so you don't forget anything. Go in with your list of concerns - telling him how much he's eating - his belly sticking out, wanting MORE and not knowing he's full. That happens sometimes - kids eat to eat and don't know the "full" light is on. Any way - talk him about the issues with bed. If you can video tape it - do - then they can see it for themselves.

If you are getting ready to leave for El Paso - could it be that you've boxed up some things that mean something to him that you didn't realize? Being a military brat myself, I remember moving from Taiwan to California and my mom packed my favorite stuffed animal by accident. She moved heaven and earth to get it back for me. But she didn't realize what she was packing - etc. You know how that goes!

Take good care! I hope this all turns out to be nothing and you have safe travels to Texas.

Cheryl

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P.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I would take your boy to the pediatrician and ask to do a stool sample. It might be a parasite in his intestine called tenia. It causes HUNGER and NIGHTMARES. It's easily treatable so don't worry.

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A.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Sounds like a mixture of testing his boundaries (how much can I get? do I really need to sleep? what can I get mom to do? etc.) with a growth spurt and his body handling digesting the extra.

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L.V.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi A., i am exhausted just reading. I do believe kids go through growth spurts and eat when they are hungry. You might just say no snacks between meals. Just because he is hungry doesn't mean he needs to eat immediately. And he is just learning about what hungry feels like. You are right i think, by the third orange, he has had enough.
My son had night terrors, i don't remember if he was that young though. He would get up and scream and dance around. He was apparently still sleeping. I was told to put him in front of the TV and it helps him zone back out. That worked. I think that when kids are that terrified, it is best to just stay with them and help them get over whatever the fear is. Maybe a dog in the neighborhood or something totally innocuous is scaring him. Be patient, it won't last forever. Good Luck

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