It’s been a rough week trying to get our toddler to sleep through the night without nursing. After hours of research I stumbled across an article published by Dr. Sears, one of my favorite attachment parenting advocates and doctors.

According to Dr. Sears, giving your child a nighttime snack 45 minutes to one hour before bedtime, can maximize sleep inducing effects. Duh, why didn’t I think of that?

 We usually have dinner around 6:30pm and by the time bedtime rolls around it’s 8:30pm and that’s a good two hours for him to digest his dinner. I’m sure my child would easily take a snack right before we crawl into bed. 

Here are 9 self-inducing snacks to feed your child before bedtime:

1. Eggs

Did someone say breakfast for dinner? Whether your child likes boiled, poached, or scrambled. Cook those babies up and add a slice of toast. A good mix of carbohydrates and protein make a great late night snack. Eggs are rich in tryptophan, too. An amino acid that is supposed to induce sleepiness. 

2. Cherry Juice

Yeah, I scratched my head at this one too but apparently, tart cherry juice that’s diluted a little with water (or added to a smoothie) can promote sleep due to its phytochemicals. Think melatonin.

3. Avocado

A good one for kids and babies alike is avocados. Slice them or mash them up with some crackers for a vegetarian source of protein. This superfood also contains Omega 3 which aids in sleep.

4. Turkey

Think about thanksgiving, you stuff your belly up on Turkey and it’s time for a nap. So it only makes since that turkey is a sleep-inducing food. 

5. Oatmeal

Loaded with fiber, Oatmeal is a superfood before bed. It will fill the tummy right up. As for the little one, stay away from the flavored oatmeal packages that are loaded with sugar. We prefer to buy the plain old fashioned oats from publix and add our own ingredients to sweeten it up such as honey or brown sugar. 

6. Bananas 

These perfectly snack-sized superfruits are packed with potassium and magnesium, two minerals that promote muscle relaxation

7. Large glass of Milk

Dairy products are rich in melatonin-boosting calcium, and a number of studies are finding that calcium deficiencies are linked to poor sleep quality. 

8. A slice of toast

Bread is a carbohydrate-rich food. Carbs trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin

Note: Medical professionals suggest avoiding sugary, processed carbohydrates  such as a bowl of sugary cereal or toddler cookies before bed, as they may actually have an adverse affect on going “night night.”

Good luck Mamas!