Drinking milk in the evening 2 hrs before sleep is advisable as kids' body absorb calcium best during sleep – according to Dr. Le Bach Mai. Drinking milk in this time might also increase sleep quality which is vital for physical development of kids.
Say Goodbye to Milk before Bed
There are a few reasons that milk disturbs sleep, one being its sugar content. Milk actually has a lot of sugar in it–about thirteen grams per serving. A spike in blood sugar levels causes hyperactivity, making it harder for a child to relax and fall asleep.
It can be helpful to encourage your child to give up the bedtime bottle by watering down the milk over several nights. By watering down the milk until it's water, your child might decide those bedtime bottles aren't as good as they used to be! Around this time you might like to try changing from a bottle to a cup.
Michael Dickinson, a paediatrician in Miramichi, NB, is a firm believer in removing bottles as early as possible. He encourages families in his practice to start the weaning process around one year of age. “I don't think there's anything particularly positive to bottle-feeding past 15 months,” says Dickinson.
Never feed your baby lying flat or leave her alone propped up with a bottle, as she may choke. Laying her flat can also make it more likely that milk will flow back down her throat to her middle ear, causing an ear infection.
Try giving them warm milk. If your toddler isn't breastfeeding anymore, a warm glass of milk or a snack before bed might comfort them and help them fall asleep. Do this at the beginning of the bedtime routine, and be sure to brush your toddler's teeth as part of the bedtime routine too.
"Although there is no good evidence to show that a glass of warm milk itself will help induce sleep, if warm milk is part of a child's bedtime routine, it theoretically could help children relax and therefore help them fall asleep," says Dr. Segura.
That ideal time for toddlers to drink milk is with their meals. That is a big change right? Before, bottles or nursing sessions were separate events away from a meal, but now it's important to serve milk as part of the meal. This too, is a transition and does take some time.
After your baby is 6 months old, they no longer need a bottle in the middle of the night. If your little one never dropped the habit, eliminating nighttime feedings can help you and your child get more sleep, and will protect their teeth.
This means too much could lead to: your child filling up on milk (because of the high-fat content) and therefore having less appetite for other foods they need. your child having difficulty absorbing iron and therefore reduced iron stores (because excessive calcium can interfere with iron absorption).
If you are bottle-feeding, consider giving your baby a bottle of water instead of formula at night. All babies (and adults) wake up at night. Babies may make noise or squirm, but they need an opportunity to help themselves fall back asleep.
“Foods that are primarily simple carbs and sugar, such as pop tarts, will make blood sugar rise and then fall quickly, leaving a child hungry again within an hour or two.” She suggests offering snacks like nuts, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, hummus, eggs, beans, tofu, berries, and whole grains.
Drinking too much milk can lead to picky eating, as we already discussed. It can also lead to iron-deficiency anemia. It is important to limit a toddler's milk to 2 cups per day or 16 ounces. When it comes to dairy, toddlers do not need more than 2-3 servings per day total.
Begin to reduce the amount of milk in the bedtime bottle by at least two ounces every two days. When you reach the three-ounce mark, offer a cup of water instead of a bottle during his bedtime routine. This is where you may need to begin sleep coaching at bedtime.
18 month olds benefit from a regular schedule, including 11 - 12 hours of nighttime sleep. Bedtime should be fairly consistent at this age, with most 18 month olds going to bed between 6:00 and 8:00 PM.
Milks is an important part of a toddler's diet. It provides calcium and vitamin D to help build strong bones. Toddlers should have 700 milligrams of calcium and 600 IU (International Units) of vitamin D (which aids in calcium absorption) a day.
Tryptophan and melatonin
Your two best friends for a restful night. Milk (and other dairy products) are a really good source of tryptophan. It's an amino acid that can help promote sleep, so it can come in particularly handy especially if you're used to tossing and turning before finally getting off to sleep.
Almond milk can be a perfect bedtime beverage for you to overcome the complex maze of stressful thoughts in order to sleep well. Almond milk, like cow's milk, is a natural source of tryptophan, which is what your body needs to send you off to a dream world of undisturbed sleep.
Milk is one of the most important drinks to help toddlers get proper sleep. A toddler aged between 1-4 years should drink 150 ml of milk before bedtime whereas one with age 5-8 years should consume 250ml of milk.
Milk Consumption Prior to Sleep
Milk is also a good source of carbohydrates, lipids, and protein, with slow-digesting casein proteins providing the building blocks for your child's body as they sleep. Milk contains chemicals like melatonin and tryptophan, which provide additional health benefits.
But at this age, it's OK to put a light blanket in your child's crib. Also, security items like "lovies" (a small soft blanket or stuffed animal) are OK and can provide a lot of comfort. But don't put any extra-large soft toys or stuffed animals in the crib.
On the other hand, a bedtime snack can offer extra nutrition to your child's day, keep growing kids full, and even help them relax and fall asleep. Kids will sleep better if they go to bed with a little food in their stomachs.
Milk contains tryptophan and melatonin; tryptophan promotes relaxation and causes a child to fall asleep faster, and melatonin regulates the sleep/wake cycle. If your toddler doesn't like milk, cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products are also a good choice for a bedtime snack.
Newborn babies need to feed every few hours until the age of 3 months. After this, it is normal for infants to feed once or twice during the night. Most infants can sleep for 6–8 hours without a feed by the age of 6 months. Once they are 9 months old, most infants can sleep for 11–12 hours without a feed.