The last few nights H has been asking to eat as DH puts him down...like, right before he goes into the crib. We've been feeding him ...and he does eat, sometimes a few bites, sometimes more. This happens whether he's eaten a poor dinner or a huge dinner. He typically eats dinner about 1 or 1.5 hours before bedtime.
I think he's stalling and told DH not to give in tonight. He ate an entire smoked pork chop and a huge serving of corn casserole for dinner. Plus two huge snacks since 3pm. I just don't see how he could be hungry.
So we put him to bed crying tonight. The thought of him going to bed hungry breaks my heart, but I truly do not think this is the case.
But isn't he a little young to be stalling this way? Anyone else have a toddler stall bedtime at this age?
ETA: FWIW, he only cried for a couple minutes and is now rolling around in his crib like he does every night before going to sleep.
Re: stalling at bedtime?
YES! Jake is just starting to stall, but in different ways. Now he asks for more and more books, more milk, etc. Then when he comes out to say goodnight (he'll run out and give either DH or I a kiss goodnight- whoever isn't putting him to bed) and now, he'll run to his toys, run into other rooms and thinks it's the most hysterical thing. He's definitely stalling- and it's really obvious.
If you're sure he's not hungry, then I'd probably stick to your guns...I'm sure it'll only get worse if you give in. But I'm kinda mean like that
I remember stalling so much as a kid- probably when I was 4 or 5. "I have to go to the bathroom. I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I'm scared." LOL, I'll probably be paying for that for years to come
Yes- Patrick does this too! If he asks for food (which he rarely does because he doesn't get it) I offer a straw cup of water. He is usually pleased to have this. He does not get to get out of bed for the straw cup of water (I run down and get it myself), but he got one more interaction with mama, and I think that is what he is searching for. It might be a bad habit to let my child sleep with a straw cup of water, but I'm okay with that habit. And I have actually heard him wake up in the middle of the night and drink from it, so I do think he actually gets thirsty in the middle of the night.
Stalling is a kids expertise!!!
My DS gets the water cup too, when he asks for it. He always stalls by looking for his water, or by asking for hugs and kisses. We give a few hugs/kisses then say good night. He has cried before saying "hugs!!" and I feel awful leaving him and letting him cry, but it is pretty clearly a stalling tactic. He has just gotten some nice hugs! Apparently they all do it!
Jude just started doing this too. But with him, he asks for more and more books. He realizes when a book is coming to an end and will start pointing towards his shelf and asking for another. Then it's water before bed too. A couple of times he's asked for a cracker (random). It's totally stalling.