Many families feed their children a bedtime snack to prevent them from waking up hungry. However, if children eat too much or the wrong type of food, it can be harmful. For many parents, they restrict their children from eating before bed, limit the consumption of milk and sweets, as sugar can suppress the production of growth hormones, hindering height development. For some children with excess weight, eating before bed can increase the risk of obesity. However, the majority of parents still allow their children to eat before bed, especially those under 6 years old.
Letting children go to bed with an empty stomach can cause them to fuss, cry, and have trouble sleeping. However, if you choose two types of food below for your child to eat before bed, it will affect their intelligence.
Foods high in sugar such as candy, sweets…
The Medical Journal of the American Obesity Association published a study by Uppsala University in Sweden, stating that eating sugar before bed can disrupt brain activity during deep sleep and reduce sleep quality. Sugar and sweeteners can stimulate brain activity, making the brain more excited and alert. Therefore, eating sweets before bed can make people dream throughout the night, leading to shallow sleep, affecting deep sleep time.
The sweeteners in cakes usually decompose more slowly during sleep, which can lead to obesity. Therefore, if your child feels hungry before bed, they should avoid foods high in sugar like cakes and candy.
Caffeine-containing foods
Caffeine-containing foods such as coffee, tea, energy drinks… are delicious for adults but can inhibit the nervous system in young children. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, making it difficult for children to sleep or making them drowsy, thus affecting sleep quality.
Moreover, children have even weaker caffeine metabolism, which is not good for them. In addition to coffee and tea, many other foods contain caffeine such as chocolate, coke, so parents should be cautious of these hidden sources of caffeine.
If your child loves coke, coffee, tea, and other caffeine-containing beverages, try to avoid caffeine (whether it’s food or drink containing caffeine) for 6 hours before bed. Because the body needs time to metabolize caffeine.
What to feed children before bed
If your child is hungry before bed, you can give them a warm glass of milk, yogurt, or eggs, whole grain cakes, cereal flour (oat flour, corn), fruits…
If your child is accustomed to drinking milk before bed, they can continue to do so, but they should not leave a pacifier in their mouth while sleeping, as it can cause tooth decay and affect the shape of their lips.
Finally, parents should note that their children should eat less fatty foods, foods high in salt and sugar, whether before bed or at other normal times.
Before putting your child to bed, it is also advisable to limit them from eating too much. To avoid hunger, only allow your child to eat a small snack, as eating too much can make it difficult for them to sleep and can cause indigestion or stomach pain.
What are the Health Risks of Excessive Sleep?
Getting the right amount of sleep every day is important for a healthy life. However, sleeping too much can pose serious risks to one’s wellbeing.
Are You Making These Common Mistakes That Are Affecting Your Sleep?
Have you ever made a mistake when decorating your bedroom that affected your sleep? A common problem is that people often make basic decorating errors that can lead to a messy, unpleasant looking space.
Tips for Keeping Cool on a Hot Summer Day
As extreme weather patterns become increasingly common, many are struggling to find ways to cope. With temperatures in our country rising and cooling far beyond what used to be considered normal for the season, winter often feels like spring and summer can be oppressive and sweltering. How can we prepare for and manage the drastic shifts in climate?
Risks of Deadly Disease Associated with Excessive Sleep
Although getting sufficient rest is essential for good physical and mental health, oversleeping can result in serious health risks, even death.
Investigating the Advantages of Taking Hot and Cold Showers
Need help making a decision between a hot and cold shower? This article compares the benefits of each to help you choose the best option for your personal hygiene.
