Introducing Solids & Sleep
After hearing a few oohs and aah's whenever I mention how to avoid pooping at 5 am and its correlation to certain foods, I thought it would be good to do a post on how introducing food, can affect your baby's sleep.
- FRUIT AND SLEEP -
Fruit in the later part of the day or after dinner can result in a bowel movement around 5 am. If your baby does poop at 5 am, this window is also where the drive to sleep is especially weak, so going back to sleep would be pretty much impossible.
If you are stuck with your little one having a bowel movement at this time, move fruits to earlier in the day to see if it helps.
There is also one vegetable that I have noticed can cause the same issue and that is sweet potatoes.
I'm not an expert in nutrition or a dietician, but I do know its to do with the amount of sugars in these foods, that ferment or break down overnight, resulting in this issue.
- GOING FROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER -
Effecting both overnight sleep and the onset of sleep.
Maintaining good fluid intake in the day is necessary to avoid getting backed up day or night.
Fiber absorbs water as it passes through the digestive system, making the passing of bowel movements easier.
Most children don't drink massive amounts of water in one go, but small sips throughout the day is suggested.
Especially when you introduce foods, it's good practice to offer water with any foods to just normalize its presence.
- SLOW AND STEADY -
Slow and Steady is best!
Although getting your baby to test and taste out new foods is exciting, if you go hell for leather, you will likely cause an issue in your baby's gut, which will cause either tummy ache or little trumpet trousers overnight.
It's also harder to know which foods, if any, are aggravating your infant.
If they are going to have a reaction to something, you want to know about it by observing them.
The range of symptoms can swing from a small rash around the mouth without any other discomfort to the more troubling signs of vomiting, swollen lips and or eyes, explosive pooping, and difficulty breathing.
Need help starting new foods, or have a picky eater on your hands?
Email me!