If you’re overeating because you aren’t eating enough during the day, getting yourself into a routine may be helpful. Identifying the cause can help you take the right steps to solve the problem. Nighttime eating can be caused by boredom, hunger, binge eating disorder and nighttime eating syndrome. On the other hand, people with nighttime eating syndrome tend to graze throughout the evening and wake up during the night to eat, consuming at least 25% of their daily calories at night ( 7, 8).īoth conditions have been linked to obesity, depression, and trouble sleeping. In both, people use food to curb emotions such as sadness, anger or frustration, and they often eat even when they are not hungry.īinge eaters also tend to eat very large amounts of food in one sitting and feel out of control while they are eating ( 6). These two disorders are characterized by different eating patterns and behaviors, but they can have the same negative effects on your health ( 4, 5). However, nighttime eating has also been linked to some eating disorders, including binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome ( 1, 2, 3). Nighttime eating may be the result of overly restricted daytime food intake, leading to hunger at night. To change this habit, you need to identify the cause of the problem. Additional Information from Health圜hildren.Some people eat most of their food late in the evening or during the night. Keep in mind that sleep problems are very common, and with time and help from your child's doctor, you and your child will overcome them. Track this information for 1 to 2 weeks and bring it with you when you talk with your child's doctor. What you do to comfort and console her when she wakes up during the night What she needs to fall asleep (for example, a favorite toy or blanket) How much sleep she normally gets at night Keep a sleep diary to help track your child's problem that includes the following: If you are concerned about your child's sleep habits, talk with your child's doctor. If night terrors persist, talk with your child's doctor. If your child has night terrors, be sure to tell babysitters what they are and what to do. Remember, after a short time your child will probably relax and sleep quietly again. If he tries to get out of bed, gently restrain him. Make sure your child cannot hurt himself. Night terrors are often more frightening for the parent than the child. Unlike a nightmare, a child will not remember a night terror. Most children fall right back to sleep after a night terror because they actually have not been awake. While night terrors can last as long as 45 minutes, most are much shorter. Try to push you away, especially if you try to hold him Not recognize you or realize you are there Have a terrified, confused, or glassy-eyed look Deepest sleep is usually early in the night, often before parents' bedtime. Night terrors occur most often in toddlers and preschoolers and take place during the deepest stages of sleep.
See if there is something that is scaring your child, like shadows. Once your child is ready, encourage her to go back to sleep. Remind her that dreams are not real.Īllow her to keep a light on if it makes her feel better. What Parents Can DoĪssure her that you are there and will not let anything harm her.Įncourage her to tell you what happened in the dream. Children may wake up crying or feeling afraid and may have trouble falling back to sleep. Nightmares are scary dreams that often happen during the second half of the night when dreaming is most intense. If your child's sleep problems persist or get worse, talk with your child's doctor. Keeping your child on a regular sleep schedule may help prevent many of these problems.
Most of these happen when children are overtired or under stress. There are many things that can cause a child to wake up during the night.