• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Foods That Help Toddlers Sleep

October 11, 2016 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

It is common for toddlers to go through phases during which they have trouble falling or staying asleep. Its prevalence, though, does not make it any easier on a sleep-deprived parent. If you find yourself having bedtime battles with your toddler night after night, you might consider adding some of these sleep-inducing foods to your child’s diet. As some of these foods are potentially allergenic, be sure your child has no history of food allergies before serving them.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a flower that has long been used in teas for its calming effects. To use it as a sleep aid for your toddler, brew a cup of chamomile tea and sweeten it with 1 or 2 tsp. of honey (only if your child is at least 12 months of age). Allow it to cool slightly and then serve it to your child 30 minutes before bedtime. Be careful when buying teas designed as sleep aids—these sometimes contain other herbs that might not be safe for young children.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an amino acid that has long been blamed for the post-Thanksgiving Dinner slump. While it does promote drowsiness, it can be found in many foods besides turkey. Try feeding your child a dinner or bedtime snack that includes the following high-tryptophan foods: milk, cottage cheese, nuts and seeds, shellfish, beans and eggs.

High Carb/Low Protein

This magic combination can help your child to get to sleep and stay asleep. Some high carb/low protein examples include apples with peanut butter, whole wheat crackers and cheese, a bagel with cream cheese, or cereal and milk.

Bananas

Bananas are packed with sleep-inducing hormones and minerals. First, bananas contain melatonin and serotonin which help to calm you and regulate your sleep cycles. They also contain a healthy dose of magnesium which acts as a natural muscle relaxant.

Warm Milk

If you think that drinking warm milk to help you sleep is an old wives’ tale, think again. Not only does milk contain that natural sleep aid, tryptophan, it also contains a ton of calcium which helps the body process tryptophan. If that isn’t enough, warm beverages raise the body temperature which also helps to induce sleep.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Kids, Parenting

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

The other day one of my teenage daughters told me she was … [Read More...] about 10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Repair Scratches in Glass Tabletops

How to Repair Scratches in Glass Tabletops

fade hair color quickly

How to Fade Hair Color Quickly

How to Fix a Broken Slab of Marble

substitution for oil in baking brownies

Substitution for Oil in Baking Brownies

How to Take Wrinkles Out of Polyester With Steam

10 foods to improve sperm count and quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

How to Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.