Why would a toddler fall asleep at dinner every day?

Question

Why would a toddler start falling asleep only at dinnertime everyday? He has been refusing his naps though I do put him down for one, but he is falling asleep at the dinner table instead. What is odd is that even though he is tired other times of the day, he only falls asleep at dinner time while eating. I thought maybe it was just a relaxed inactive moment to fall asleep, but he was watching a movie and did not fall asleep during this time. Any ideas or similar situations you can share. I have already considered a growth spurt....buy only at dinner?

Answer 1

The only way my sister got her son to nap was to shut ever thing off, and both lay in her bed

Answer 2

It seems as though its at dinner because thats what time he's ready for his nightime rest. You can try either waking him up earlier in the morning so that he does go down for a midday nap - then will fall asleep later at night, or just have him eat dinner earlier then usual.....

Answer 3

growth spurt at dinner.. lol.. my son did the same thing.. but not for long. I would say put him to bed earlier..

TOdllers do a lot of bouncing around.. so they tire easily..

My son would eat a bit and fall asleep in the food..

but now doesnt.

Answer 4

Is someone drugging his food?

Answer 5

its a natural human instinctive action, and that combined with the fact that he is not having a nap makes it very understandable that your toddler is falling asleep.

remember after thanksgiving dinner, you felt pretty stuffed and all warm and cozy and a little drowzy, its a humans bodys natural reaction to start dozing off after eating, it has to do with efficient digestion and stuff.

try and get the kid to take a nap by taking a nap with him or her. dim the lights a pull down teh shades, do so right after lunch..

or its a possibility but highly unproabably that your silverware contains and intense compound alergen that your todler is allergic to and is causing vascular weakness and thus the child is blacking out during the meal.

Answer 6

Well, he's tired of course!  My little sister used to fall asleep on her high chair tray regularly.  I don't think there is anythign to worry about here unless you little guy isn't getting enough nourishment.

Answer 7

because he doesn't take a nap (0r doesn't sleep during one) he is absolutely exhausted. this basically means that by 5/6 o'clock, he's ready to pass out. which he then does.

Answer 8

he's not napping so of course he's falling asleep on jon and kate plus 8 there sextuplets just turned 4 and would spend naptime bouncing around there rooms so there kids fell asleep too

Answer 9

Sounds like he's overtired. My son also falls asleep during meal times when he hasn't napped.

Check out the babywhisperer forum for some advice (if it's something you want to stop from happening). A lot of the mom's have great advice for naps, routines and schedules.

Answer 10

What time is dinner?   People don't seem to realize that children metabolize food faster and need to eat oftener.  You probably need to look at meal times and the time span between them.  Dinner should be earlier, around 4-5, and not 7, and then they need around 12 hrs. sleep/day so he should be in bed by the very latest 7:30-8:00.

Answer 11

are you feedinmg him foods high in tryptophane?

Answer 12

He probably might be doing that to get attention or to get your goat.  When I was little I would fall asleep on the ground at the park. I probably did it for attention. Remember kids will test their limits to see what gets your goat and what doesn't.