15 month old, waking 4-5am, can it be HUNGER??

[jmosery]

my 15 month old sleeps through the night no issues. he had been sleeping from 7pm-6am

about a month ago he started daycare. for about 3 weeks now, he wakes up at 5am. i thought it was because he was sleeping more at daycare(2-3 hour nap) so figured he only needed 10 hours for the night(which is fine)

but it seems that when he wakes, all he wants is to eat. he's up for the day but he just wants to eat

now sometimes he wakes at 4 or 4:30 and i think hes learning sign language and he's hitting his mouth. he eats A LOT of food and he's VERY active. been walking since 10 months so now he's running and climbing and is non stop all day. he eats dinner at 5;30 and bath at 6:30 and bed and out by 7pm most nights 6:45

can it be hunger? should i give him something right before bed? he doesn't drink any milk. only water, so it would have to be food

can they really be hungry or shoudl he be able to go that long

thanks
jaime

[Layla]

I always try & give Bella a top up meal (usually something like porrige or toast) before she goes to sleep... but on the days she doesnt have the late snack, she doesn't wake up in the early hours of the morning expecting food.... so it could somewhat be learnt hunger. I would try to feed him before he goes to sleep... with us Bella will have dinner at 5-5.30 followed by milk (about 180ml) & then something small about 15-20mins before she goes to sleep (which she doesn't always take)

hth
Layla