Parenting Perspective 

When children suddenly feel thirsty or hungry right before bed, it is usually less about genuine hunger and more about seeking connection and control. Bedtime symbolises separation, and their brain looks for ways to delay that emotional distance.¹ A request for ‘just one more sip’ often means, ‘I am not ready for you to leave yet’. Recognising the emotional need behind the request helps you respond with empathy rather than irritation. 

Anticipate Needs with a Routine 

Pre-empt stall tactics with a clear and caring routine. Offer a small, consistent bedtime snack and a drink of water 30 to 40 minutes before lights-out, making it a non-negotiable part of the wind-down process. For example, you can establish that ‘After pyjamas, we have our last sip and last bite’. By keeping this the same every night, your child’s body and mind will both understand that the opportunity has passed once the routine ends. 

Set Clear and Calm Boundaries 

Once the final drink or snack is finished, gently but firmly close the option. You can say, ‘The kitchen is now closed until breakfast’. Avoid reacting with frustration, as this can prolong the negotiation. Instead, reassure them: ‘You are safe, you have eaten, and your body has what it needs. Now it is time to rest’. This calm certainty provides children with a sense of security that reduces their anxiety over time. 

Address the Emotion, Not the Excuse 

If your child continues to ask for food or drink, pause and connect with them rather than correcting their behaviour. Sit beside them briefly, stroke their hair, or say, ‘It sounds like you need a little more mummy time, not more water’. Offer emotional reassurance, not another refill. The more you meet the real need for comfort, the less the surface behaviour will be repeated. 

Maintain Consistency 

Children test boundaries to feel secure within them. If the rules fluctuate, the testing will continue. However, if they experience calm predictability, knowing there is one chance to eat or drink before bed, the behaviour will eventually fade. Stick to your script gently but firmly, showing that kindness and structure can coexist beautifully. 

Spiritual Insight 

Teaching a child to differentiate between a want and a need is a core part of Islamic tarbiyyah, nurturing self-control and gratitude. Small nightly lessons in restraint become the seeds of lifelong discipline. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’raaf (7), Verse 31: 

‘O children of Adam, take (appropriate) measures to beautify yourself (before you appear) at any place of worship (for Prayer); and eat and drink and do not be extravagant (wasteful), as indeed, He (Allah Almighty) does not like extravagance.‘ 

This verse reminds us that even permissible actions like eating and drinking have boundaries. Moderation is not deprivation; it is a form of dignity. When you teach your child that night-time is for rest, not for repeated snacks, you are aligning them with this divine wisdom, balancing need with gratitude. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2380, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his back straight.³ If he must fill it, then one third for food, one third for drink, and one third for air.’ 

This Hadith teaches moderation as a form of worship. By setting gentle limits on night-time eating and drinking, you are not denying your child comfort; you are helping them practise ihsan, which is excellence through balance. Over time, they learn that peace comes not from more snacks or sips, but from self-control, trust, and the soothing rhythm of a consistent bedtime. Each night becomes a quiet lesson in contentment, a spiritual stillness that mirrors gratitude to Allah Almighty for sufficiency and rest.