Do formula-fed babies really sleep better?

[ShellBell1029]

I have been breastfeeding DD for almost 9 months now, I've never given her formula. She is on about 3 meals of solid foods a day too, but they are small. She mostly just BFs and has snacks and some baby food/finger foods. She is up a minimum of twice a night, sometimes 4 times. I pull her into bed (she is still in our room) and offer the breast, most times she eats but sometimes she sucks a couple times and passes out again. But if I don't pick her up, she will continue to cry. Now everyone I know who has formula-fed, their babies sleep through the night...is it because formula is thicker and takes longer to digest, or is it just a fluke that their babies sleep through the night and mine doesn't? I have been so haggard and exhausted that I've seriously considered giving her a bottle of formula just to see if we could get some sleep, but I've never done it. I think I would feel guilty afterwards that I was doing it for selfish reasons, but mamas, you know we get crazy when we get tired!! Any advice/comments are welcome!!

[CEVmommy]

I think it is likely true because formula is harder to digest and therefore takes longer to digest. That said, it's not nearly enough reason for me to want to give formula - it's not worth it to me.

[Mommy2LivandNoah]

It does take longer to digest, but I've known lots of people who have babies that still wake even on formula. I formula fed my first and she slept very well, but so have my two subsequent babies who are solely breastfed...so I think it all just depends on the baby.

Have you tried offering a paci as an alternative..? It sounds like she's more comfort nursing then actually eating, which at her age is totally normal for her NOT to be eating that often at night. I'm sure there are differing opinions about it, but once or twice maybe..4 times, not so much. A lot of times they just get in a habit of waking. So perhaps offering a paci would suffice? Or perhaps just putting her in bed with you and not offering the breast..

[ShellBell1029]

She does take a paci, but at those times I think she is "trained" to want the breast. I have tried bringing her in the bed and not offering it, but she just sits there with her mouth open like a baby bird and cries, LOL. The funny thing is, the one night last week she slept 8 hrs in a row was the day her first tooth popped through...but now we are back to "normal." I'll have to try to keep track of her wakings to get a better handle on what is actually happening, sometimes I am so tired I lose track if she was up already or not, LOL.
It also seems worse on the days I work and pump all day. It's like I pump it all out and there's nothing left for her. When we are home together it seems she is more satisfied in the evenings when I haven't pumped...

[skybluepink02]

My twins are getting all breastmilk (in bottles) and they sleep all night. They only do it though, if they get all their calories during the day. And they'll usually have a really big bottle (6-8 oz) right before bedtime. They sleep between 8 and 12 hours a night. If you don't want to give formula and want to help them sleep, maybe you could express and encourage her to eat more right before bedtime?

[CEVmommy]

Originally Posted by ShellBell1029 It also seems worse on the days I work and pump all day. It's like I pump it all out and there's nothing left for her. When we are home together it seems she is more satisfied in the evenings when I haven't pumped...

Have you considered that on days that you work that she is craving contact with you at night and that manifests itself through nursing? It may not have anything to do with being hungry and wanting milk, maybe just wanting that closeness with mama.

In my experience, my dd slept through the night until I went back to work and then stopped and reverse cycled. I actually didn't mind it because I was also craving that contact with her after missing her all day.

[ShellBell1029]

Originally Posted by CEVmommy Have you considered that on days that you work that she is craving contact with you at night and that manifests itself through nursing? It may not have anything to do with being hungry and wanting milk, maybe just wanting that closeness with mama. In my experience, my dd slept through the night until I went back to work and then stopped and reverse cycled. I actually didn't mind it because I was also craving that contact with her after missing her all day.

Yes I have considered that, and it makes sense, especially when she doesn't really eat, but just sucks for a minute. You are right, most nights I don't mind because I love snuggling with her. It's just those rare moments when I am completely exhausted...

[LJ Baby Designs]

I agree - my 2 year old slept fine until I went back to work and now my 3 month old, although she is sleeping fine at night, she still gets up to have me cuddle her and nurse her.

[ShellBell1029]

That's the thing....she sleeps great and only wakes for a minute. So it isn't really that big of a deal. But I love hearing about every one else's experiences.

[mommajewels]

Originally Posted by ShellBell1029 Now everyone I know who has formula-fed, their babies sleep through the night...is it because formula is thicker and takes longer to digest, or is it just a fluke that their babies sleep through the night and mine doesn't?

Exactly this.

My DD was breastfed less than 6 weeks, because I had NO clue what I was doing and ended up with torn up nipples, a fussy baby, and a stressed momma. So we switched to formula. Enfamil Lipil W/ Iron. Que me being up EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, ALL NIGHT LONG, with a fussy baby farting her little tooshie off. Turned out she couldnt handle milk based products. SO we switched to soy, and I was SOOOO thankful because alas I would get some sleep. NOT. She just didnt want to sleep. We never quite figured out HOW this girl went on so little sleep... but she, full belly and all, did NOT want to sleep. First it was the upset tummy the formula caused, then it was just the fact she wanted to be a rebel & stay up all night. (and sometimes, at age 4, we still catch her awake & playing quietly at the wee hours of 2-4 am.. and shes just fine, sweet and bright eyed in the day to come.)

My last two boys have been breastfed, and sleep like angels. Kyson always slept through the night, from about a week old on. And Gavin is 7 months, still EBFed and he sleeps a solid 8 hours, wakes to nurse, and goes back to sleep for another 4 hours. He ONLY gets breastmilk throughout the day.

So I do not believe for a second (nor does my pediatrician) that formula fed babies (or cereal fed babies!) sleep better than bfed babies. When ya cancel out the tummy pains from that hard to digest formula, sometimes you gotta remember these babies even as tiny as they are may have some wild personalities and just dont want to sleep when everyone else is. I wouldnt base it off what they are eating though.