To suggest that ff babies are generally more content than breastfed babies?

[mrsb26]

...because they are fuller for longer?

Following on from an article I read recently regarding a study that suggested that of its recipients, the ff babies were generally deemed to be more calm, easy to settle to sleep etc than breastfed babies.

I know this is bound to be a taboo subject, but I must say, as a breastfeeding mother myself to a 4 month old dd, I have considered whether she'd be more satisfied on formula. She's not the easiest of babies and, to me, seems fussier and more demanding than her formula fed peers.

For example, she is really hard to settle to sleep for naps. She will sometimes feed to sleep, but not always (I know this is a debate on itself). I have never been to the shops or out for a walk for half an hour without her fussing (even if it's just for a little bit). She will sit on my knee or go to someone else for five minutes tops before fussing and starting to cry.

I'm not doubting the benefits of the quality of breastmilk, obviously. I guess I just feel like I'm filling up a tank that's emptying as quick as it's filling^^ and that she's never fully satisfied. I know breastmilk is digested quicker, but still.

She has no issues re: reflux, tongue tie or anything either.

Of course there are behavioural differences amongst all babies, but as a general rule, what is your opinion? Interested to hear from anyone who has perhaps breastfed one baby and formula fed another.

I'm drinking gin, in my garden, with my dog, the hv and the alien
No vodka
Are we doing a Venn diagram?

you see I don't actually care at all what you fed your babies on- I only care about mine !

Well, this isnt really true is it cotto. You said you felt 'sad' about mums who said ff was good because it meant they got a break from their baby.

I don't know about baby, but I was certainly more content when I stopped bf, simply because I wasn't the default option any more for baby crying and the fact that we all got more sleep.

I'd love a house with a big veranda, like in those American films

"It was me who mentioned peer reviewed evidence.

I don't even get credit for my posts in snide asides!

You stated the analogy as fact because a HV said it, no need to backtrack now."

Alisvolatpropiis- you're really going to have to point out where I stated the HVs statement was a fact

Oh, do you need me to explain what inference is?

A fact isn't inferred. It's stated. Obviously.

You two sound rather aggravated. Doesn't it make you anxious?

I'm off to get myself a Bailey's now Owl, sadly no vodka in the house, though have yet to check my garden for aliens! But after a long day with the baby and a delightful evening of HTML coding, I do need to chill!

Enjoy your Bailey's :)

I don't think less content, however I do think that because formula is artificial, a baby's undeveloped digestive system can't cope. So it zonks them out.
Bottle fed babies are also 'encouraged' to empty their bottles & so their stomach stretches & they can take more milk than they naturally would.

I ebf for 5 months, introduced combined formula from 5 months and solids at 6 months formula made no difference to sleep. Sometimes ds would get bery very fussy at the boob and then, at the end of my tether i would give him a formula bottle and he would take it, calm as a cucumber. I think he got anoyed that my boob milk wasnt coming out quick enough? I dont know! I have to admit he seems calmer and more genrally happier when hes had a few bottles. However ive also expressed boob milk - and he takes that better in a bottle too better than from boob! Tbh whats worked for me is giving him boob 90% of time and then a bottle if really fussy

Mine was BF and he slept right through within weeks of being born. He's just a chilled out little guy. My nephew is FF and he's the opposite. Apparently (according to my very lovely HV who was wonderful) many years ago Formula was harder to digest meaning baby would sleep like a log between feeds but that's not the case now and there's little to no difference in it. It's luck of the draw.

YABU my ds is 6 months old and ive bf since he was born and apart from crying when he is hungry or tired he is the most contented smiley baby you could meet. Ive been very lucky, he has slept through from 3 weeks. Family members are amazed when i say i can count on one hand the amount of bad nights ive had on one hand.

I agree with you!

Add to that the increase in food allergies (which passes from BM to baby), which is extremely difficult to detect in the first 6 months. If I had ff my DS, he would have been a much happier baby, and me a much happier mum (and I would have had more babies too).

I do however understand that BF is better for babies, but my point is that this is not in all circumstances, although it may be in most circumstances!

AimUnder, what do you mean about food allergies? Do they pass from mother to baby via breastmilk? How does that work?

It's rubbish like that which discourages some people from BF.

My EBF child slept through at 6 weeks and was ever so content and easy.

I've know terrors who were FF and terrors who were BF. It's very much down to the individual. People need to choose the best way to feed for them, what they are happy and comfortable with - not because people are spreading myths that it will make their baby easier ...

I think it is very much dependent on the child. Just as we are all very different adults we all started life as very different babies!

My daughter is 11 weeks, she was premature. She is exclusively breastfed but usually has a bottle of expressed breast milk about 9pm but sleeps 4-5 hours in 2 stretches every night. She is what you may describe as a content baby

She is also the baby that makes you think all babies are like her so I fully expect a big shock if I have anymore children

Dixie, that would be pre existing allergies that the baby would have had anyway, surely? Not caused by breastmilk.

Who knows, OP

Most breastfed babies in the uk are also formula fed.

Anecdotes are a bit meaningless.

Women's perceptions of their baby's behaviour while being breastfed will vary according to how they feel about breastfeeding.

Probably this last thing is the most significant thing.

Minifingers is right though- I thought my DD was very happy and content, but if I had listened to my mother harping on about her feeding too often, and "only needing 4/5 feeds a day after 4 weeks" I probably would have thought she was unhappy.

Oh, and the advice from Durham University's Infant Sleep Lab (ISIS - Infant Sleep Information Source) suggests that that the higher incidence of prolonged periods of sleep among formula fed newborns may account for the higher rates of SIDS seen in this group.