Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

931 replies

mrsb26 · 08/12/2015 20:16

...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.

OP posts:
Cotto · 12/12/2015 10:25

It wasn't me who stated that FF are always content /knocked out btw it was the OP.

Pyjamaramadrama · 12/12/2015 10:40

I know cotto but it's a myth that's all I'm saying.

Like it's a myth that all ff babies are on routines and other things.

I'm not denying that there aren't differences by any means.

Pyjamaramadrama · 12/12/2015 10:51

Formula is harder to digest I don't like that about it. I have and I think most people do try to follow the same 'on demand' patterns.

It's like some bfeeding mums will have there babies suck at the breast for comfort as well as feeding, some will give a dummy but still breastfeed.

There's never one size fits all.

TaliZorah · 12/12/2015 11:35

Cotto those differences depend on the baby not how you fed it.

FattySantaRobin · 12/12/2015 12:09

My DS feeds a lot and often Grin but as I said earlier in this thread, how much he takes and how often varies from day to day. Sometimes he's hungry all day, others he isn't and would rather just have a little bit.

It is a myth that ff babies sleep better.
And I think it's widely accepted now that babies are just little humans and will feed when they are hungry, not on a schedule.

jorahmormont · 12/12/2015 12:22

DD slept through from 3 months. Very content. 25th centile all the way through. It may not be desirable but I was writing 3,000 word essays and contending with 9am lectures, it was totally desirable for me Grin

Original poster
mrsb26 · 13/12/2015 11:56

It wasn't me who stated that FF are always content /knocked out btw it was the OP.

If you could find the part of the thread where I said that I'd be grateful...Hmm

OP posts:
minifingerz · 13/12/2015 21:00

"cotto other than the antibodies nothing has been proven, links have been posted several times."

So every major health organisation in the world promotes breastfeeding as significantly reducing the risk of a wide range of both trivial and serious illnesses, despite the fact that there are actually no proven benefits to this practice?Confused

If you say so. Hmm

splendide · 14/12/2015 10:45

Mini (or others) - is there any evidence around how much breastmilk you need to see benefits. I have breastfed for the last 14 months but DS had loads of formula as well and he's quite a sickly child. I think I have made his health worse by failing to feed properly and I expect that's the case in lots of studies. In other words there's probably no point in looking at cohorts that self identify as having breastfed with no metrics attached to that.

TaliZorah · 14/12/2015 11:08

Splendide you didn't fail to feed properly. You didn't fail at anything. You fed your DS. Please don't beat yourself up

splendide · 14/12/2015 11:33

I think it's fine normally but poor DS is just ill all the time and I can't help think he might be better if he'd had more milk from me. But maybe he wouldn't I suppose. Sorry I do try not to obsess but it's hard, maybe when I've got a bit more distance.

TaliZorah · 14/12/2015 11:47

It's hard, we blame ourselves for everything. youve done your best for your DS and you have nothing to feel guilty about.

I think it's sad how guilty we often feel

MamaLazarou · 14/12/2015 11:52

Late to the party, I know, but FF was definitely more beneficial for us than BF. DS was tongue-tied and really struggled to take in enough breastmilk and getting enough sleep was key in my recovery from PND as we were able to split the night feeds. DS only really started to thrive after we started him on 'hungry' milk.

I would have loved to BF but Sometimes FF is just the best option.

jorahmormont · 14/12/2015 14:43

Splendide please don't beat yourself up. If you read the full thread (well maybe not the full thread, it's 839 posts but there's a few other threads with similar posts) you'll see countless people saying that their exclusively-FF babies are paragons of health (DD being one of them, she's just inherited her dad's cast-iron immune system) and others whose EBF babies are in and out of hospital.

It isn't as simple as BF = healthy, FF = poorly, despite what some people would have you think (including some people on the thread). Sorry to hear your little one has been poorly; but please don't be harsh on yourself - it's nothing you've done/haven't done.

Shantotto · 14/12/2015 15:51

bumbleymummy BF didn't work out properly for me. I tried absolutely everything but I did not have enough milk. When I went out and I had to give a bottle of formula I felt so so awful, like it was a shameful secret I should hide away. In the early days I remember pushing DS through the park on a hot day trying to count how many bottle feeders their were! It drove me mad and I'm on a long waiting list for PNA triggered by my 'failure'.

Where I live bottle feeding is rare. I get jealous at baby groups of all the women who can get a boob out and satisfy their babies. I would do anything for sleepless nights if it meant I could have fed my baby 'properly'.

minifingerz · 14/12/2015 15:52

"It isn't as simple as BF = healthy, FF = poorly, despite what some people would have you think (including some people on the thread)."

You know, I've read the thread and not seen a post that implies ff babies will all be sickly and bf babies are always healthy.

That's just the way people who want to make a case against breastfeeding advocacy choose to interpret posts which argue that there are hard benefits to breastfeeding.

And you know what? It's really bloody unhelpful to mums who are struggling with feelings of guilt and inadequacy about not breastfeeding to flag up that there are people out there who actually believe ff or bf guarantees good health or poor health.

Not saying those people don't exist. After all, there are plenty of folk on this thread who are convinced that it's obvious from looking at a child that how they've been fed has had no impact on their health and development, so there's no accounting for the amount of stupidity out there when it comes to this subject.

Never the less, those people who really think there are guarantees - rare as hen's teeth, and they don't seem to be posting much on mumsnet.

TaliZorah · 14/12/2015 15:57

No one is making a case about breastfeeding advocacy, more against breastfeeding fanatics

splendide · 14/12/2015 16:02

I know it's not a binary bf=healthy but as someone with quite a sickly child I regret not giving him every chance at the better immunity. I was encouraged strongly to supplement with formula because of weight issues but I now believe that was poor advice.

I'm extremely unlikely to have another baby so now I'll never do it right, I know it's a bit mad and I am trying to get over it but I feel like I'm grieving it a bit.

splendide · 14/12/2015 16:03

Thanks for the kind words anyway.

TaliZorah · 14/12/2015 16:06

The formula won't have erased the benefits of you bf, honestly. I hope you and your son feel better!

jorahmormont · 14/12/2015 16:09

mini - are you saying that it is obvious from looking at a child? really? Hmm

TaliZorah · 14/12/2015 16:10

Tempted to post photos of me and my friends and ask minifingers to guess which of us were bf Grin

jorahmormont · 14/12/2015 16:12

Fire up the Breastmilk Detector Grin

unimaginativename13 · 14/12/2015 16:29

Just so I'm clear what is a BF child. I BF for 3 weeks? Does that count? Or is it irrelevant?

If you BF for 2 years is your child more breastfed than a 6 month old?

Can you spot that in a child?

If you BF for a year but combined can you spot that too???

Bambambini · 14/12/2015 17:56

No, mini is saying the opposite but formula fanatics are obviously keen to misread and make that assumption to have a go at bfeeding.