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.

A HV said to me BM is like steamed veg chicken and rice. Full of goodness and nutrients and energy. Formula is like a curry and a beer, sends you to sleep on the sofa afterwards. I think it's true, curry and beer eaters look more content slobbed out on the sofa in adulthood too!

It's different in that formula feeders don't feel smug and self righteous

Formula is not like curry and a beer. Formula is perfectly healthy for babies.

Cannot believe how sanctimonious some people are

I am aware of the evidence but it didn't hold for my 2. D's was a bottle refuser, great routine slept 7pm-2am by 3 weeks and 11pm till 5 by 10 weeks. Went 7:30 -6 at 5 months. Dd had a bottle of formula last thing 50% of the time (we took turns to do the dream feed) she woke at the exact same time whether her last feed was breast or bottle.She also had a good routine and slept though later than her brother at 12 weeks. (Through means 11-6).

There's no need to feel smug. You're only feeding your child. You know, like you're supposed to do. babies need feeding. Who gives a fuck how mums do it?

Who said it wasn't healthy? The anology is that it fills them up and sends them to sleep in a food drunk slumber. Substitute beer and curry for Xmas roast dinner if you like.

I honestly have no idea when we stopped dream feeding her probably around 6 months.

The inference was that breast milk is healthy and formula isn't, don't backtrack

Actually BF babies do often have a stronger bond with their mother. Or, so I was told by a GP, 6 health visitors and a an entire nursery full of staff, half of whom have a studied child psychology to masters level. So I took them at their word.

That's not Even necessarily a good thing. It doesn't make you smug.

But that's not true. It doesn't fill them up and knock them out. It gives them nutrition and calories they need and babies sleep when they feel like it whether they are breast fed or formula fed. If you actually read this thread you will see from the PP it doesn't matter what baby was fed, its their personality that dictates sleep patterns.

I BF for 3 weeks, but had a really hard time, so switched to formula. She was no longer screaming for food every 20 minutes, more like every 3 hours. But she was always a terrible sleeper regardless of what she was eating until she hit about 5mo.

Evidence Sharon? Bf babies do not have stronger bonds, that's a ridiculous thing you can't even test for so what a stupid thing to say

for Sharon. 🙄

There is more spurious rubbish written about breastfeeding than just about any other parenting topic.

I personally think that breasfeeding is not as significantly better than bottle feeding as is made out in the developed world at least.

And of course ff is not like giving your baby curry and beer - it would not be allowed to be sold if it were that bad for your child. That is smug breast feeding fanatics talking.

For me the greatest thing about ff (which I did with my two from one week old when the health professionals had disappeared) is that someone else can do it - so I got a night or two off in the week and the odd day away if I wanted. Great for cheering me up and keeping me going.

My two slept7-7 hours each from 10 or eleven weeks old.

This thread is making me want another baby just so I can breast feed again. You know that post orgasm relaxed contentedness you get, that was what a lot of my quiet, private, evening snuggly feeds felt like. When I look at my baby (16) sleeping now, sometimes the side of her face reminds me of those times and I get this flood of love overcome me. Ah biology isn't it weird and wonderful, and babies, isn't it just amazing how much they can kind of MAKE you love them, even when they've done little else but eat, cry, and poop all day?

I breastfed and I find alot of the comments of bf mum's smug as well. One even said her baby knew she was financially stable :o and there is lots of other smug crap littered about.

I imagine most people stay away from these threads because they fall in the don't care what anyone else thinks part of the Venn diagram

On the OP's question, I have no idea.

Anecdotally, lots of friends with babies have said that they started getting MUCH more sleep when they switched to formula feeding in the evening (irrespective of how they fed during the day). But this could also be because they tended to do this a couple of months after the birth, so it could just be that the baby's belly was a bit bigger, and could therefore go longer between feeds.

Or, it could be as simple as the partner being able to take on some of the feeds, so it's not JUST mum responsible. Or, it might just be a psychological release from not being the ONLY one who can feed the baby.

I definitely know women who fall into each of these categories, but that doesn't mean it's going to be the same for everyone else.

I gave a huge fuck how I fed my babies- getting tired of being told "it doesn't matter.
Smug - you can call me what ever you like - it really doesn't even register !
Formula is adequate - its not the optimum food for babies .

My eldest is 16 decaff and yes, she still looks like my baby when she is asleep and I can't believe she's sixteen
Mwah!
However, I do not want another baby even though it's biologically possible

The optimum food for the baby is the one that suits mum and baby best.

DS was blue lighted to a larger hospital soon after birth, without me, because he was blue and had severe meconiun in his lungs and couldn't breathe at all. He was fed through a tube and then with a bottle.

When we were reunited he wouldn't latch without screaming, cut me and cried until he had a bottle. I tried expressing but he wasn't satisfied. He was constantly crying. So I switched to formula, only to find DS is allergic. He's now on neocate and it suits him.

That is the optimal food for him. Don't try to insinuate I don't have as strong a bond as you or I give my son crap food, thanks.

I bf DS1 and DD, both until about a year. They both took formula too when required so I could easily leave them with someone. My middle child, DS2, I started off BF him but he never took to it, cried relentlessly and chewed lumps out my boobs despite seeing many feeding specialists so mixed fed from 6 weeks and gave up BF by 3/4 months.
Middle child was by far the easiest, slept all night from 8 weeks and self settled from the word go.
DS1 took hours to settle but slept well, DD was awful on every level!
My FF baby was definitely the easiest of the 3 but I wouldn't swap BF the others 2 if I could do it over again.