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
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

feeling guilty for formula feeding at bedtime

22 replies

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 04:08

i have succesfully exclusively breast fed for 6 months and my daughter is 6 and a half months old now and a week ago i started giving her bottles at night because she had been waking up 6 times at night and would only eat for a few minutes then use me as a pacifier for 45 mins and i was just so tired i had to change something. i wanted her to learn how to sleep by herself and to fix the sleeping problem because if she had to sleep over at my moms house i wanted it to be a pleasant experience for everyone. so i started giving her a 2 oz bottle at bedtime and then one more when she woke up at 3. im so happy shes only waking up once or twice at night but im guilty for giving in to formula since i am fully capable of bfing. iv bought 2 pumps so far and iv broken them both and its just such a pain to pump for an hour to get around 4 oz on a good day.

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 04/04/2012 04:33

You've just EBFed for 6 months- you should be feeling incredibly proud of yourself, not beating yourself up! If it works for you and your daughter, what's not to like? :)

Alltheseboys · 04/04/2012 05:44

You have nothing to feel guilty about.
I have four boys including twins & did the same. It was so fantastic to finally get some sleep! Smileyou sound a lot happier for it & sounds like the pros out way the cons so don't feel bad. Mine are all perfectly bright & healthy.

heliumballoon · 04/04/2012 05:51

You have not "given in" to anything. You have made a rational decision based on the needs of the whole family, and it sounds like it is working. Beating yourself up is a waste of time.

JimbosJetSet · 04/04/2012 06:09

I felt exactly the same... I felt as though I was trying to give DD rat poison to start with! But you have done and are doing a fantastic job, and if it means you are getting a half decent sleep at night then it sounds well worth it.

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 14:45

thanks ladies that makes me feel better i was so excausted before i could barely lift up my baby now that iv had some sleep its getting easier and i have energy to play with her so its better

OP posts:
monkeyblonde · 04/04/2012 16:14

This sounds familiar, although we started last night and DS woke every 2/3 hours as usual. He is 6m today.

Did this work straightaway for you or take some time to kick in?

I, like you, am now often too tired to get myself up to feed DS!

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 16:54

i started mine in solids a week before 6 months and at 6 months i gave her cereal/pablum bath then boob feed then i put her to bed awake (7:30) with her blankey then an hour or two later she wakes up i give her a bottle she goes back to sleepmthen wakes up around 3 for another bottle then doesnt wake up till 730 this took a few days to happen less than a week for sure and last night she only woke up at 230 and her bottles are 2 to 4 oz shes 6 and a half months now and has been sleeping well for a week

OP posts:
monkeyblonde · 04/04/2012 18:45

Thanks for this-do you mean she slept 7.30-2.30 last night? Sounds magic xx

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 20:14

yesssss! and for me giving her a blanket is what made her sleep good by herself even when she wakes up sometimes she grabs her blanket and shoves it in her face and goes back to sleep

OP posts:
monkeyblonde · 04/04/2012 20:53

Another question! Does she wake up crying? If so how do you console her while you are heating up the bottle? It's difficult to plan if you don't know what time she'll wake up. Also, which formula are you using?

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 22:26

i dont warm up my formula i just have a big container of preboiled water then when i need to make a bottle i just put the formula and water in and shake it and give it to her i leave her in her crib while she cries it takes less than a minute to make up the bottle so i just leave her and then give her the bottle and her blankey and she drinks it and falls asleep

OP posts:
Original poster
xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 22:43

and i use emfamil a+

OP posts:
pigletmania · 05/04/2012 12:26

Don't be, you are doing really well. You have to do what's best for you all

monkeyblonde · 05/04/2012 15:45

Thanks for your advice. Please keep updating this post, I'm interested to hear your progress. We're going to start this w/e.

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 05/04/2012 15:48

last night wasnt very good she woke up a few times but we got home late so i just gave her pablum instead of supper and pablum and just gave her a bottle instead of a boob feed so it was my fault

OP posts:
organiccarrotcake · 05/04/2012 20:53

Can I just point out that the way you're making up the formula could be risky? Formula powder isn't sterile and it needs any bugs on it killing with water at about 70 degrees. This is about a kettle that is boiled and left for around 20 minutes, then poured onto the powder. Clearly then it need to cool to temperature.

This is pretty tough overnight so it's perfectly fine to do this before bedtime and then keep it in the fridge and warm it in the night (although you may find that she takes it cold).

Breastfeeding is a relationship where you both have the right to choose what to do, and sleep deprivation is hideous. You could consider the formula you're giving as part of the food she's getting when weaning rather than milk? The key, if you want to keep breastfeeding, would be to ensure she's still getting plenty of breastmilk during the day and if you did feel up to it at night, boob at night/evening when you can otherwise this can lead to accidental weaning. Chances are it won't, though, as your milk supply should be really solid at this age.

If the choice is working for you then feel proud of what you've done so far. Make an informed choice about going forward (depending on whether you're thinking of weaning from the breast) and enjoy your sleep :)

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 05/04/2012 23:50

i will start making up multiple bottles then with boiled water and keep it in the fridge, how long till it expires? is 2 or 3 days too long? and i feel like shes less interested in the boob and i feel like today i havent really been letting down but i dont know if im just being paranoid and i started giving formula to get away from the night feed because she will use me as a pacifier for an hour and if i ever get my mom to babysit over night i want mcaiila to take the bottle well

OP posts:
Original poster
xkatxdollx · 06/04/2012 13:36

i gave mine a 6 oz bottle before bed ( the other bottles only hold 2 but are skinny so she can hold with one hand) she only drank 5 and slept for 10 hours!!!!

OP posts:
organiccarrotcake · 06/04/2012 17:12

24 hours is the maximum it would be ok to keep it in the fridge as long as it's not been used. Once you offer it to your baby then it needs disposing of after that one feed.

Yes, it will interfere with your supply in the longer term because you'll be asking your body to make less milk but it doesn't mean your supply will stop, unless you want it to :)

Original poster
xkatxdollx · 06/04/2012 23:30

well the way i saw it was that lotsof babys sleep through and they dont lose their supply

OP posts:
Original poster
xkatxdollx · 08/04/2012 18:17

another bad night but same reason as last time

OP posts:
Original poster
xkatxdollx · 09/04/2012 16:35

last night was great only woke up at 3

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread