Formula = sleep? Your experiences pls!

[MegBusset]

DS (14wks) has become a terrible sleeper - waking up to 5/6 times a night for the last two weeks. Although not usually ravenously hungry, he will feed each time (I BF to sleep anyway).

We are currently working out a few strategies to try to cut down on wakings as are royally knackered. Wondered if giving formula for his bedtime feed might make any difference (has been exclusively BF so far and would be for all other feeds) and would appreciate hearing if this has worked for anyone, or is it just wishful thinking?

tbh I think it's prob wishful thinking. I remember distictivly at 13/14 weeks J went thru the same it lastedd for about 2 weeks was a nightmare, mum/everyone else was saying things like 'maybe you milks not enought' or 'maybe you should wean him' etc I put it down to a growth spurt and kept up with the feeding. fwiw I did use formula for the midnight feed from about 5 months ish (between 5-6) and it honestly didn't make a differnce.

can you express at all, so your DH/P can do at least one feed for you. or how about co sleeping. I rememebr those weeks well and wouldn't want to go back there. it does get better thou honestly. hang on in there.

also can you give him more cluster feeds during the evening possibly?

Munz, we are off to Argos this morning to get bed rail so I can co-sleep with DS for a night or two while DH kips on sofa! (Bed not big enough for the three of us!)

lol. ah yes remember that well as well! lol. althou I used a pillow the side of J. good luck thou honestly it wonn't last forever (she says! lol) and things wqill come good again, in the mean while we're here for you sleep when LO does, (as always! lol) and get your DH to do as much as he can so you can rest - don't forget to eat proeprly as well. god I sound like my mother!

He did have a 2hr nap this morning, so I could have gone back to sleep, but spent it on MN instead

lol. are you doing the bed at 7 pm with the LO as well? not much fun for the DH/P but again it has to be done sometimes to make you feel human. I think we've all been there at some point so no proper advice but lots of sympathy.

Would sleep manuals be such best sellers if formula was such a surefire solution?

Considering 85%+ people only formula feed by 6 months, I think not....!

I bf both of mine dd slept 6-7 hours a night from about 6 weeks, ds slept 2-3 hours a night for months and at just over a year is finally sleeping all night after waking up once in the night after he stopped the 2-3 hourly thing.
My friend ff fed both and her dd slept like an angle every night from tiny and her ds 6 wweeks older than mine still doesn't sleep all night.
14 weks is atill quite young and coming up to the 4 months mark is always a hairy time for sleepless nights oh how I remember it well. It does pass and it seems to suddenly stop for a wee while when you think I cannot go on another night then teeth start coming

Meg - I remember around 14 weeks being a pretty trying time. Who knows why these LO's get unsettled. I've exclusively breastfeed LO, so don't know about formula, but from people i know who've tried it, it doesn't seem to make a huge difference and then they kind of regret trying it.

Repeat the mantra - its just a phase [win]
hope you get some sleep soon.
xx

'slept like an angle' . I like that!