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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Formula feed last thing at night for 3 week old bf baby?

14 replies

peanuthead · 01/10/2007 13:37

Does anyone do this - ie give the last feed at night as formula feed to get the baby to sleep through for 6 hours or so?

I'm shattered and considering it but a bit scared to introduce formula ( it's a whole new world) and not sure if 3 1/2 weeks is too early. I also don't want to leave it too late so she refuses a bottle altogether.

But anaything for some sleep........

OP posts:

coleyboy · 01/10/2007 13:44

I done this with ds, but it did not make him sleep for longer.

DP would give the dreamfeed at 10.30 pm which meant I could go to sleep at 9 and not get woken up again until 1 am. However with hindsight, I wish I hadn't started formula and expressed more, which dp could still give at the dreamfeed.

Formula is very rarely the answer for sleep, and your lo is still young and needs to feed frequently as her tummy is so small.

Another thing to try is cluster feeding in the late afternoon until early evening when you put lo to bed.

The sleep thing will get better, and you will actually get used to it.

teabag007 · 01/10/2007 14:19

Hello peanut, I have 13 week old dd.

I know different things seem to work for different people but for me, a bottle at night from about 4 weeks (around 11 pm initially but could now be any time after about 8pm) did make all the difference. I had been pretty much feeding through the night and then after introducing night bottle, she slept about 5 hours which was cause for major celebration in this household! (I guess some may say I was forcing her to go longer than should between feeds but I assume she would have woken me if necessary). It surprised me that I could feed her all day and she could still take 4 oz (around 3oz initially), after all that.

I have had to spend a lot of time expressing to be able to give her EBM each night but I did give about 3 or 4 formula feeds in the first couple of weeks when I hadn't been able to express enough.

It worked for me with EBM and I'm glad I've stuck with the expressing but each to his/her own.

Good luck!

Tutter · 01/10/2007 14:20

if you want to bf, hang in there and sleep in the day

i know it's hard - ds2 is only 10 weeks old

it won't make that much of a difference anyway

Notyummy · 01/10/2007 14:28

I would try expressing before going the formula route. Try expressing first thing in the morning and you should get more. If necessary 'top up' the amount you have expressed during the day. Its hard at first, but does get easier, altho better if you have electric machine. I did this and dh used to do the early evening feed so I could get some sleep then. I also wanted to intro bottle so dd was used to it, as was going back to work at 6 months. Bottle of ebm worked fine, and didn't need formula.

FioFio · 01/10/2007 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

peanuthead · 01/10/2007 17:59

Hmmm, it doesn't actually sound like it's worth doing then. I really don't want to introduce formula but a friend keeps going on at me about this!

I cluster feed all evening anyway and she goes for 3 hours in the night so if that's all I'm going to get from formula then I may as well keep going with bf - have plenty of milk to give her.

OP posts:

coleyboy · 01/10/2007 21:58

Three hours between feeds for a 3 1/2 week old is good. As it seems she is doing well now, it will only be a matter of weeks before she goes even longer.

As you've got a good milk supply, cluster feeding late avo and early evening sounds like it could help your lo. DS fed like a demon at this time of day, and I think it helped him settle in the evening.

If you want to bf, one bottle of formula a day will probably not improve your lo's sleeping. Tell your friend to naff off if it's something you don't want to do.

yelnats · 01/10/2007 22:03

I have spoken to a few people in RL that give their LO's formula at night to give thema break but I dont think they sleep any longer with it. I tried it with DD probably about the same age as your LO but she never slept any longer, though we did it for a week or 2 so that I could go to bed earlier, gave up in the end as making the bottle was to much hassle.

moondog · 01/10/2007 23:19

Fio,each to their own (again) but you are not 'dry' at night.
The sucking stimulates your breasts to make more milk (both at the time of sucking and in the future).

It's a very simple demand and supply issue.The more the baby sucks,the more milk you will produce.I urge you to be careful about giving formula is regulalry as this as yuor supply really could dwindle.

Just a thought.

jamila169 · 01/10/2007 23:22

Moondog ,I was thinking the same thing - The night feeds are so important in terms of getting your supply up, It comes up so often doesn't it about babies on growth spurts feeding more in the evening and night - It's really them leaving a note out for the milkman - extra pint tomorrow please!
Lisa x

moondog · 01/10/2007 23:23

Brilliantly put Jamila!

I'm stealing that one and using it as my own.

jamila169 · 01/10/2007 23:37

Feel free MD - I nicked it!!
Lisa X

Original poster

peanuthead · 02/10/2007 15:09

i'm actually really pleased by everyones responses - my gut feeling is i don't want any formula so i'm sticking to it! and yes will tell my friend (sister) to naff off!

It's always worth seeing what real people in mn-land know.

OP posts:

FioFio · 03/10/2007 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

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