Changing from Breastfeeding to formula

[RLMCG]

Did anyone find they changing to formula made baby more content, happy & sleep better?

I did yes

@abmac95 what age did you do this at?

There is no scientific evidence that formula makes babies sleep better or be more settled. The formula industry has spent a lot of money convincing parents that babies should sleep lots and not cry and if they do, that you can fix it with formula.

what is the issue your experiencing and how old is baby.

if it helps at all, my combi fed baby slept way worse that my EBF one. But that’s just anecdotal

Yes I did. My formula fed baby is definitely the most content and settled of all of mine.

My first was a terrible sleeper. I was convinced it was because he was breastfed. Stopped breastfeeding at 6 months and it made no difference whatsoever! He just wasn't a good sleeper! That said moving to formula did help my sanity as it meant other family members could help out if I had a really bad night with him. Sending solidarity though as the lack of sleep is so hard. It does get better!

No, but it helped slightly with my mental and physical exhaustion.

No unfortunately it didn’t, I think it’s a myth formula fed babies sleep longer!

Absolutely.

@Twizbe she’s 15 weeks and we’ve always combi fed but BF 90% of the time. Last night she was up every 2 hours!

she stayed with my parents last week and then they had her during the day a few days ago and she sleeps great for them and is so content and I thought maybe it’s because she’s on formula.

At this age, babies wake a lot in the night. Some nights more than others. It could be a growth spurt, it could be a temperature change, it could be a wet nappy, it could be because it’s Sunday.

it will have been a fluke she slept well when with them. Or maybe she didn’t and they didn’t want to tell you that.

formula won’t make her sleep any better. Only time will do that.

I suppose it depends what your defiant of a good sleeper is.

my first born was formula fed, technically only up once a night for a feed so on paper good but she was up for about 2 hours a night after her feed unsettled and full of wind. Then up before 6am every morning.

second born currently 5 months old EBF, wakes every 2/3 hours overnight but barely opens his eyes, latches on side lying, I barely have to open my eyes. Feeds for 5 minutes and straight back to sleep, co sleeps in the early morning and we get up about half 8. I’m 100% finding EBF easier and feeling much better rested this time around!!

I second MotherofDragon

We co-sleep and I can’t even tell you how often we are up in the night, baby feeds in side lying position and neither of us fully wake up during feeds. I don’t wake up feeling like I’ve had a sleepless night.

Biologically babies aren’t meant to sleep deeply and for long periods. The frequent waking and lack of deep sleep are protective factors for SIDS.

15 weeks/ 4 months is right on queue for a growth spurt so this may be why she was having a hungry night.

Also if she stayed at your parents she wouldn't have been able to smell your milk, so this might explain why she slept longer. My babies always slept longer if I left the room and left them with DH. If I was there I think my smell lured them awake more.