3.5 month old waking every 2.5-3 hours

[Samkhere]

I exclusively bf my 3 mo baby. He wakes every 2.5 hours to feed at nights as well. I was hoping by now he would sleep longer stretches. My older child started to sleep 5 hours straight by this time when she was this age. So I was hoping for the same.
Will giving a formula feed at night help him sleep longer at night ? I am concerned if I do this it would affect my milk production.
Any insights are appreciated.
Thankyou

Sounds pretty normal to me, you got luckier with your first one.

I think the myth about ff giving longer stretches, is just that, a myth tbh. Although, if your partner gave it (or expressed BM) then you could get a longer stretch of sleep?

Has he become much more distracted when feeding during the day? Sometimes the world becomes too interesting and they forget about eating enough and load up at night. Less of a problem with bottle fed babies as they can look around while eating! (Hence the myth about formula keeping them fuller longer)

Or has he just always been like this? Some babies just are. You"re also on the cusp of big sleep changes, so hopefully (once through) the pieces will settle positively for you

Sounds normal , both of mine were still waking every 1-2 hours at that age

Very normal at that age, your first DC was a very good sleeper.

I remember being told that formula keeps baby fuller for longer. I ebf and was hoping for some sleep.
The reality for me was, either make a new bottle while holding an encreasingly upset and vocal baby. Cooling the bottle seems to take longer in the small hours. Or warming up a pre-made bottle. Kitchen lights had to be on for safety, often room is cold, then find a warm cosy chair to feed. Partner can't sleep through all the back and forth and gets 'testy'. More pressure there on top of howling baby. Hard to get back to sleep myself after being so absolutely awake.
Bottle cleaning took up time and space. Formula was expensive. And the nappy smell was a shock after ebf.
I can't recall any benefit of sleep either. Not baby and certainly not me. Tried and failed with 3 dc.
No change to my milk production.
But every baby is different and yours might take to it without protest. No harm in trying.
Very best of luck x

I had exactly the same experience with my 2 as well. First baby just slept better and always has. It had very little to do with my routine and habits, it was just their natures showing through. It will get better, it feels harder because you have a toddler to get up with now too

Just read that your baby is a boy. Maybe he is hungrier as I have heard that boys can be? I don't know as both mine are girls. You could try a formula top up at bedtime to see if that helps.

lol ok, completely normal!

Totally normal baby, and no formula doesn’t make them sleep more. Safe bedsharing and breastfeeding them back to sleep lying down is the best route to sleep yourself. Try not to compare to your other child, every baby is different and they sleep differently. Sleep also isn’t linear and for most babies (not all) goes up and down a lot in the first year.

Exhausting, but normal.

I have an 11 month old who wakes up more. However I am better at coping with it. You are still in recovery.
I do find when I’m eating porridge and drinking Moringa tea it helps her sleep longer

Completely normal baby behaviour and nothing to do with being a boy. Formula is unlikely to help and might affect breastfeeding. Remember the mantra This too shall pass, and sleep in the day when baby naps to catch up. They are only little for a very short time. You've got this.

Sounds normal to me. I don’t know how often my 4mo old wakes at night to feed, I don’t keep track of it which I think helps. We cosleep so her latching doesn’t need me to wake up much and she goes back to sleep very quickly.

I’d be wary of introducing formula myself - I wouldn’t want to mess with my supply plus I couldn’t be doing with the faff of sterilising etc. Much too lazy for that 😂

OP, ai have a 3.5 months old and we had same issue. Then we rented a Snoo, and baby now sleeps 4/5 hours stretches. Changed my life.