Breastfeed or bottle feed?

Question

I plan on breastfeeding up to about 3 months and then alternating between formula and breast milk. I heard from an experienced mother that her dauhter slept longer with formula than breast milk is that true?

TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF MY QUESTION. WHICH IS BETTER FOR BREASTFEEDING OR FORMULA???? NOT TO SEE WHICH WILL MAKE MY CHILD SLEEP LONGER BUT TO INQUIRE ON WHICH IS BETTER?

I WAS TOLD THAT FORMULA DOES HELP A BABY SLEEP BETTER, SO I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE NOT FOR ME BUT FOR MY BABY. If you have a ignorant answer like Brenda B**** please keep it.

Answer 1

Breast or bottle, both ways you are loving, nurturing and caring for your child. Your mommy intuition will kick in and youll figure out what works best for you and your baby. The formulas on market now are so close to the "real" thing because of added dha and ara ingredients (both are in breast milk) All babies are different from sleep to eat to everything! I have four of my own all unique in their own ways. Please dont let ignorant people BRENDA ??? discourage you. Lots of Luck and wish you many sleep filled nights!!

Answer 2

don't sweat the judgmental posts sneering at you because you made that remark about the baby sleeping better. Why wouldn't you want your baby to sleep better?? I formula fed both my children from day one and they are both healthy, happy and quite intelligent.

I assume breast milk is best, but formula isn't a bad second. It helps dad interact with the baby more and can give you a much needed break.

God bless all the breastfeeding moms out there, but I am so SICK of the ones who think that you are poisoning your child if you formula feed. Keep your opinions to yourself!!

You go right ahead and formula feed....yes, your baby will sleep better!! Nothing wrong with that. Why should you and your baby be exhausted all the time.

Answer 3

Nutritionally breast feeding is better for the baby. However, sleep is also essential for a baby and from my experience formula does seem to helo a baby sleep better at night. Plus, mom is better rested and is able to interact better with baby, so ultimaltely in some cases formula can be better. If you can alternate then that is ideal. What about breastfeeding during the day and a bottle at bedtime? Or, you could continue to breastfeed at night but jsut introduce a teaspoon or 2 of cereal at bedtime. I breastfed till 7 months, but I started introducing solids at 3months since I had a very hungry boy who would feed on the hour and my milk truly couldn't sustain him. I tried to introduce a bottle at 6 months ( teeth arrived) but he hated it and it took a month b4 he took it.

Answer 4

Some babies (but definitely not all) will sleep longer on formula. There is a very simple reason. Because breastfeeding is suitable for a baby's digestion, it is quickly digested. Because formula is not, it sits in the baby's stomach longer, making her/him feel full for long periods of time. This may also be the reason that formula fed babies have a much higher risk of SIDS; long and deep sleep is a risk factor.

Answer 5

I think it's horrible to make someone feel bad about their decision to breastfeed or not (especially other mothers). This is such a personal decision, and there is no right or wrong answer. If formula was bad for a baby then all of us that were fed it would have learning disabilities or be sick all of the time. Especially because back some 20 years ago, mothers were all told formula was the best option. My mother chose to bottle feed, and i chose to bottle feed, and I do not feel bad about it. My son is healthy, happy, and is developing just fine.

Answer 6

It is definitely true that formula doesn't break down as fast as breast milk, although I realize that you are not basing your decision on this answer. I am kind of glad you responded to Brenda B because I try to come on this site to talk with other mothers and share ideas and every night I read her lectures, which are not informative or educational, but downright nasty. I did not breastfeed my son who is never sick and has won a variety of academic and sports awards. He is not dumb or ill because I did not breastfeed and it is a shame that she has to spout that nonsense to every question concerning breastfeeding. maybe she could help sway some people towards breastfeeding if she would only do so in nicer manner.

Answer 7

Do not go by what just one mother has told you. Giving formula to a baby does help SOME babies sleep longer - true. Just like anything else, all babies are different. If you are planning to switch to formula anyway - nothing I can say will change your MIND. bUT IF YOU ARE (SORRY - MY SON IS HELPING ME TYPE) determined to breastfeed just stay away from the formula completely.

Answer 8

I just think the quantity of how much they eat is in question here. But breastmilk is truly best. And it was designed by God to be eaten frequently because a woman needs to empty her breasts often to create more milk. So babies need to drink often in relation to that. Formula is manmade, so it is different, obviously. Our dr. told us for our daugther, who pretty much refused to breastfeed, was put on formula solely at about 6 months. Usually they will sleep for 1 hour longer, until they grow up, and their stomaches will hold more.


I wish mothers could act a little more motherly on here...jeez...just help each other out. No one is perfect, and we're all learning as we're going.

Answer 9

All babies aren't not the same..I breast fed all four of mine. My first woke up every two hours to feed. I alternated him between the breast and bottled breast milk. Breast milk is thinner than formula but you can't beat it for it's benefits when it comes to the immune system..

My daughters slept for four hours between feedings. My youngest son slept for four or more, I had to actually awaken him to feed him.

Neither of my children suffered from allergies or had to return to the hospital for any reaction from formulas or other milk intolerance problems.

Give the baby both bottled breast milk and breast milk (NURSED), fed alternatively to get him/her use to either, that way you won't have a problem when you're out or have to leave it with a Baby Sitter.

Answer 10

I am breastfeeding my baby who is now 7 months old and she has slept through the night since she was 1 month old. I don't think it's because of breastfeeding though, I think that depends on the baby. I will say though that I only planned on breastfeeding for a couple months and now I plan on going to a year because it's been great for me and my baby. Best of luck!