Baby sleep cycles?

Question

Hi, I was wondering, how much control can you have over when your baby sleeps and feeds? Can you train/adjust a baby into cycles that fit into your routine better? I ask this because when I plan to start a family I will likely be a working mom, and I already function so poorly with disrupted sleep as it is. Does anyone have any good ideas? I am terrified that I will fail as a mom and holding my career together if I can't maintain my wellbeing. I want to be a great mom, but also successful in my job. My husband also works full time.

And is it possible to use a combination of formula and breast-feeding or only one? I would want to go back to work after 6 months but want to breastfeed for longer if possible. If one isn't successful with expressing, is it possible to breastfeed only in the evening/night and formula-feed by day?

I'm rather clueless about babies, but want to know what I'm getting myself into before I go down that path. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

It is very hard to tell with any baby if you can put them on a schedule, some babies you can easily adjust to a pretty regular schedule and others just do what they want and don't adjust well to schedules. Before my daughter was born I didn't do well without a full night sleep, with no interruptions. When she was born I adjusted to her schedule and everything worked out very well for us and I can function very well on very little sleep now if I have to. My husband and I took turns getting up with her at night until she was 8 months old and started sleeping for 10 continuous hours at night. My husband and I both work full-time and we do great and so does our daughter. I know that you worry about these things now but when you actually become a mother you will stop worrying and just do them and everything will work out and everyone will be healthy and function well (even if you only get 4 hours of sleep). You will be a wonderful mother if you take time to enjoy your child and love him/her with all your heart.

As for the milk thing...I used a combination of breastmilk and formula for our daughter until she was 4 months old and then she was just on formula. You can give the baby strictly formula or breastmilk or you can use both. My daughter wouldn't drink them when they were mixed together so she got a bottle of formula and the next feeding she would get breastmilk until she was 2 months old. I went back to work when she was 2 months old and our day care provider would give her formula during the day and then she would get breastmilk in the evening. I pumped all my milk and gave it to her in a bottle to avoid having to transition to the bottle when I returned to work. I didn't pump my milk at work, I pumped only in the evening and early in the morning before work. You do whatever works for you and if you decide not to give your baby breastmilk after you return to work at 6 months he/she will be just fine on formula. My 10 month old daughter hasn't ever been sick, not even a cold, so I don't believe that babies that are on breastmilk only will be healthier than those on formula.

Everyone is a little clueless the first time they have a baby, so don't worry, there are plenty of people around you that have had experience with these kinds of things and everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Answer 2

In the beginning, it is best to let baby decide about sleeping/eating. They need LOTS of both. As you reach the end of your maternity leave, then you should practice having someone else feed the baby (you should not be the one to introduce a bottle since you have the breast) and getting the baby into as much of a routine as you can. But baby probably will still not be ready to sleep through the night, so try to get to bed early to get as much rest as you need.

As for the feeding, it is possible to do both breastfeeding and formula feeding. If you can express your milk, good for you! But some working moms just don't have the time or the energy to express milk, and may have to supplement with formula. Even if you are breasfeeding only when you are at home, you are still giving your baby breastmilk, which is the best thing for a baby :)

Good luck :)

Answer 3

Controlling a schedule is a matter of choice. Its entirely possible. I tried with my son but I preferred to have him set his own schedule and its working out fine. He's 5 months, feeds on demand and sleeps through the night. You will get used to functioning normally with disrupted sleep. Its part of the job! Lol!
As for the formaula and breast feeding, yes, that also is entirely possible. But, to avoid nipple confusion, which is common, I would pump your brest milk into a bottle and feed him that way when you are ready to start the combination. Otherwise you may have a situation on your hands where he may refuse one nipple and only take the other.
You may think you are clueless about babies, but believe me, once the baby is here, it will be like second nature, and you'll just know, without a doubt, what to do(for most things...)
Good Luck, I hope I was of Some Help
Happy New Year

Answer 4

You can keep it bright during the day and very quiet at night to try to regulate the baby's days and nights, but it does not gaurentee your child will sleep through the night. My first son slept through the night immediately, my second waiting 8 months to stop waking up repeatedly (now he's 9.5mo and only does it once or twice!)

You can suppliment with formula but you have to be dedicated to pumping and BFing. Even if you are completely dedicated you may not be able to keep up a milk supply. Some women are able to BF 1-2 times a day for years, it depends on your body really.

The best option is trying to BF exclusively, even when you go back to work. You have to pump and feed only that milk. This will make it MUCH easier overnight (just pulling a baby up to the boob instead of waking up and making a bottle is a huge difference).

If you have more questions, check out the website of the la leache league.

Answer 5

Every baby is different. I have a 9 week old and my first day back at work is tomorrow. She is sleeping from 1am-7am for me. She is also breast fed. In the beginning she was up every 2 hours to fed. It does get easier.
Some babies do perfectly fine with switching from breast to formula if you are not able to maintain your supply. Breast is best but sometimes pumping does not work out at work so every if you fed them morning and night they are still getting the healthy nutrients and antibodies.
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If you are not going back until 6 months you do have time to build up a good stash of breast milk in the freezer. I do recommend a double pump. Less time consuming and some health insurance companies will reimburse you for some of the pump.
All in all deciding to become a parent can be a little overwhelming. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 6

Unfortunately because every baby is different you can't really judge how hungry they are likely to be and unfortunately there are going to be sleepless nights.

Just try and fill them up as much as you can before they are put down to sleep and hope for the best.

It is fine to feed formula and breast as long as you don't mix em in the same bottle.

Answer 7

read the book "Baby Wise". I know its simple to just say read a book, but this book really helps. I teaches you all you need to know about feeding. Getting your baby in a routine. Even teaching your child to sleep through the night.

Answer 8

I highly recommend the book: Baby Wise. Yes, you can help your baby adjust. It's too much to write here. Please check the library for the book. It's good that you are thinking of these things before you have a child. : )