Does formula help baby sleep longer...?

daniellepanda · February 2011

I have heard that a bottle of formula can help LO sleep longer since it holds them over longer. Does anyone know if this is true? We are thinking about trying this for his last bottle before bed in hopes it will help him sleep longer. Right now he is waking just before every 2 hours to eat at night and I am getting no rest at all and neither is my husband. I have been BFing and occasionally giving a bottle of pumped BM too. We had to supplement his first week because my milk did not come in until day 6 so we know he can handle formula ok in the past. I am willing to try anything at this point! He just never seems fully satisfied at night time feedings and is fussy in between so he isnt fully sleeping at night either. I am not sure if he is still night/day confused or what?

imeltice · February 2011

From my experience, not necessarily. DS doesn't sleep anymore than 4 hours at a time still, but he has higher calorie needs than most babies. I am sure though, that it can't make it any worse, just remember to pump if you are giving a bottle so you don't ruin your supply.

madhatter2003 · February 2011

It's completely normal to be eating that frequently at 3 weeks. It's a major growth spurt period. And probably some getting used to the outside world still.

Do you sleep in the same room? You may actually want to do the reverse if you do and move him out so you can rest. If you are in separate rooms now, consider cosleeping sort of thing.

Hyfagal · February 2011

Ellie still ate every 2-3 hours when we switched her from breastmilk to formula.

RileyGrace · February 2011

I don't think so. My Dr said it was more weight related then anything else. Once they grow a bit, they will start sleeping longer. My milk never did come in, my LO is one month on Friday and still eating formula every two hours.

LordValuemart · February 2011

Hun, with a 3 week old, you're not gonna get much rest with formula or breast milk, as a previous poster stated, it is a major growth spurt time, which means more feedings, and your LO is still teency, their stomach can't hold that much yet and so eating more often is very common. Heck, I have an 11 week old and he only JUST stopped eating every 3 hours at night, now he goes to bed a couple hours before everyone else, eats about 4 hours after he initially goes to bed, then goes back to bed for about 6-7 hours.

Mrslovebugs · February 2011

DD is 10wks old and formula fed.... she still wakes every three hours on the dot to eat.

daniellepanda · February 2011

Thanks ladies, I didn't think it would hold him over much longer, maybe just till 3 hours if we were lucky. He will go 3-4 sometimes during the daytime but at night its right before 2 hours all night long on the dot. I am pretty sure its day/night confusion since he is just about to be 4 weeks on thursday. I didnt want to start doing any formula feeds unless it would help us all get SOME sleep at night, but since it sounds like it won't matter much we won't go that route. Thanks.

izzourclue · February 2011

DD is EBF and has slept 7 - 9 hrs at night since 4 weeks. I think its just baby specific.

Want a personalized experience?

Does formula help baby sleep longer...?

Re: Does formula help baby sleep longer...?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards