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Formula at night for EBF baby

citymama2012citymama2012 member
in Breastfeeding
I have been EBF my baby since birth, but he is still up quite a bit at night, usually has a 3-4 hour stretch than up every 2 hours after that nursing each time  (if I don't nurse then he will scream and scream).  Has anyone else who EBF tried offering a bottle of formula before bed or as a twilight feed (around 10-11pm)?  I really want to help him sleep longer stretches and have heard the formula would keep him full.  Also wondering how this will effect breastfeeding?  At this point my supply is very well established and he switches between breast and bottle with no problem.  I was thinking if he slept through the night on his own I wouldn't be emptying my breasts so my body should be able to adjust if I substitute a bottle without adding a pumping session. 
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Re: Formula at night for EBF baby

  • Ashley&ScottAshley&Scott
    Formula will not make your baby sleep longer. 
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  • judahsmommy1judahsmommy1
    How old is your LO? My understanding is that the whole "formula keeps them fuller" is a myth. How long a baby sleeps at night is very much an individual thing. My son didn't sleep longer than 5 hours at a time until he was 15 months old. If your baby is still little, what he is doing is still pretty normal. If you want to supplement, I would suggest doing a dream feed of pumped breast milk right before you go to bed and see if that lasts him a little while longer. Also, when they are little, growth spurts sneak up on you and it feels like you're always in them.
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  • iluvmylabiluvmylab member
    Formula will not make him sleep longer.  My son is EBF and he's been STTN for a couple months now.
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  • judahsmommy1judahsmommy1
    I just saw that your baby is around the 12 week mark. It very well could be that your baby is gearing up for another growth spurt. They eat more, and wake more frequently to eat right before/during a growth spurt. Hang in there. Sleep comes eventually!
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  • pepomntpatpepomntpat member
    This is very normal baby behavior. Your LO will STTN when he is no longer in need of food, comfort and a diaper change. This happens at different ages for all babies. 
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  • littlevlittlev
    This sounds pretty normal for the age of your baby.  I think bottle fed babies tend to sleep better (formula or BM) because they typically eat more than if they're at the breast.  We had to give DD formula before bed once (long story) and she slept great, so we did it again the next night, and she was up every couple of hours.  I don't think it will help your LO STTN on a consistent basis.
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  • manbearpig31610manbearpig31610
    imagepepomntpat:
    This is very normal baby behavior. Your LO will STTN when he is no longer in need of food, comfort and a diaper change. This happens at different ages for all babies. 
    Yep, they're all different. My DD1 (EBF) was sleeping an 8 hour stretch, every night, starting at around 8 weeks. DD2 (also EBF) is 6 months and still wakes 3-4 times per night.
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  • manbearpig31610manbearpig31610
    imagepepomntpat:
    This is very normal baby behavior. Your LO will STTN when he is no longer in need of food, comfort and a diaper change. This happens at different ages for all babies. 
    Yep, they're all different. My DD1 (EBF) was sleeping an 8 hour stretch, every night, starting at around 8 weeks. DD2 (also EBF) is 6 months and still wakes 3-4 times per night.
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