Ever wondered: Will Formula Help Baby Sleep?
This post answers the question “will formula help baby sleep”?
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If your baby is breastfed, you might have heard stories from your mom friends of how they can easily put their formula fed baby down to bed after giving them a bottle because they are so ‘milk drunk’. Unfortunately for us breastfeeding moms, our babies never seem to get ‘milk drunk’. Not only that, whereas formula babies seem to sleep through the night (anecdotally), our breastfed babies seemingly wakes up every hour to feed, no matter how much we feed, and even as they get older. So what gives? Do formula fed babies really just sleep through the night? If we are breastfeeding, will formula help baby sleep through the night?
Breastmilk vs Formula For Sleep
So why do breastfed babies wake up so often at night?
The simple answer is that breastmilk is more easily digested than formula. This means that your baby will get hungry more quickly after a feeding, which will cause them to wake up more often during the night. In fact, research has shown that breastfed babies will wake up an average of 2-3 times per night while formula fed babies will only wake up once.
So if you are breastfeeding and want your baby to sleep through the night, you may be considering supplementing with formula. But will this actually help?
The short answer is: maybe. Some babies will sleep better if they are given formula at night, but others will not.
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However, there are also some parents believe that breastmilk is better than formula for helping their baby sleep through the night. Breastmilk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps promote sleep. Formula does not contain tryptophan, but it does have carbohydrates that can help your baby feel sleepy.
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that breastmilk is better than formula, or vice versa, for helping babies sleep through the night. However, if you are breastfeeding and your baby is sleeping well, there’s no need to switch to formula.
Is it OK to give breastfed baby formula at night?
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to give your breastfed baby formula at night. In fact, some mothers claim that it will help your baby sleep through the night. However, if your baby is getting enough breastmilk from you, supplementing with formula at night only to help them sleep at night might not necessarily work.
How can I make my baby sleep longer at night?
If you want your baby to sleep longer at night without having to resort to formula, there are a few things you can try:
- First, make sure your baby is getting enough daytime sleep. A well-rested baby is more likely to sleep through the night.
- Second, establish a bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. A soothing bedtime routine will signal to your baby that it’s time to go to sleep.
- Third, create a peaceful sleeping environment for your baby by keeping the noise level low and the lights dim.
- Finally, don’t forget to wind down yourself before putting your baby to bed. A calm and relaxed parent will help promote a calm and relaxed baby.
I also suggest looking into sleep training if you want your baby to be able to sleep trhough the night.
Will Breastfed baby sleep better if given formula at night?
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that formula is better than breastmilk for helping babies sleep through the night. If you are breastfeeding and your baby is sleeping well, there’s no need to switch to formula.
If you decide to try using formula as a sleep aid, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, always talk to your pediatrician before giving your baby any type of supplement, including formula. Second, only give your baby a small amount of formula before bedtime. Giving your baby too much formula can cause them to wake up in the middle of the night because they will need to urinate more often. Finally, don’t forget that you will need to wean your baby off of the formula once they are sleeping through the night. Otherwise, they may become dependent on the formula and have trouble sleeping without it.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Are formula fed babies less fussy?
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that formula-fed babies are less fussy. However, some parents believe that formula-fed babies are easier to manage because they tend to sleep through the night and have fewer feeding issues. If you are considering switching from breastmilk to formula, talk to your pediatrician first.
Do formula babies get milk drunk?
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that formula-fed babies get “milk drunk.” However, some parents believe that their baby is sleepier after drinking formula because it contains carbohydrates that can make your baby feel sleepy.
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