You don’t have to be a health expert to know that when it comes to baby feeding, breastfeeding is the best option for most babies. Besides usually being less expensive than buying formula (aside from your time, of course!), breastfeeding provides a whole host of health benefits to both mom and baby. But let’s be honest — if you have a baby who’s still waking frequently at night, the benefits of breastfeeding are probably among the last things you’re thinking about during those middle-of-the-night feedings! Instead, you’re probably thinking about how tired you are, and wondering how on earth you can get your baby to start sleeping more at night. You may be even feeling like you’re a worse parent because of it.
Some breastfeeding moms may find themselves wondering if formula is the solution to their problems. They wonder if adding a bit of formula to their baby’s diet might encourage sleep. And a few particularly exhausted moms may toy with the idea of switching to formula altogether as the solution to their babies’ night waking. Nicole remembers being told that her son was waking at night because “Breastfeeding isn’t enough.”
Will Adding or Switching to Formula Help Baby Sleep?
We can answer this question in two words: probably not. If you’re breastfeeding and having issues with your milk production, and if your baby isn’t getting enough to eat as a result, then formula may help your baby sleep better, simply because it would give her the nourishment that she isn’t getting from nursing. However, this isn’t a problem for most nursing moms. In fact, oftentimes, when moms think they’re experiencing low milk production, they actually aren’t. If your baby is nursing just fine, then adding a bottle of formula in here and there, or switching to formula altogether, isn’t likely to help her sleep any better.
The logic behind assuming formula will help baby sleep is easy to trace. Formula takes longer for a baby’s system to digest than breastmilk; for this reason, formula-fed babies tend to need fewer feedings per day than do breastfed babies. What’s more, babies tend to drink more from a bottle than they do from a breast. Add all of this together, and it’s easy to assume that formula-fed babies must sleep far better than breastfed babies since they won’t wake as much from hunger.
The truth is, baby sleep isn’t as straightforward as that. This line of thinking assumes that the only reason a baby wakes at night is out of hunger; that’s simply NOT the case. This excerpt from our article “Will Starting Solids Help Baby Sleep?” explains why the causes of a baby’s night waking can be complicated:
“But (as any parent who’s cross-eyed with exhaustion can tell you) hunger isn’t the only reason a baby wakes at night — far from it. Many babies sleep poorly at night due to sleep associations, or perhaps because they’re experiencing a sleep regression. In these cases, hunger has nothing to do with a baby’s night waking.
Keep in mind too that as babies grow, they need fewer and fewer nighttime feeds. By 4 months, most babies need 1-3 nighttime feedings; by 6 months, (the earliest age that experts recommend starting solids), that number drops to 1-2. Keep in mind, this is provided your baby is receiving all of their necessary daytime calories! So if your baby is waking frequently during the night, the problem probably isn’t hunger (or at least, it’s not just hunger). And that’s why there’s no actual link between feeding your baby solids and having him sleep better. If he isn’t sleeping well, it’s probably because he’s formed bad sleep habits, not because he’s constantly hungry.”
Of course, this article references solids, but the same principles hold true for formula. There’s no real link between adding/switching to formula and having your baby sleep better, simply because hunger isn’t the only reason a baby wakes at night. Our client base alone is proof of this, since our Helpdesk contains accounts for both breastfeeding, formula, and mixed feeding babies alike.
And here’s an interesting side note: even if formula helped your baby sleep a little better, your own sleep might not benefit at all. A 2010 study revealed that breastfeeding and bottle feeding moms get the same amount of sleep. Time magazine summarized the findings this way:
“It’s true that formula takes babies longer to digest, while breast milk is processed fully and quickly because of its composition. But even if bottle-fed babies are sleeping longer, their moms are not, say the researchers.”
So even if adding or switching to formula helped your baby sleep a little better (and odds are it won’t), research suggests that it wouldn’t do anything at all for your sleep. After all, a parent getting up at 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. is waking twice just like a parent waking at 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Should You Switch To Formula?
Some breastfeeding moms reach a point of desperation and begin wondering if weaning their babies completely to formula is the solution for a better night’s sleep. This isn’t a strategy that we recommend. Instead, we recommend that you continue nursing and begin to work on establishing good, healthy sleep habits with your baby.
Another side note: other breastfeeding moms may consider making the switch to formula for a different reason — they may be feeling pressure to switch because their babies aren’t gaining weight “properly”, or maybe even because a pediatrician has started using the “failure to thrive” label when discussing their babies’ growth. This can be scary for moms; on the one hand, they want to breastfeed, but on the other hand, they fear their baby isn’t getting enough nourishment. If you’re in this position, you may be wondering, “Should I just give up nursing and switch to formula?”
Before you take that step, consider Diana’s story. She was exclusively breastfeeding her daughter Bella, even though multiple doctors and nurses tried to convince her to switch to formula due to Bella’s small size and “failure” to gain weight. Despite all the pressure, Diana continued to breastfeed and searched for other ways to explain and treat Bella’s “condition”. Diana shares that Bella endured countless medical tests, and that she and her husband spent thousands of dollars searching for answers. And then something unexpected happened:
“Today we went in for our last appointment at Children’s. The doctor was pleased to see Bella gaining weight and doing so well. He turned the computer to show me the curve she was on, and how she was still under the 10th percentile but very healthy as all the tests had come back normal. And then?
He pulled up another screen. “And this is the WHO (World Health Organization) chart for breastfed girls/boys, we’ve just recently started using it. So as you can see, compared to other strictly breastfed babies, Bella is in the 50th percentile for height/weight. Which is right on target. It looks like you guys are good to go.
I.WAS.FLOORED.
All the months we spent worrying about her weight – when probably for at least the past five months or so she’s been fine. Right where she should have been as a breastfed infant. She never had to go through most of those horrible tests.”
If you’re considering switching to formula out of concern for your baby’s growth and development, consider consulting the WHO chart and asking your doctor to look it over with you.
Should You Supplement With Formula?
Other breastfeeding moms want to continue nursing but wonder about “topping off” with a bottle of formula sometimes (like right before baby goes to bed for the night). It’s perfectly fine to combine formula feeding and breastfeeding if you are okay with it. You can even mix powdered formula with breastmilk. Keep in mind that any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial for your baby.
That said, there are three things to be aware of when you “top off” with formula:
- If you regularly offer bottles of formula while nursing, it may affect your milk supply, since nursing is a “supply and demand” process. Your baby will need less breastmilk if he regularly gets a bottle of formula each day, which will lead to a drop in supply.
- If your baby is a newborn, switching back and forth between breast and bottle can cause nipple confusion which is when your baby may become frustrated at the breast when they go back and forth between breast and bottle. Consider waiting to offer any formula until nursing is well-established (usually in the first 4 – 6 weeks); at that point, nipple confusion shouldn’t be a concern.
- Remember that formula is harder to digest than breastmilk and contains ingredients that your baby may not yet be able to digest easily. This means that formula can lead to digestive issues, like gas and constipation. And those digestive issues can make your baby’s already-problematic nighttime sleep even worse!
Change the Sleeping Habits, Not the Food Source!
While there are a few families we’ve come across who notice a marked improvement in sleep after night weaning, ultimately, changing your baby’s food source probably won’t help him sleep any better. Don’t let that discourage you, though! Even though the solution to your baby’s sleep issues might not be as straightforward and simple as adding or switching to formula, rest assured that there is a solution. And we can help you find it! Why not try a personalized, one-on-one consultation with one of our expert sleep consultants?
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If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
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For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
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If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
Learn More About Mastering Naps
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
Learn More About The 5-Step System
Join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, and more. As a VIP member, you'll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
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Casey says
Unfortunately it’s not so simple. I’ve just chosen to stop breastfeeding my almost 4th month old son, although this completely breaks my heart (and I want to try to restart someday), because he never slept well. We eventually had to do all his naps in the carrier, but this was unlivable. He wouldn’t sleep in the car; he screamed his head off. It turns out that the stress hormones (cortisol) in my milk were hurting his ability to calm down and sleep. I know many moms live on little sleep. Be aware that one night of bad sleep causes cortisol to be high the next day, because that’s what keeps you going. I am however a long time insomniac so my case is more extreme.
Anyway, I think it’s something of which women should be aware. Stress hormones pass into the milk. Reduce your stress. That means not too much exercise, not fasting or skipping meals or letting yourself go hungry at any point, getting enough sleep, not abusing lacto-fermented foods if you have sleep or blood sugar issues, not overstimulating your system with bad films/television or social media, not arguing with your husband, etc…
Do a cortisol saliva test if you want to make sure that this is not something affecting your baby.
Neosha says
@Casey – Thank you for sharing with us. Please continue to take good care of yourself and your little guy!
Em says
Thank you so much for an article promoting breastfeeding with honesty and intelligence. You make some excellent points here.
To any mothers struggling with night-waking and worrying that formula might be ‘needed’, my paed told me that the night-waking breastfed babies do is normal and actually helps protect them from cot death. Waking every hour or two for breastfeeds is normal for very young babies, so something to be thankful for not to agonise over. Babies do wake up and yes it can be very tiring, but formula isn’t the answer. Soon you’ll look back and realise how fast those first baby months went. Enjoy every moment and congratulate yourself for all you do.
Please don’t ever think you’re ‘not good enough’ to breastfeed or that you’re not doing right by your baby. You most definitely ARE. Keep going!
Be proud : )
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Em – Thank you for writing and for encouraging other parents! We are so happy to hear that you found this article helpful!
Emily DeJeu says
@ Ayse — I can sympathize with this, too! I switched my youngest to formula right around 3 months, simply because she wasn’t gaining wait and didn’t seem to be satisfied when I nursed. It proved to be a good decision, but it was so hard. I still feel guilty sometimes 🙁
@ Leola — You know you’re exhausted when 5 straight hours of sleep is the dream!! Hope your little guy starts sleeping through the night soon (for your sake!) And remember — if you feel like you need to solicit some help in teaching him to sleep, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Leola says
From birth my lil angel baby boy use to wake up e-v-e-r-y 2 hours to feed. Tried expressing with the thought behind it that maybe he doesn’t get enough although he was a chubby baby. That did not work. To say the least after 5 months I was so extremely tired! So tired to the extend I started to forget thing, thing like standing in the shower wondering if I still need to shower or did I just finish…and then showering again just to be sure, I kid you not. I decided that I was going to switch to formula. He still woke up every 2 hours. It gradually got less frequent and now he is 14 months and still wakes up every 4 hours! Noooo, hushing him back to sleep doesn’t help, water doesn’t help, and the letting him cry thing just doesn’t work for me I’m sorry. So I’m kinda at the point of just excepting it and hoping and praying for it to change. It’s not a case of he needs a bottle to sleep, he falls asleep just fine on his own in the day. And after his bottle, he just turns his cute lil but on me and that’s the sign for put me in my cot please. My mom said something interesting, that I was a thirsty child. I would even wake her up in the night for a drink of water. Later on she allowed me to take a class to bed. And today I take a bottle of water to bed. I will go crazy at night if I can’t have a drink of water when I want. That said, maybe it’s the case with my son, but I can hear his tummy rumble sometimes, and that after he had his dinner at 6, a bottle 7:30 and into bed. And still he wakes up 11:30 – 12. I’m dreaming of 5 full hours of sleep…mmmmmm….dreeeeaming….
Ayse says
@ Mimi, I totally understand…my first son was like that. Actually with my first the doctors convinced me that I didn’t have enough milk because he was crying a lot during the day, so at 5 weeks old I switched him to formula…he continued to wake up every 2 hrs to feed until he was 2.5 months, than he went right through the night. Switching to formula completely was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do…I felt like I wasn’t providing for my baby the way God intended and I actually felt like a bad mom so I cried for days…3years later he is a very happy, healthy, and very smart little boy. When I had my daughter…3months ago, I was very lucky that she took to my breast with no problems and my milk supply was good. Her pediatrician told me to formula feeding her because she only gained 11 oz in a month…but I ignored his request
Emily DeJeu says
@ Mimi — thanks so much for sharing your story! You bring balance to this conversation, which is great. Breastfeeding isn’t easy for everyone (it wasn’t for me), and for some moms, formula is the best option. Thanks for graciously sharing your opinion!
Glad to hear that formula proved to be such a great solution to your son’s sleeping problems. You’re one of the lucky ones! 😉
Mimi says
My son Ethan is now almost 7 months old. I brestfed him until he was about 2 months old and these 2 months were the toughest in my life so far! He only slept 2 hours at a time at night and 40 min for his naps. I never had a chance to get a good rest all that time! I decided to give a try to formula. He was and still is easy with food, no nipple/teat confusion ever. The formula I give him since, is a formula for hungry baby that keeps tummy full for longer. From day one with formula, he slept for longer stretches, he went from 2 hours to 5 hours straight. After a week, he slept 7 hours at night and at 2 1/2 months old, he started to sleep through the whole night for 11 to 12 hours without night feedings! I know breastmilk is the best for a baby but all formula-fed babies are as healthy as breast-fed babies. I made a choice, I don’t regret it a second and it’s saved my sanity and gave us all a lot of sleep, yeah!! Ethan is now a very happy and healthy baby. In my case, formula did help my little one to sleep better and much longer. I admit that I have an easy baby though.
T says
THANK YOU for sharing! Though I like many of their articles, this one just rubs me the wrong way. I tried breastfeeding, and it just wasn’t working out. Instead of forcing it, which would have made things tougher and harder on both me and my baby, I pumped and supplemented with formula, then went to all formula. FORMULA. IS. NOT. BAD. There are so many amazing, organic formulas out there and women shouldn’t feel like they should keep forcing something just because “breast is best.” Breast is not always best. And while ignoring a doctor’s request and suggestion may work for some, it shouldn’t be something that is promoted.
Emily DeJeu says
@ Jasmin — I agree; regardless of whether a mom chooses to breastfeed or to formula feed, there’s no denying that breastmilk is best. You’d imagine that a doctor would at least present those facts to moms. Whatever a mom chooses, she should at least have all the information.
Thanks for following up! I’m learning that breastfeeding and formula feeding can be sensitive topics, and that it’s important for me as I write to be as respectful as I can of both choices 🙂
Jasmin says
@ Emily. Thanks. I do understand that formula is needed sometimes. My sister used it after about 6 months with all 3 of her kids (twice because she was pregnant with another and lost her milk). Many woman have reasons for using it. I am just amazed that a doctor would recommend it even if a woman is willing and able and the baby is doing fine.
We also nurse a lot! He likes to breastfeed and it works because I am a stay-at-home mom. I know he would be wanting more if I had to pump – there is no way I would be able to pump enough for him for a day.
Emily DeJeu says
@ Jasmin — thanks for sharing your experience! Glad to hear breastfeeding has been such a good option for you. It doesn’t work for everyone, of course, and we need to make sure we don’t cast any criticism on formula-feeding mom (especially since I happen to be one myself, at the moment!) But you’re right — breastfeeding is the healthiest option, and it’s definitely “enough” for the vast majority of babies 🙂
Thanks again for sharing your story, Jasmin! Glad to hear your little guy is growing and thriving so well.