Formula feeding and healthy sleep: How to set your baby (and you) up to sleep well
The initial months with a newborn are primarily characterized by 2 things: feeding and sleeping. Regardless of whether you choose to breastfeed or not, a significant portion of your time will likely be devoted to feeding your baby.
And you may not spend all that much time sleeping because it turns out that babies typically don't adhere to the phrase "sleeping like babies" and may not prioritize extended periods of sleep.
And if your baby doesn’t sleep like a baby – is there anything you should be doing to help them sleep? And is there any truth in the rumor that formula fed babies sleep better than breastfed babies?
Do formula fed babies sleep better?
If your formula-fed baby doesn't consistently sleep through the night, you may question the validity of the belief that formula feeding leads to better sleep. It's not uncommon for moms primarily breastfeeding to offer their baby a bottle of formula before bedtime in hopes of promoting longer sleep duration.
Studies on this have had mixed results. But most have shown that there’s not much difference. On average, breastfed babies wake up more often at night than formula fed babies, but both groups sleep for about the same amount of time. Formula fed babies may sleep more deeply, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they sleep for longer.
And when it comes to moms – some studies have shown that breastfeeding moms actually get slightly more sleep (around 30 minutes) at night than formula feeding moms. This might be because it’s usually quicker to breastfeed a baby than making a bottle.
Essentially, you shouldn’t make feeding choices based on sleep.
What does healthy baby sleep look like?
It’s common for new parents to worry that their baby’s sleep is outside the range of normal. Especially if you have friends or family telling you that their babies slept through at 4 weeks – and you’re still struggling to get a decent night at 4 months.
It’s important to remember here that there is a huge range of normal overall. But also that there’s a huge range of normal for individual babies.
So the baby that sleeps like a dream at 8 weeks, might be waking you 5 times a night at 6 months. Sleep isn’t linear, and most babies will have periods when they sleep well and times when they don’t, and will often go back and forth between the two.
What are healthy sleep habits for babies? And are they different for formula fed babies?
If baby sleep is so unpredictable, does that mean you can’t do anything to influence it?
Flexibility is key when it comes to helping your baby sleep, as you should tailor your approach to their unique needs. Similar to adults, babies vary in their sleep requirements. While some thrive on a rigid routine, others may benefit from a more adaptable approach. Adjusting your expectations and accommodating your individual baby's sleep patterns is essential.
A lot of advice on newborn sleep in particular focuses on what is normal for breastfed babies. But breastfed newborns usually need to be fed on demand to establish feeding. But should you or can you do the same with formula fed babies? Or should you have a routine?
It depends…
Work with your individual baby to find a routine that works
Some formula fed babies find a natural feeding routine pretty early on. So you may find that, even after a few weeks, they’re waking for a feed at pretty consistent times during the night. If this is the case, great – but don’t feel you have to force it early on. It may be more helpful after 3 months.
Another thing to consider is whether your baby is waking for comfort, or for food (and there’s nothing wrong with them waking for comfort). Many breastfeeding moms of newborns will let their babies suckle for comfort as well as hunger. And of course, a bottle can also provide that – but once the milk has gone, they may still want comfort without extra milk. This is where a pacifier can be helpful, or just being aware that you might need to stay and cuddle for a while after they’ve finished their bottle.
In short – early on, your baby will show you what they need. And trying to force a newborn into an adult-determined routine that they’re not ready for is likely to just cause you both stress. But once they’re 2 or 3 months old, you should be able to find a routine that works for your family.
Should you sleep train?
Sleep training, especially using traditional controlled crying methods, can be controversial. Many parents swear by it, while others feel that it’s harmful. Studies have shown that controlled crying doesn’t damage babies, and can help them to learn to self soothe and sleep better.
But it’s not always appropriate. Experts don’t recommend it for babies under 6 months, and it’s not advisable to use it during teething or illness – times when your baby might need extra comfort and attention.
And for some babies, controlled crying just doesn’t seem to work. If you’ve been trying for a week or more without success, it might be time to stop. Gentle sleep training methods might be more successful, though again, they don’t work for every baby.
Why consistency is key to healthy sleep
To get your baby to sleep well, you need to work with them, not against them. That can mean sleep training, or not – but any baby will benefit from a soothing routine that helps them understand what to expect each bedtime. It’s not a quick fix, but it should set them up for healthy sleep as toddlers and beyond.
- Do the same things, in the same order, each night. This could be bath, milk, story, bed – though it’s up to you exactly how you do things. But staying consistent means your baby will learn when it’s bedtime.
- Look for your baby’s sleep cues. Some babies rub their eyes when they’re tired, or start yawning. There’s no point in trying to force a wide awake baby to sleep.
- Keep adapting your routine as your baby gets older. A newborn will sleep for around 8 hours at night, and another 8 in the day. By 9 months, they should be sleeping 11 hours at night, and just 3 in the day.
A note on formula and safe sleep
Many formula feeding moms worry that their babies are at an increased risk of SIDS compared to breastfed babies.
Thankfully SIDS is now very rare. If you bottle feed your baby and follow the safe sleep guidance (link) then the chance of SIDS is extremely low.
(I googled a bit about this and found the above except the link which I took from the copy)
This means that your baby should sleep in a room with you for the first 6 months, on their back, in a crib or basket that’s clear of any toys or bumpers.
Can the formula you choose influence sleep?
A bottle of warm milk and a cuddle from mom or dad is certainly comforting – but there are no formulas that have the power to put babies to sleep.
What is important is that your baby feels satisfied and well nourished. To find the right formula for your baby, take this 2 minute quiz.