[Submitted Question]

I nurse my eight-week old daughter. Now a friend has recommended that I use formula for the last feeding before bedtime as it would help my baby to sleep through the night (we have been having some very rough nights). Would that really help?

[WombToBloom]

First, babies aren’t usually biologically ready to sleep through the night until about four months. Sure, we all have friends with wonder-babies who slept through the night at six weeks. But, really – those babies are not typical.

Women throughout history and across cultures have successfully raised children without formula to help them sleep through the night. And, in fact, formula could cause more problems as your breastfed baby’s digestive system won’t be used to the formula for a while and you could have constipation and gas which will likely disrupt sleep.

There are so many factors in play in a baby’s sleep pattern that it’s doubtful that anyone can ever pinpoint any one thing that does the trick. I tried cereal at about four months and, lo and behold, they started sleeping through the night. But was it the cereal or something else? Were they just ready? Who knows?

Most babies get fussy in the evening and often demand “cluster feedings” in which they seem to eat every 30 to 60 minutes. This is totally normal and has nothing to do with breastmilk vs. formula.

My recommendation would be to tough it out. If you’re getting physically and emotionally worn out by the sleepless nights, try nursing your daughter in bed – side-by-side. You can doze a little while she eats and you both may enjoy the snuggle.