Bottle Fed Babies Sleep Longer

I consider this a perfect topic of conversation following my post regarding sleep deprivation. And I regret to tell you that yes, there are bottle fed babies that sleep longer then breastfed babies. The reason for this? Breastmilk is digested by your baby faster then formula. Just like when you eat raw vegetables and you turn into a human Shell Station? Well, that's because it is more difficult for your body to process certain foods then others.

Along with the possibility of sleeping a bit longer, bottle fed babies also have a higher probability of more gas, spitting up, allergies, and constipation. However breastfed babies are rarely gassy, don't spit up very much because they ingest less air from your breast then they do from a bottle; and breastfed babies are rarely constipated. Allergies to breastmilk are almost unheard of. After all , your milk is taylor made for you baby. If a breastfed baby begins having gassy symptoms, it is most likely that Mom has eaten something that does not agree with the baby. Eliminating this food from your diet remedies the problem almost immediately.

Simply put... Breastmilk is perfectly suited for your baby, therefore is digested quickly and efficiently by your babies tiny body.

Because some bottle fed babies tend to sleep a bit longer then their breastfed peers, they also may sleep through the night sooner. I know this sounds heavenly, and a sure fire reason to bottle feed your baby. But keep in mind all the other issues that can arise that I just told you about. Not to mention the inconvenience of preparing a bottle in the middle of the night compared to simply exposing your breast. RE: WHIP IT OUT!

I have a little story for you...

When my first son was about 4 weeks old or so, my mother told me I should give him a bottle of formula at night before putting him to bed. The theory was that this would help him sleep longer.

So, being a first time Mom, and open to suggestions, I tried it. I dutifully gave my baby a bottle of formula right before bed time. Now, the big question... Did it work?

NO. Not only did it not work, but he actually slept less. It seemed the formula upset his tummy a bit.

Now I'm not saying that supplementing with formula is a sin. As a matter of fact, it can be a very workable solution for some mothers. And dare I say this? I have used formula for my babies from time to time when I had to be away. I'm one of those lousy pumpers and it was very difficult for me to pump enough breastmilk while away to sustain my babies for a full day.

The reality is all babies eventually sleep through the night. And although there is a possibility (not a guarantee) that your baby may sleep through the night sooner if you bottle feed, is that really a good enough reason not breastfeed him? Sleep habits have more to do with the personality of your baby then what you feed him. And the benefits of breastmilk far out way the luxury of a little more shut eye for mom and dad.

By the way, my exclusively breastfed three month old baby now goes to bed by ten o'clock every night and sleeps until four 0'clock in the morning. He then latches on, eats until he is full and snuggles back in with me to sleep until seven. Not bad huh?