https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:12:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-569904 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 09:26:31 +0000 autumnlove 569904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was EBF and started sleeping through the night consistently at 8 weeks. I definitely think it is more about routine and baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-569816 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:26:58 +0000 honeybear 569816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: I like your attitude! ;) I'm on the "other side" now--I nursed LO at night when he woke up, and now at 2 yrs, he doesn't wake up anymore at night. It is nice to get a full night's sleep, but we coslept, so it wasn't that big a deal for me to nurse him. Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint, you know? :)</p> <p>To answer the question: I don't think the feeding decision matters in the end. It's more an issue of the parents' approach to sleep. There are interventions that can speed up the process of getting to STTN, but you have to be committed to them. If you're not (I wasn't), it will probably take longer to get to that point. But, in my experience, everyone ends up in more or less the same place. My LO sleeps really well and has no trouble going down for either naps or the night. Also, don't feel guilty about FFing! It really is the best option sometimes, and it sounds like it was for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-569808 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 03:26:13 +0000 MsMini 569808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh, we have a solid bedtime routine, he eats like crazy through the day, and we are still up 2-4 times per night (to nurse) at 9 1/2 months old. I think you are either lucky or not, and your baby is either a "sleeper" or "non sleeper". I have given up the fight, because I know he will STTN before he goes to college. It does seem from what I have seen/heard that FF babies sleep a bit better though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-569776 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:28:59 +0000 mrsjyw 569776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ds is 12 wks and started sttn! (730-730+).... he used to wake 1-2x since.week 6 and was consistently doing 6-8 hr stretches since week 6? 8?</p> <p>He is ebf.and I def agree that it's more the routine and baby rather than bf/ff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-568049 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:27:45 +0000 littleveesmommy 568049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO was EBF and she started sleeping 7-8 hour stretches at 8 weeks. She did regress some during growth spurts and teething, but for the most part I don't think EBF affected her sleep. I was wry strict with bedtime and nap time routines, and started it as soon as she started showing somewhat of a steady schedule. Around 6-7 weeks I was able to see she slept her longer stretch starting at 8pm so I started doing bedtime routing for that sleep session. Now at 12.5 months DD's bedtime is still 8pm and she sleeps pretty well. </p> <p>I agree with pp's - depends on routine and rental disposition of your LO. =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-568026 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:20:38 +0000 Maysprout 568026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the first 6-7 months LO slept awesomely (besides for the first 2 weeks). I blame solids for making her sleep worse ;) but I think there were just so many changes going on in her life and our life around then and we moved around and traveled and so she started sleeping next to us since she didn't like her travel crib.<br /> The co-bedding is def what made her wake up more, but I'm not sure it was the nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-568006 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:11:26 +0000 winniebee 568006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and for what it's worth, my son started sleeping in longer stretches around 8 weeks (and he was only 9 lbs then). He started going without night feedings occasionally (like 10 hrs straight) around 4 months (around 12 lbs) and has gone without night wakings off and on since then. He is not consistent, but generally goes without night wakings when he is healthy. Since he's in daycare, he's sick a lot so at 9 months old we do still have night wakings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567999 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:06:16 +0000 oliviaoblivia 567999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 5.5 weeks and EBF and we got seven hours last night. I think a lot of it has to do with temperament, sleep hygiene, and weight. Our doc says babies can STTN at around 13 lbs. LO is closing in on 12 lbs and has been a great sleeper since day one. Because she's a monster she has a bigger stomach and doesn't need to wake up to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567998 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:05:52 +0000 winniebee 567998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: My son wasn't ready for an earlier bedtime probably until around 3.5 months old. Until then, he went to bed when we did - usually around 9 or 10. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567992 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:03:06 +0000 PrincessBaby 567992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh and I tried desperately to implement a sleep schedule for H, especially to try to get her down earlier...We have a pretty good routine, follow EASY, and also have a bath/swaddle/NT routine. I started trying to move her bedtime up by 15 minutes and failed miserably. She would wake up screaming minutes later. So that makes me think that some babies are just harder to train, although I have not tried CIO or anything hard-core like that... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567986 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:59:25 +0000 winniebee 567986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Frankly, I think most of it has to do with the baby's temperment. There are things you can do to help your baby sleep better (bedtime routine, sleep training), but I'm convinced that a lot of it is just luck of the draw. I do think there is something to the idea that breastfed babies (who feed from the boob) want comfort nursing at night, but who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567962 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:49:40 +0000 boiledpnut 567962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Formula takes much longer to metabolize than breast milk, so that might be why breastfed babies wake more often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567939 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:36:29 +0000 LulaBee 567939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is EBF and does not STTN. She's up about every 2 hours (on a good night), and has recently been waking up for about an hour or two every night wanting to play. We have read sleep books, tried CIO, we have a routine- she's just not a good sleeper. She also wakes up from naps after 30 minutes, like clockwork. She is 6.5 months old, I'm hoping that she will at least start sleeping longer stretches soon. I am beyond exhausted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567927 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:30:43 +0000 PrincessBaby 567927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always get info printouts from our Ped at well visits that are helpful bits of info and what we should be doing...We went yesterday for 2 month shots/visit and I noticed there was a list of stats for how many babies are STTN or sleeping 8 hours straight or more at 2-3 months. It specifically noted under the stats that BF babies typically are slower to sleep for such long stretches. That actually was reassuring to me bc H "technically" started STTN at 8 weeks, but she doesn't sleep 8 hours straight (1030-5 or so) and I know several FF babies that are younger than her and sleep longer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567923 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:27:57 +0000 Bluebonnet 567923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is EBF and started STTN between 6 and 8 weeks. I firmly believe that each baby is different. </p> <p>Sleep is VERY important to me, so I read a bunch of sleep books and that helped create healthy sleep habits. I also decided to feed on demand (instead of schedule feeds) in hopes that LO would cluster feed in the day and sleep longer at night. Yes, I was feeding more frequently during the day, but LO was sleeping longer at night and that was so worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567920 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:26:05 +0000 MamaMoose 567920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 11 weeks and sleeps 9pm to 7am most nights and is exclusively breastfed. She started consistently sleep 8 hour stetches at 8 weeks. Formula takes longer to fully digest but it doesn't actually fill their tummy any more than Breastmilk so my understanding is there is no truth to the idea that formula fed babies sleep better. It's just a combo of the individual baby's disposition and the parents commitment to good sleep habits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567876 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:41:16 +0000 Weagle 567876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: Off topic... There's a May 2012 group? How did I miss that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567866 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:34:34 +0000 LemonLong 567866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: our bedtime routine starts with a warm bath or hairwashing under warm water in the sink, then she gets pajamas on, and we swaddle her or put her in her sleepsack. She lays on the floor with Daddy and they read a short book, then she nurses. I try to make sure this nursing session is 3 hours from my last one so she is hungry enough to take in what she needs. After nursing, we turn off the lights, turn on tranquil turtle and sleep sheep and she gets put down in the crib with her pacifier. It usually only takes a minute or two to fall asleep after all that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567793 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:03:27 +0000 sandy 567793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Completely agree with @LemonLong that it has more to do with being committed to good sleep habits. All my friends and I exclusively breasted our babies and by 3-4 months nearly all were STTN. All the sleep books I read (Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child; Momsoncall; Babywise; Secrets of the Baby Whisperer) say there is no significant difference be breastfed and formula fed...they difference is whether the parents were committed to teaching their baby good sleep habits...of course every mom knows their baby best and does what works best for their family...but I don't think it matters whether a baby is formula fed or EBF </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567790 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:40:06 +0000 Kemma 567790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Miss A is EBF and at four months old sleeps around nine - ten hours a night (bedtime is 730pm and she wakes anywhere between 330 and 530am) and has done so since around eight weeks. I don't dream feed and I'm ok with her waking once a night.</p> <p>In my local coffee group we have twelve babies all around four months of age, half are on formula, half are on breast milk and they're all either sttn or having one night waking and there doesn't seem to be any pattern as to what they're eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567784 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:25:44 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 567784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Out of our May mamas group (20 of us), 10 or 11 are still breastfed. Not a single one of those babies is sleeping through the night at nine months. However most of the FF babies are.</p> <p>So I think the answer to this question is yes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567774 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 01:16:38 +0000 Ree723 567774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is EBF and was sleeping 8 hr stretches around 8 weeks and was doing 12 hr stretches by ten weeks. We never sleep trained, she just fell into that pattern on her own. I think it is all individual, whether FF or BF.</p> <p>I never pumped during the night either; my body quickly realised it no longer needed to make my milk overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567753 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:44:45 +0000 misolee 567753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're EBF and my LO started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. I think it's each individual baby and their families adaptation to their own schedule. All the "advice" books recommends putting LO down at 7pm. This wasn't going to work for us. We eat dinner at 7pm. I altered her schedule and we started her sleep routine at 9 and now she wakes up for a morning feed at 7am and goes back to sleep until 9/10am. It's all about finding the balance and needs of the baby to your families dynamic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567748 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:30:43 +0000 googly-eyes 567748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babyboecksmom Ok great. :)</p> <p>I don't know what has me thinking about this, I was perfectly fine with the decision to FF...but now that I'm out of the hardest period with PPD, I'm feeling like I COULD have BF'd and wishing I had tried harder...even though I don't know how I mentally/emotionally would have made it through if I had pushed on. Hope if I ever have another it goes more smoothly..DD just would.not.latch!!!!!!</p> <p>Anyway this is all hypothetical, just curious what other ladies have experienced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567746 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:29:01 +0000 LaineysMom 567746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: my LO was EBF and slept 6-8 hours at 4 weeks, and 8-12 hours ever since she hit the 6 week mark! I switched to exclusively pumping @ 6 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567716 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:41:22 +0000 Bao 567716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was waking up multiple times a night up until we started sleep training a few weeks ago, she is EBF. I don't think it's FF or BF I think it's just each individual baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567702 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:28:39 +0000 googly-eyes 567702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jesslc Ok! I read that you still need 8-12 sessions/day til 12 weeks which would be every 2-3h...that's a lot considering while pumping I struggled to do every 3-4h!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567696 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:26:54 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 567696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: I never pumped if she STTN, unless I was super uncomfortable. Like you said, I needed the sleep. My body got used to it pretty quickly and stopped producing milk overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567692 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:25:08 +0000 SleepyMonkey 567692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: no way! I value sleep too much to do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-bf-babies-have-more-sleep-problems#post-567690 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:23:11 +0000 googly-eyes 567690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you get up and pump at night if LO starts to STTN? </p>