Maya Lott, IBCLC

Let’s face it: no matter how you choose to feed your baby, you’re not likely to be getting a whole lot of sleep for a while.  We hear all the time about those tips and tricks to get babies to sleep a little longer, but what does the evidence actually show about sleep and feeding?  I’m here to demystify some of the common misconceptions I hear from new and expecting parents all the time around baby sleep and breastfeeding.

Myth #1: Feeding infant formula or infant cereal by bottle helps babies sleep longer.

There is no evidence that artificial/formula feeding helps babies sleep longer.  Formula feeding can be done safely, but don’t let sleep be the reason you make this choice for your family.

Medical providers now advise against feeding infant cereal in a bottle as it is dangerous, nutritionally harmful, and can cause choking in babies.  No food other than breastmilk or infant formula should be introduced before about 6 months of age, and there is no evidence that early introduction of solids helps babies sleep longer.

Although there is some evidence that breastfeeding mothers sleep slightly less than mothers who bottle feed, research also shows that breastfeeding mothers’ sleep is more restful and restorative, allowing for more energy throughout the day.  It’s likely that the hormones involved in breastfeeding are responsible for this increase in sleep quality.

Beware the trap of “sharing feeding responsibilities” with a partner overnight.  Many couples mistakenly believe that breastfeeding mothers will get more sleep if dad takes over one of the feedings.  However, in the early weeks and months of breastfeeding, moms really need to be removing milk consistently overnight to establish and maintain milk supply, meaning that even if she doesn’t breastfeed, she’ll still need to wake up to pump just as often.  And breastfeeding directly is often easier in the middle of the night than managing pump setup, milk management, and bottle clean-up.  Allowing dad to help with other things like diaper changes, burping, and water bottle refills would be a much more productive way to share the responsibilities of overnight waking.  I promise that within a couple weeks you’ll hit your stride to make night wakings efficient and team-oriented!

Myth #2: Bedsharing causes SIDS.

You’ve probably heard that it’s safest to put your baby to sleep on a separate sleep surface, but this claim is only half the story.  The truth is that bedsharing is biologically normal, and there are ways to make sharing a bed with your baby safe.  Without proper planning, accidental bedsharing can lead to suffocation (one type of sleep-related infant death), but there is no evidence that bedsharing increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS (a completely separate type of sleep-related infant death).

In fact, artificial (i.e. formula) feeding is actually associated with an increase in SIDS, and bedsharing has been shown to be protective against artificial feeding.  This means that babies who bedshare with their mothers have a lower risk of ever being fed formula and therefore a lower risk of SIDS.  The simple fact is that safe bedsharing promotes breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity at every stage, and that keeps babies safer.

Factors that are actually associated with an increase in SIDS include:

• Parent alcohol, drug, or tobacco use
• Baby sleeping in the prone position (i.e. on their bellies)
• Baby born preterm or low birth weight
• Not breastfeeding

For more evidence-based information on how to arrange safe bedsharing, check out the Safe Sleep 7 from La Leche League International.

Myth #3: My baby will have trouble sleeping because of breastfeeding.

Biologically normal sleep expectations for newborns go hand-in-hand with the behaviors of breastfed babies.  And that should come as no surprise – breastfeeding is, after all, the biologically normal way that babies are fed.  Your baby waking to feed overnight helps your milk supply regulate and helps baby regulate their own circadian rhythms.  

Breastfeeding and cosleeping are behaviors programmed to be comforting to your baby and help both of you get good, restorative sleep.  In fact, unlike pumped milk or artificial breastmilk substitutes which are not specific to the time of day, the breastmilk your body makes at night contains higher levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps your baby sleep.

Summary

While there is no magic ticket to getting a good night’s sleep with a newborn at home, breastfeeding is scientifically proven to help moms get better sleep, maintain better mental health, and feel less tired throughout the day.  Above all, it’s key to have realistic expectations for the broken sleep you and your baby will be getting in those early days, weeks, and months at home no matter how you feed.  If you’re concerned about your baby’s sleep or have any questions I can help you with, please do feel free to reach out!