Did your LO seem happier and have better naps when you weaned onto formula?

[tullyma]

My DS is 5 months. ATM he is breastfed. I've been struggling with trying to extend his naps for 3 months and it isn't working! Every now and then DS will sleep 2 hours, but most of the time he wakes at the 40 min mark and it's SO hard to get him back to sleep. It usually takes 20-40 minutes to get him to resettle. The late catnap (5pm) is a nightmare! He doesn't settle well at all. I'm wondering if it's hunger.

I'm considering weaning him onto formula as my milk supply has dropped significantly in the past 6 weeks or so. His weight gains have gone from being excellent to being pretty bad. I haven't yet tried anything to increase my supply (I definitely should drink more water!). He is generally happy, but gets grumpy about 1-1.5 hours after a feed (even when I'm playing with him) and I don't know if it's tiredness or hunger. I also don't want to get in the habit of feeding all day long. 3-4 hours apart is fine but more often than that would be annoying!

Just a quick question for those who weaned their babies after the 4 month mark - Did you LO nap for longer and generally seem happier? I don't want to wean if he'll still be grumpy (it might be his temperament?) and still only nap for 40 mins. On the other hand, if I get a happier, more settled baby, I'll gladly wean him. I only want whats best for him and if he puts on better weight with the formula, that can only be a good thing.

Oh it's so hard!!!

Sorry I should have added! - He has been sick. He caught bronchiolitis and then an ear infection. He is better now but still not putting on good weight.

[15milner]

Please can you post your EASY routine for us.  At that age, getting grumpy after 1-1.5hrs awake time, sounds like he's probably not hungry.  The waking after 40 mins could mean that he is overtired.

Some babies never get to 'waiting' every 4hours. (mine never did)

Can I suggest that you direct some questions over to the Breastfeeding board and see if that can help first.

your milk won't have decreased over the past 6 weeks, around that time when age 4months, breasts milk supply is more 'regulated', which is entirely NORMAL.

I'd try fiddling with nap times / feeding time etc first before giving up on the bf, find that you have the same problems with ff as well.

In terms of ff - there are roughly the same number of calories in bf and ff, so may not actually affect weight gain. 

Being sick is naturally going to have affected him and it will take time for him to put on good weight - he is using up calories etc on getting better.

See you over on the breastfeeding board.

alex

[*Nicola*]

Huge (((Hugs)))

I weaned both girls around 5/6 months and formula made no difference to either of them with respect to naps etc.  Ciara was STTN and having good naps whilst being EBF and Callie continued to wake at night but have good day naps whilst on formula. 

I totally agree with Alex regarding looking at EASY and bfing board for some advice in these areas.

xx