Breastfeeding babies and sleep

Getting your baby to put himself/herself back to sleep at night can be challenging for parents. We are answering your sleep questions every Thursday.

Here's today's question:

"What can and/or should be done to help parents better understand the differences between breastfed and formula fed baby's sleep?" ~Maria

Pediatric sleep specialist Dr. Sarah Zallek says she is not aware of any biological differences between breastfed and formula fed babies when it comes to sleep. But she says one issue that often crops up is babies being nursed to sleep.

She says moms can get into this habit and then the baby doesn't learn to self sooth. Dr. Sarah Zallek said, "Ideally you would nurse until they're not quite asleep, put the happy baby in the crib and let them fall asleep where they are meant to fall asleep." But Dr. Zallek says she nursed her babies to sleep and it didn't become a long term problem. She says it's really up to the parents and she said the same problem can happen when babies are fed a bottle as they fall asleep.

Lactation consultant Denise Broeker says breast milk is digested faster than formula, so their stomachs are emptied faster. "Breastfed babies eat until they're full instead of eating what they're given. So, it is not uncommon for them to be hungry more frequently." She says that can have an impact on the baby's sleep the first few months.

When did your kids start sleeping through the night? My youngest did around one-year-old and I have been thrilled with that. I know some kids start sleeping 12 hours straight at only a few months old. Is anyone out there that lucky?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen