If you’re a new parent, chances are feeding, development and sleep are taking up a significant amount of your headspace right now. And there’s a reason for that, these three things are not separate challenges to be solved independently. They are beautifully, intricately linked, and understanding how they work together can make such a difference to how you feel about what’s happening in your home at 3am.
How feeding influences sleep
One of the questions I’m asked most often is whether breastfeeding causes babies to wake more at night. The short answer is: breastfed babies do tend to wake more frequently, but here’s the important bit, they sleep for a similar total amount across 24 hours compared to formula-fed babies. It is also so important to recognise the role of breastfeeding in resettling babies. The beauty of breastfeeding is that it is food and comfort all rolled into one. Sometimes it can be hard to know if your baby is hungry or just unsettled, breastfeeding takes the guess work out of this because it will meet either of these needs.
Additionally, the difference between how breastfed and formula fed infants settle is normal physiology rather than a problem. Breast milk is digested quickly, babies feed often, and their developing brains genuinely benefit from that frequent contact and nourishment through the night. This in and of itself is a protective measure against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Formula milk can be slower to digest and therefore may mean that babies can go a little longer between feeds, but they will still have the same needs for comfort and connection.
It’s also worth saying clearly: formula does not guarantee longer sleep. If you’ve been told otherwise, or if you’ve been made to feel that frequent night waking means something is wrong, I want you to know that the evidence simply doesn’t support that. Night waking is not a feeding failure, it is normal infant behaviour and all linked in with developmental needs, including the need for connection.
How development shapes everything
Newborn sleep is biologically fragmented; short cycles, frequent waking, little sense of day or night. This is because their circadian rhythms and melatonin production are still maturing. By around 2-3 months, you’ll often see day and night patterns beginning to emerge, and by 6 months many babies do achieve some episodes of more consolidated stretches. Night feeds are still very normal at this age and beyond though.
Growth spurts and developmental changes will temporarily shake things up too. Increased waking, more frequent feeding, fussiness, a greater need for closeness, these are all signs that your baby is growing and developing, not that you’ve accidentally created bad habits.
Sleep is not just a physical process. It’s shaped by your baby’s temperament, physiology, environment, feeding, and their relationship with you. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach so rarely works and why they all begin to consolidate sleep at different ages.
What this looks like in real life
Newborns naturally feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours, often throughout the night, and rarely to a predictable schedule. This is what supports your milk supply, your baby’s growth, and their neurological and emotional development.
Staying in the same room as your baby for at least the first 6 months is recommended not just for safety (it halves the risk of SIDS) but also because it makes responding to night feeds so much easier. Being nearby means you can tune into those early hunger cues before your baby becomes too upset to feed well.
What you can do to support your baby gently
Feed responsively – Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, feeding in response to your baby’s cues, rather than watching the clock, helps regulate their hunger, fullness, emotional connection and, yes, their sleep cycles too.
Keep the sleep environment safe – Baby on their back for every sleep, on a flat, firm surface. Room-share for at least 6 months, keep the space clear of loose bedding. If you’re bed-sharing, please do follow harm-reduction guidance – a clear sleeping space, firm flat mattress, smoke-free, sober adults, no pillows or duvets near baby.
Look for sleep cues and build gentle rhythms – You don’t need a rigid routine, but a consistent, calm wind-down before sleep can really help. Watch for your baby’s early tired signs and respond to these. Reduce stimulation as bedtime approaches, and offer comfort promptly when needed.
Ride the leaps – During growth spurts and any big developmental changes, expect more night waking and more frequent feeding. Offer extra feeds, lean into the contact and closeness, and lower your expectations for predictability. These phases are temporary, and they pass.
Please reach out if you need support
If feeding feels painful, sleep feels unmanageable, or you’re just not sure whether what’s happening is normal, please don’t struggle on alone. Seeking support is not a sign of failure, it’s a sign that you care and that you’re trying to get things right for your family.
As a Midwife, IBCLC and Holistic Sleep Coach, I support families with both feeding and sleep in a way that is gentle, evidence-based, and always individual to you and your baby.