Hi Teresa, Firstly congratulations on the birt...

Hi Teresa, Firstly congratulations on the birth of your baby and welcome to motherhood. Congratulations on making the great decision to breastfeed, it is a wonderful thing to do and the best thing for baby. I'm a mum of 2 boys, and I've breastfeed both of them, current going on 8mths with DS#2. DS#1 didn't sleep through the night until about 8mths of age when his first tooth came through and he would wake EVERY 2hrs day and night for a feed. DS#2 is still waking a couple of times during the night (at the moment because he's sick). Emma said it perfectly, breast milk is easier to digest (because it's perfectly made for your bub) so it's normal for him to wake during the night for a feed. He's only very little still and while it is difficult to have sleepless nights you are not alone and it's normal. If you are really concerned about how much he sleeps then look at what foods you are eating because it's very possible that his sleep is being affected by a food intolerance. Both of my DS's have food issues, DS#1 has a sever egg allergy and since I've gone off dairy and egg's DS#2 is sleeping better. He was waking up to 6 times a night until I took egg out of my diet. DS#2 until recently was only having 2 30min naps during the day, if I was lucky, since taking the egg out he's having 2 1hr sleeps! I wouldn't recommend giving him formula at night because, as Emma said, it can seriously mess with your supply, you and DS have worked hard and done a great job to get it to just the right level for him. Their are also concern's about nipple confusion and that can stop him accepting breastfeeds. It is heart breaking if you are trying to maintain a breastfeeding relationship and you suddenly get breast refusal. I think that you need to do what is right for you and baby. If you're worried about mixing the two then don't do it. If you want stats to back up the breastfeeding then look at the World Health Orginsation guidelines, they say that a baby should be breastfeed until the age of 2yrs, also that solids should NOT be given until 6mths. I would recommend talking to an Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) counselor and getting some advice from them as it is a very important decision. I hope I've been able to answer some of your questions, please get some advice from qualified people before doing this, it is never and easy decision. Good luck. Kate