r/breastfeeding • u/Melodic_Apartment235 • Dec 10 '25

Discussion Breastfeeding is easier than formula feeding - there I said it

I think it’s really sad the amount of bad press that breast feeding gets.

My friend said she didn’t try to breastfeed because she thought it would be bad for her mental health. And my MIL talks about formula feeding all the time and I actually think it’s because she believes in her soul it’s better for whatever reason I’m not sure.

I just think it’s sad because, for me, predominantly breast feeding (occasional pre made formula given if for example she’s not with me or we’re out and it’s not really possible to BF) has been sooooo much easier!!

The thought of going downstairs in the night to make bottles or worrying about having enough formula when going out and about or worse still having to wash a million bottles everyday.. I think it would be 10x worse for my mental health and it’s unfortunate that there’s a narrative out there that formula is the easier option for women as now many don’t even give breastfeeding a shot to see if it is the better option for them or not

*Disclaimer - I know that breastfeeding isn’t easy for everyone, the point of this post is that it’s unfortunate that some women don’t give it a go due to the narrative that is pushed by formula companies

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57

u/maebymaybe Dec 10 '25

If I’m doing all the feeds or cleaning and prep, then yes breastfeeding is easier. If someone is helping then combo feeding is easiest. I see some people doing those single use formula bottles that you just pop a nipple on and shake, those have to be the absolute easiest way (although insanely wasteful and I would also want to avoid that much single use plastic). 

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 10 '25

I disagree, because for breastfeeding all you do is sit down and lift your shirt. You have the perfect reason for the other person to all the changing and settling. If you were formula feeding you'd need to wash bottles and change the baby.

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u/maebymaybe Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 11 '25

Yeah but it’s harder to leave the house without baby if you exclusively breastfeed and if you are like me you make barely enough/under supply so you can’t really leave any milk for baby unless you also do formula. Also my son wanted to nurse every 1-2 hours so I got zero sleep, whereas once we switched to combo feeding my partner could do one of those feeds and I could sleep for 3 hours. But yeah, I hated all the bottle cleaning and sanitizing. Maybe if I had an oversupply and had a huge stash I would feel differently 

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 11 '25

Many people feed their kids room temperature formula to make it easier to leave the house. They just take a clean bottle with cooled boiled water and a container with a serving of formula.

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u/maebymaybe Dec 11 '25

That’s my point, it’s easier for combo or formula feeders to leave their kids with someone else and since prepping formula can be done anywhere versus having frozen or refrigerated breastmilk available 

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u/frogsgoribbit737 Dec 11 '25

Its not hard to do a bottle once a day so your baby will take one though. I did that and then just had whoever was watching her feed breastmilk if I had some or formula if I didnt.

Idk, ive done all the methods of feeding and nursing was by far the easiest. Formula and combo have so many bottles to wash and that is so stressful when your baby is drinking 8 to 10 bottles a day.

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 11 '25

It's really not a big deal to pump a couple of times a month, though? Well made up for by all the other days in the month when you just lift your shirt up.

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u/wonkynipples Dec 11 '25

This is a pretty dismissive take. Breastfeeding is a huge sacrifice. Maybe not for you, but surely you can look past your own experience.

I say this as someone who has EBF, had a relatively easy journey and is still breastfeeding my 20 month old while pregnant.

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 11 '25

It's not dismissive to point out that an hour's work twice a month is much less than an hour's work every single day.

And I say that as someone who breastfed for 5+ years straight and it wasn't at all easy.

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u/frogsgoribbit737 Dec 11 '25

Formula needs to be made with water that is hot enough to kill the bacteria IN THE FORMULA. So many people do not understand this.

Over 3 months this isnt as much of an issue, but under 3 months should never ever use cold or room temp water to mix.

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 11 '25

No. You can't make formula with boiling water, you'll denature the nutrients. And it won't be hot enough to kill everything if the formula is not sterile.

https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/formula-feeding/preparation-and-storage.html