Any parents on Southperry? Guessing .. no

Ok well question number 1.

Breastfeeding vs Formula? I know that BF obviously saves money, but I've read mixed answers on which is really better than the other.

Also did any of you "Go green" when it came to diapers? As in use reusable ones, or are regular diapers the way to go.


And this whole "Ferber Method" thing...like, letting your baby cry itself to sleep. Is that something anyone did. I know how I am, and I'm going to have a tough time doing that. I'm not saying I'll rush to his/her aid at every cry, and I will make sure to have a very structered sleeping schedule and plan, but what are your guy's takes on that?


Thanks a lot! Im sure more questions are to come lol.

1. Breastfeeding.
I'm really curious where you read that formula is better, and what reasons were given, because it's been decades since anyone thought that. Even formula makers compete with each other which one imitates breastmilk better. The only argument is how much of a big deal it is if you fail to (exclusively) breastfeed. My advice: give it a try. Even if all your baby gets is the colostrum from the first day, that's a big boost to its immune system. Also, if your wife wants to breastfeed, do not sabotage her by offering to give the baby a bottle "just this once so you can sleep". Milk production is a supply-by-demand feedback system, and if baby gets formula, mom's body doesn't know his real demand and doesn't produce enough the next day. It's a very vicious cycle.

2. I never went with reusable diapers, but I read they're not nearly as inconvenient as the cloth diapers of old. Sorry I can't help much with that.

3. Ferber... Well, remember where I posted about being able to find books to support whatever you want to do? That's a classic case. The people who support crying-it-out say it gives baby self-confidence to know that it can get to sleep on its own. The opponents say it just gives baby the feeling nobody cares about it.
If Ferber doesn't appeal to you, try reading Sears & Sears' "The Baby Book". I think that's still the bible of "attachment parenting". See if that's more your style.
Also read "What to Expect the First Year", that gives a pretty good view of "mainstream" parenting.
For myself, I did whatever felt right to me, and only used the books to get my mother off my back when she questioned why I did certain things.
Both my babies slept through the night (like 8-10 hours) straight off the bat (and I didn't know some say to wake up baby to eat if they sleep that long... fortunately, they were both big babies and didn't suffer for it), but both stopped doing it once I returned to work at 3-4 months. They didn't see me much during the day so they made up for it at night. I couldn't deny them that. I breastfed and they slept near me (not in my bed because I can't sleep with a kicking baby), so I didn't have to actually get up to feed them. They eventually re-learned to sleep through, without having to cry it out.

Hope that helps, and keep 'em coming.