Some mothers choose to give a combination of breast milk and formula milk alternately to their babies – especially when milk production is not smooth.
If you plan to give breast milk along with formula milk to your little one, make sure to read the following guidelines first.
Basically, you don’t need to panic when you feel your breast milk production is lacking, as long as your little one’s weight is still increasing usually.
Indeed, mothers should give a combination of breast milk and formula milk.
This is how I personally did..
Of course, after consulting a pediatrician about whether or not to give formula milk in addition.
Guide to Breastfeeding and Formula Milk
Giving a combination of breast milk and formula does not mean they are mixed simultaneously.
Mothers can start by changing one of the feeding times by giving formula milk.
Combining breast milk and formula is certainly not easy to do…
Several factors cause this, ranging from the different sensations felt by babies when consuming formula milk from a bottle with direct feeding to the difference in the taste of breast milk and formula milk.
Therefore, there are several guidelines for giving a combination of breast milk and formula milk that you can do, including:
Offer Breast Milk First
Giving formula milk at the beginning of breastfeeding can make your body automatically limit milk production.
In addition, babies also become accustomed to breastfeeding effectively.
I highly encourage you to give exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 weeks after birth or preferably until the first 6 months.
Introduce Infant Formula Gradually
When giving formula milk as a companion to breast milk, try to reduce the number of feedings gradually so your breasts do not become swollen and develop mastitis.
The trick is to change the habit of breastfeeding at one time.
For example, if you used to breastfeed your baby at night, try changing this habit by giving formula milk through a bottle that is designed for breastfed babies.
This, of course, takes time until your little one accepts the taste of formula milk.
Offer The Formula Milk After Complementary Foods
It will be easier to introduce formula milk when the baby is over 6 months old.
The reason is, at this time, the frequency and level of breast milk consumed by the baby will decrease by itself.
When your little one starts consuming complementary foods, you can also start giving your little one water as a distraction. If you happen to have a surplus of baby formula and you’re afraid of wasting it, you can check services such as Sellformula and you can visit them here https://sellformula.com/
Choose The Right Time
When you plan to give formula milk in a bottle for the first time, find a time when your little one is calm and full, not when he is hungry!
It would be better if someone else gave your baby formula milk at the beginning so that your baby could distinguish it from breastfeeding activities.
If this is not possible, you can hold him in a different position than breastfeeding.
Stay Patient
If your little one refuses the formula milk, maybe you can try it again at another time or in a different bottle shape.
Babies may refuse to drink milk from a bottle because they are comfortable and accustomed to suckling from the breast.
Conversely, babies who drink from a bottle more often may no longer want to suckle from the breast.
The Takeaway
Giving a combination of breast milk and formula sometimes takes a long time.
However, you can combine breast milk and formula more easily with some of the guidelines above.
Suppose your little one is always uncomfortable with giving a combination of breast milk and formula, especially if they experience constipation after consuming formula milk.
In that case, you should immediately stop giving formula milk and consult with your pediatrician.
Written By: Dema JS
Founder of newbabysmell.com and a mother of two little kids. Dema had her MBA from St. John’s University- NYC in dual concentrations: Executive Management and Marketing Management.
Contact: Please email dema@newbabysmell.com or go to newbabysmell.com
