Mums, Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Mixed Feeding

What is mixed feeding? Who might benefit from it? When is the best time to introduce mixed feeding and how do you make the transition a success?

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by health practitioners around the world as the best way to nourish a baby, especially for the first six months of life.

However, sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a mother will choose to either exclusively bottle feed her child with milk formula, or offer a combination of formula and breastmilk. The latter is known as mixed feeding.

Mixed feeding — also known as combination feeding, combined feeding, or partial breastfeeding — is quite common among mums, especially those who still want to give their babies the benefit of breastmilk and breastfeeding.

Why Mixed Feeding?

A mother might choose mixed feeding for a variety of reasons, including:

• illness or health conditions that prevent exclusive breastfeeding
• postnatal depression
• needing to take medication that is not good for the baby
• a need for flexibility
• return to paid work
• concern about the baby’s weight gain
• breast or nipple problems (e.g. low milk supply, inverted nipples)
• personal choice

Whatever your reason for mixed feeding might be, if you are considering this method of feeding your little one, it can be helpful to first talk to a lactation consultant or health professional about your options, and the potential impact of mixed feeding, depending on the age of your baby.

Effects of Mixed Feeding

Newborn/infant (under 6 weeks old)

• Virgin gut

There is no doubt that exclusive breastfeeding is the safest and best form of nourishment for a newborn baby.

Among the many benefits of breastmilk for a very young baby, one of them is that some antibodies in breastmilk help prevent harmful pathogens being absorbed into the baby’s bloodstream through the creation of a “virgin gut”.

This term is used to describe an exclusively breastfed baby’s gut — this unique environment is created by antibodies and other elements of breastmilk.

However, the introduction of milk formula to a newborn, even in small amounts, can destroy this environment, “changing acidity and destroying the immunoglobulins that coat mucosal surfaces”

This means that your baby is more likely to develop allergies later on as your baby’s gut becomes ‘sensitized’

The good news is that evidence suggests several weeks of exclusive breastfeeding can help restore the balance of good bacteria in a newborn’s gut.

Supply and demand

If you are considering breastfeeding your baby for at least six months, introducing formula when he is still a newborn will have an impact on your breast milk supply.

This is because a good supply is driven by frequent, on-demand nursing. Once this is interrupted, it means that your newborn latches less often, and therefore you make less milk.

Nipple confusion

Krista Gray — an IBCLC Lactation Consultant —  advises that if babies are introduced to an artificial teat before breastfeeding is well established, they might start to prefer the bottle rather than the breast.

This is because the bottle is basically easier to get milk from — it releases formula in a steady stream. However, a baby has to work much harder to get milk from mummy’s breast, and therefore, may start rejecting the breast.

Older baby

Once your baby is older and beyond the newborn stage, mixed feeding works well as you can usually maintain your breastmilk supply along with formula feedings, as long as you nurse your baby every day.

In fact, mixed feeding an older baby can bring mum some much-needed rest and also help a lot if she is looking to get back to paid work.

When Should You Start with Mixed Feeding

The best time to start mixed feeding depends on your unique circumstances and your baby’s needs. Generally, it’s recommended to establish your breast milk supply first, preferably for the first few weeks or months, before introducing formula or mixed feeding.

This early exclusive breastfeeding helps establish a strong breastfeeding bond and ensures a robust milk supply. Starting mixed feeding too early may lead to nipple confusion, where the baby has difficulty switching between breast and bottle.

However, if there are specific health concerns, such as a low milk supply or the mother’s health, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the right timing for mixed feeding, ensuring the baby’s nutritional needs are met effectively.

Mixed Feeding: How to Get Started

Keep these tips in mind if you’re thinking about introducing mixed feeding to your baby.

• Before introducing formula feeds, make sure that breastfeeding is well established with your baby — generally around 6 to 8 weeks.

• Reduce the number of nursing sessions gradually in order to introduce formula milk. While this makes the transition from breast to bottle easier on your baby, it also gives your breasts the chance to adjust to the change, reducing the probability of developing mastitis or becoming engorged.

• You can offer formula feeds before, during, after or instead of breastfeeding. But do talk to a health professional or lactation consultant about this as different options will suit different situations. For example, formula milk might be given before breast milk to sick babies who are not breastfeeding well. If you are not physically with your baby, then formula feeding will replace the breastfeeding. And sometimes, formula might be given in the middle of breastfeeding, if your baby needs the familiarity and comfort of your breasts to settle.

• Keep in mind that it takes around 3 to 7 days for your breasts to adjust to missing one feed, if you substitute a breastfeed with a bottle of formula.

• Try ‘topping up’ one or more nursing sessions with formula instead of replacing a whole feed. This will increase the gap between breastfeeds, signalling your breasts to make less milk. This will make it easier to replace the breastfeeds you want to drop, with formula.
• On the other hand, if you are asked to ‘top up’ temporarily because you want to return to exclusive breastfeeding, express milk between feeds to increase the amount of breastmilk you make and keep a steady supply.

Introducing a Bottle to an Exclusively Breastfed Baby

Getting an exclusively breastfed baby to take a bottle is often a difficult task. They may get confused by the different sucking actions and they may not take the bottle from you anyway.

But there are many different ‘tricks’ you can try out to help your baby get used to a bottle.

• Ask someone else, like your partner or another caregiver, to offer the bottle. Your baby associates your breasts with you (and comfort) and may completely refuse to take a bottle from you for these reasons, at first.

• Try softening the teat with warm, boiled water.

• Hold your baby in a different position from your usual breastfeeding one. It may help your baby get used to the new way of feeding.
• Ask your bottle-feeding mum friends for their recommendations on bottle teats. You may go through a few, before finding one your baby likes best.
• If all fails, ask a lactation consultant or healthcare professional about using a nursing supplementer, as an alternative to bottles. This is a gadget which you use while your baby is at the breast. The supplementer delivers formula, through a tube attached at one end to the teat on a bottle, and at the other end, it’s taped to your nipple. The baby gets formula at the same time as breastfeeding.

Fully Transitioning to Bottle or Formula Feeding

Transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding exclusively is a significant step in a baby’s development and can sometimes be a complex process. It often begins with the gradual introduction of bottles alongside breastfeeding sessions, allowing the baby to become accustomed to the new method of feeding.

As the transition progresses, some mothers choose to gradually decrease breastfeeding sessions while increasing bottle-feeding intervals. This transition can be influenced by various factors, such as work commitments or personal preferences. It’s important to approach this transition with patience, as it can take time for both the baby and the mother to adapt.

Ensuring a nurturing and comfortable environment during bottle-feeding moments can make the transition smoother and ensure that the baby continues to receive the essential nutrients and care they need for healthy growth and development.

Here are some tips to help you successfully navigate this transition:

1. Start Gradually: Begin by introducing a bottle alongside breastfeeding to ease your baby into the new feeding method.

2. Choose the Right Bottle and Nipple: Select a bottle and nipple that mimics the shape and flow of the breast to make the transition more comfortable for your baby.

3. Express Breast Milk: If you’re transitioning to formula, consider expressing breast milk and gradually mixing it with formula to help your baby adjust to the taste.

4. Maintain Close Contact: Ensure that you maintain close physical contact during bottle-feeding to provide comfort and reassurance.

5. Stay Consistent: Stick to a feeding routine to help your baby adjust to the new feeding method.

6. Be Patient: Some babies may take time to adapt, so be patient and allow for occasional setbacks.

7. Offer Distraction: Engage your baby with soothing activities during bottle-feeding to create positive associations.

8. Seek Support: If you encounter challenges, don’t hesitate to consult with a lactation consultant or healthcare provider for guidance and support.

Remember that every baby is unique, and the transition process may vary. What’s most important is ensuring that your baby receives the nutrition and care they need while accommodating their individual preferences and needs during this transition.

For many mums, mixed feeding offers them the opportunity to continue breastfeeding, rather than give up on it altogether.

It’s also beneficial to working mums, who, rather than coming home and struggling with a breast pump to express the milk needed for the next day, can directly latch, cuddle and enjoy that time with their baby instead.

Also, mixed feeding gives fathers the opportunity to feed the baby, bonding with him in the process.

Mums, remember: you are not a bad mother for choosing to replace a few breastfeeding sessions with formula. Your baby is still getting your precious breastmilk and the benefits it offers, even if you breastfeed just a few times a day.

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.