Combination Feeding: The Solution for Every Busy Mom

Being a new mother can be challenging, particularly when there are numerous options available for almost everything involving your child. The various feeding choices that are available for your child hold true in the same way. Although breastfeeding has many benefits and is the most popular choice among mothers, there are many others, including formula feeding.

But did you know that you can give your child formula and breast milk simultaneously? Combination feeding, also known as mixed feeding, is a choice that is very well-liked by parents all over the globe.

Continue reading to discover the advantages of combination feeding, how to get started with it, and some tips for success!

What is combination feeding?

Instead of relying on either breast milk or formula, you can give your child a mix of both. This is called combination feeding. This method of feeding enables you to supplement breast milk with formula or vice versa. Doing this will ensure that your baby gets all the nutrients he or she needs and give you a lot of flexibility, especially if you are a working professional and cannot stay at home all the time to feed your child.

As per a survey called “Breastfeeding Report Card” conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 24.9% of the infants born in 2019 were feeding exclusively on breast milk by the time they were 6 months old. It means that the remaining children were getting some form of supplemental feed, which includes formula feed.

There can be many reasons why mothers supplement their breast milk with formula. It enables the child to receive essential nutrients and antibodies that they need to become stronger. It also allows mothers to have some quality bonding time with their children.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Combination Feeding

Now let us look at some of the proven advantages and disadvantages of combination feeding. Let us start with the benefits.

Benefits of Combining Breast Milk and Formula

• Flexibility: With combination feeding, you can mix and match the different ways to feed your baby based on your lifestyle, schedule, and the baby’s needs.
• Increased milk supply: If you add formula to your milk, the baby won’t have to depend on you for every feeding. Hence, you will have time to stimulate your breasts to produce more milk.
• Reduce your stress: Exclusive breastfeeding can be hard and tiring, which makes many moms feel like they can’t handle it. Combination feeding can reduce stress.
• Share the feeding duties: Since anyone can give the child a combination feed, the father or any other family member can do it with ease. This can reduce your stress.

Risks of Combination Feeding

While there are many benefits to combination feeding, there are some risks associated with it too.

• It can be confusing for the baby: The introduction of a bottle can confuse some babies, who may prefer the ease of drinking through the nipple of a bottle over the breast.
• May reduce milk supply: when you use combination feeding, the dependence on your breast milk reduces. This may affect the supply of breast milk because your breasts may not get the required stimulation to produce enough milk.
• Cause digestive problems: combination feeding is known to cause some digestive problems like gas, constipation, or colic pain in some babies.

How to Decide if Combination Feeding is Right for You and Your Baby

How can you determine if feeding your baby in combination is best?
You can determine whether your child will benefit from combination feeding by looking for the signals listed below.
The infant is gaining weight slowly. If your child is only receiving breast milk and isn’t putting on enough weight, you should think about switching to combination feeding to ensure that the child receives all the nutrients required for growth.

• You must re-join the workplace: Once your maternity leave is over, you might need to return to work. In that situation, you won’t be able to provide the child with food constantly. And in this situation, you could add formula to your breast milk to ensure that the child was properly fed while you were gone.
• Your milk supply is low: if you aren’t producing enough breast milk, you’ll need to give your infant formula to make up the difference so they’ll have enough to eat and develop normally.
• The child feels hungry just after being fed: If your child is still asking for food immediately after being breastfed, it is likely that the amount of breast milk you are providing is insufficient to satisfy her. In that situation, you’ll need to give the baby some formula in addition to breast milk to satisfy his or her hunger.
• Your infant is not keeping well: If your child was delivered prematurely or has a disease like jaundice, you will need to provide them with additional nutrition to aid in their recovery. In this situation, adding formula to your breast milk becomes essential.

It would be smart to go see your child’s pediatrician to find out what combination of feeds will be best for your child if you notice any of these symptoms in your child. They are the professionals who can give you the best advice regarding the choices for feeding your child and promoting their rapid growth.

Steps to get started with combination feeding

If you’re ready to give combination feeding a try, then here are the steps to get started:

• Plan it out: At the very beginning, you need to decide how much milk to supplement with formula feed and when: One option is to feed the supplement only when you are not at home. The other option is to feed the supplement after every breastfeeding session if your baby is still feeling hungry.
• Choose the right formula: There are many varieties of formula feed that you can choose from. Some examples are cow’s milk-based formula, soy-based formula, hypoallergenic formula, etc. This can make it difficult for you to understand which one will suit your baby the best. Hence, I will strongly suggest that you talk to your pediatrician to decide which formula is best for your little one’s needs.
• Prepare the formula: Follow the instructions on the formula container for proper preparation. Make sure to sterilize bottles and nipples to prevent contamination.
• Offer the formula: You can offer the formula in a bottle, using a nipple that mimics breastfeeding. Make sure to hold your baby close to you and maintain eye contact to promote bonding.

Some advice for preparing formula and preserving breast milk

You must follow the right procedures when making formula and preserving breast milk. This is absolutely essential for protecting the health of your baby. Here is some advice from my own experience:

• You must wash your hands thoroughly before making formula or handling breast milk.
• Strictly follow the instructions given on the container of the formula you are making.
• Make sure that the bottles, nipples, or other utensils you use to make the formula are sterile and spotless.
• Discard any leftover formula after 24 hours.
• It is possible to store breast milk in the freezer for 6 months or in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Hence, you can extract and store your milk for future use, if needed.

Common Challenges and Solutions for Combination Feeding

Combination feeding can come with some challenges that you may face too. So, here are some common problems that may arise, along with some solutions:

• Nipple confusion: Many babies face difficulties switching from breastfeeding to bottle feeding. This is commonly known as nipple confusion.
  If your baby is also having trouble switching between breast and bottle, you can try using a nipple that mimics breastfeeding. Along with that, you can also try out different feeding positions, such as holding your baby upright or lying the baby down across your lap with her face turned towards you.
• Feeding in the proper amounts: As a new mother, you might find it challenging to gauge how much formula and breast milk to offer your child. As a result, your baby may end up being underfed or overfed as a consequence of this. Your doctor can advise you on how much feeding your child requires based on her weight and age.
• Milk supply issues: If you are having trouble producing enough milk, try pumping after breastfeeding sessions or increasing your water and calorie intake.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Combination Feeding

Here are some of the best practices for successful combination feeding:

• Set up a feeding schedule: Try to set up a feeding schedule, such as breastfeeding first and then adding formula.
• Maintain good hygiene: Always wash your hands and sterilize bottles and nipples before feeding.
• Be patient: It can take some time for your baby to adjust to the different feeding methods. Be patient and give them time to learn.

Coping Strategies for Common Issues

Combination feeding can be challenging, but there are ways to cope with common issues. Here are some coping strategies:

• Take breaks: Combination feeding can be tiring, both physically and emotionally. Make sure to take breaks when you can and ask for help from family and friends.
• Seek peer support: To make things easier, you may consider joining a combination feeding support group. You may get a lot of guidance, encouragement, and suggestions from other parents who are also using this technique, and they will surely lend you a helping hand whenever you need it.
• Keep your spirit up: Remember that being a mother is not going to be easy, especially if this is your first child. I had to go through a lot of trials and errors to find out what works best for my baby and me, and so will you. So, keep your spirits up and enjoy the journey called ‘motherhood’!

Conclusion

Combination feeding is a fantastic choice for mothers who cannot exclusively breastfeed their infants or those who want to supplement their breast milk for a variety of reasons. By giving them a mix of breast milk and formula, you can make sure your baby gets all the essential nutrients they need to develop properly.

However, before doing anything, consult your doctor and follow his guidance. This will certainly make things much easier for you and ensure that your baby gets the best feeding too.