Mixing breast milk and formula—is this okay? Are there benefits to doing this for my infant? We’ll discover the answers to these questions as we examine the pros and cons of feeding your baby mixed breast milk and formula.
Can I Mix Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding?
The simple answer is yes. You can mix breastfeeding and formula feeding for your baby's nutritional needs. Consult your pediatrician if you want to supplement your breastfeeding with formula, whether by combining the two or feeding them separately. Their tips can make it easier by helping ease your hesitancy and need for more confidence when using this method. They may also be the best resource for recommending the most advantageous formula for your baby.
As for the process of feeding your baby, all-or-none does not apply. You can do both - feed breast milk, formula, or a combination of both in the same bottle. Just be aware that feeding formula instead of your usual breastfeeding session can slow milk production and affect your supply.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, either nursing from the breast or expressing with a pump and giving the infant breast milk from a bottle. But if you feel overwhelmed and ready to give up breastfeeding, baby formula has vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins needed for your baby to grow.
When Is It Okay to Mix Breast Milk and Formula?
There are several reasons it may become necessary to give your infant formula while breastfeeding. Some are unavoidable, and others are just preferences. Here are some of the situations that may arise in your baby’s feeding journey:
- If your breast milk is slow to come in or your infant acts like it is not getting enough because of a low milk supply, supplementing with formula is always an option. Mothers sometimes need a little more time to produce enough milk to satisfy their babies, and introducing formula feeds is occasionally necessary to supplement the baby’s diet and nutritional needs until you obtain a good supply.
- Sometimes, you do not produce enough breast milk due to hormonal changes, medications of some varieties, age, and even previous breast surgeries. These can make it difficult, if not impossible, to feed your baby from your breasts.
- You’ve had multiple babies. It can strain you enough to feed one baby, but two, three, four, and beyond can be highly exhausting. The other parent can feed the baby expressed milk or prepare formula to give mom a break during these times.
- Going back to work or being separated from your infant for extended periods are other reasons to supplement breastfeeding with combination feedings of breast milk and formula to meet your baby's nutrition needs.
There are also reasons that you may not want to breastfeed at all, such as:
- Infections that can be transferred to your baby via breast milk
- Use of prescription medications or non-prescription drugs that can affect baby’s health and well-being
- Certain radiological procedures
- Active lesions on your breasts or nipples that may transfer to your baby
There are also reasons why you may have to stop breastfeeding temporarily after the baby is born:
- You are separated from your child due to medical reasons, and they need supplemental feedings.
- Due to an illness, your baby must be fed intravenously or via a feeding tube.
Can You Mix Breast Milk and Formula in the Same Bottle?
Yes, you can mix breast milk and formula in the same bottle. For all the reasons listed in the previous paragraph, you may combo-feed your baby by adding formula to the breast milk you already have in a bottle.
The rules for storing breast milk and formula are quite different, though. Breast milk can be stored in the freezer in a food-safe plastic container or bag for up to 12 months, but it is recommended to be used within six months. If it is moved from the freezer to the refrigerator, it must be used within 24 hours.
If you put freshly pumped breast milk in the back of the refrigerator, it can be used for up to five days.
Liquid formula must be refrigerated and used within 48 hours of opening it. If you have mixed formula and breast milk, it must be used or discarded within 24 hours. If the bottle of combined breast milk and formula is not finished at a feeding, it must be discarded within one hour of mixing.
How to Mix Breast Milk and Formula in the Same Bottle
The formula must be prepared as if given alone before adding breast milk.
General guidelines for any food preparation consist of:
- Wash your hands
- Clean the countertops.
- Clean utensils and instruments, including a bottle, nipple, and measuring device, are ready for use.
- Wash the top of the can of formula to remove any germs.
Specific instructions for the formula preparations
- If you are using a powder formula, mix it with water as directed.
- If you use a concentrated formula, mix it with water as instructed.
- Never mix the concentrated or powdered formula with breast milk instead of water, as this alters the nutritional content of the formula.
- Using a ready-to-drink formula, you don't have to take extra steps when mixing it with breast milk.
Mixing breast milk and prepared infant formula together is the next step.
At this time, the combination feeding is ready for your baby.
Benefits of Mixing Formula and Breast Milk in the Same Bottle
Combining breast milk and formula can greatly help moms in many different situations. While the breastfed baby benefits most from the nutrients, antioxidants, and immunity from the mom, the baby is still getting these things from mixing breast milk with infant formula. Here’s more:
- Mixed feedings may benefit an infant if they have a very low birth weight, are born premature (less than 32 weeks gestation), or are very ill when born.
- Offering your child a mixed feeding stretches your breast milk.
- Other caregivers can help with feeding, making transitioning back to work easier.
- Moms with a low milk supply can still satisfy their infants with a combination feed.
- Moms of multiples can feel good knowing that each baby is getting some of her breast milk while still feeling full and growing well.
- Parents can get more sleep as a bottle with infant formula usually leaves the baby feeling satisfied and fuller for longer.
- When you mix formula with breast milk instead of two different feedings, you must wash fewer bottles!
Risks of Mixing Formulas and Breast Milk in the Same Bottle
There are some risks when combining formula and breast milk. Let’s talk about some of these:
- If you’ve always given your baby breast milk, it may take a while for your baby to adapt to the taste when transitioning to mixed feeding.
- If you’ve been exclusively breastfeeding, adding formula to your routine, whether supplementing with formula alone or mixing it with breast milk, may diminish your milk supply.
- If your baby does not take the entire bottle of mixed formula and breast milk, it may be disheartening to see your “liquid gold” go down the drain when it hasn’t all been drunk.
- When infant formula is mixed with breast milk, germs that may not necessarily be present in breastfeeding can be introduced. Also, the shelf-life of the mixture is much shorter than that of breast milk.
Tools to Make Your Breast Milk and Formula Mixed Feeding Convenient
Moms will find tools that make their combination of formula and breast milk feedings easier. These may all be different, according to preference. Here, we will list a few of the necessities that we find helpful:
- Formula mixing pitcher- a container designated for mixing formula, whether concentrated or powdered, with water.
- Measuring utensils- for measuring formula to be mixed with water.
- Bottles- come in different sizes with varying flow rates of nipples.
- Bottle warmer- to heat and maintain ideal temperature for bottle feeding.
- A cup—Parents can offer the child a small amount of breastmilk or formula in a cup. They hold it up to rest on the bottom lip, and their little one will slurp it in sips.
- Breast pump- crucial for expressing breast milk when not nursing at the breast.
This hand-free breast pump, the M9 Mobile Flow™, provides high efficiency, multiple modes of operation, mobile phone app control, and personalized pumping settings. It’s great for moms on the go!
FAQs About Mixing Formula and Breast Milk
Q: Can mixing breast milk and formula upset a baby’s stomach?
A: Yes, unfortunately, it can, especially when transitioning between the two feeding methods. Formula does not digest as easily as breast milk, leading to bloating, gas, and fussiness. Burping during feedings may help with any built-up gas or bloating. Your baby’s bowel movements may change when formula feeding starts. They may be firmer, and their odor may be more pungent.
Q: Can I formula feed at night and breastfeed in the day?
A: Yes. This is another form of combination feeding. Your baby may go between feedings longer as the formula takes longer to digest. This may help you get much-needed rest during the nighttime hours.
Q: Is it OK to go back and forth between formula and breast milk?
A: It is usually okay to switch between breast milk and formula, which is known as combo feeding. The best method is establishing a consistent breastfeeding routine for at least a month to build a good breast milk supply. You may want to continue pumping to keep your supply abundant.
Takeaways
We’ve discussed many reasons parents may want to supplement or combine breastfeeding and formula feeding with their baby.
While we understand that breast milk is best for your baby, adding formula to your infant’s feeding routine may give you time to take a breath and relax. If mom is not the only one your baby can rely on for nourishment, it can alleviate stress and sleepless nights.
Whether for a medical reason, a low milk supply issue, or you are heading back to work, mixing formula and breast milk is perfectly fine. With the proper tools and techniques, you can combine them in the same bottle, feed one at a time, or switch back and forth between the two. Your baby will get the benefits of your breast milk, and the formula will make them feel satisfied for a longer time.
