Supplementing with Formula - Milford, CT

I nursed my daughter till she was 2 and a half years old. I don't personaly see the need to supplement the breast milk. You said you put regular powder in your breast milk? I think that maybe you should mix the powder with water and then mix it with your milk if you must. Just my opinion. I used to put a little rice cereal but only to fill her stomach up and have her sleep longer. The weaning for me didn't work and everyone always had an opinion and the one that worked was "She stop when she is ready" and one day she just stopped. Good luck!
Y.

R.,
Congratulations on your newborn! I have a 2 month old as well, but a little girl. Her name is Jules.

If you plan on nursing Om until he is 5-6 months old there is really no need for you to supplement at this time. I would advise that you continue with regular breast milk in the bottle and maybe a month before he is weaned from breastmilk completely you can add the formula to the breastmilk slowly increasing the formula ratio. For instance, start with 2 oz of formula to 4 oz of breastmilk the first week, then 4 oz of formula to 2 oz of breastmilk the second week then the third week you can go straight to formula. Be sure to add the correct amount of water that the manufacturer of the formula recommends for each scoop of powder that you add. Does Om not like the taste of the formula? Is that why you are giving it to him now or do you just want him to grow accustomed to drinking from the bottle? If that's the case I suggest that you stick to breastmilk without additives. It's wonderful that you will continue to nurse him as long as that. A lot of moms make the transition sooner and babies really benefit from nursing the longer you feed them. Lots of luck to you and the new baby!

E. ;)

Hi R.!

I have a 7 month old daughter, and I also supplement with formula. I started by doing bottles of 1/2 breastmilk, and 1/2 formula. I think that you should be mixing the formula with water as if you were going to be feeding just that to him though. So instead of just mixing it with your milk, if he is drinking 4 oz, do 2 oz formula, and 2 oz breastmilk.

I now breast feed when we are home, and she drinks formula at day care and if we are in a place where people may be uncomfortable with my breastfeeding (like BBQ's, that type of thing).

good luck with it, and smart thinking to start the bottles now! I waited a little too long, and she had a bit of an adjustment.

M.

R. - First off congrats on the birth of your son. I supplemented with formula routinely since my daughter was 2 months old. I started off mixing bottles with 3/4 breastmilk and 1/4 prepared formula (powder mixed with water). I would do this for half of her bottle feedings each day (which at that time was only two). And then I moved to half breastmilk half formula and then 3/4 formula 1/4 breastmilk - until the bottles she took were only formula. I still nursed her at a minimum 4 times a day until she was 4 1/2 months old. I hope this information helps. Good Luck - K.

I nursed my son till he was 9 mos and supplemented with ready-to-feed Similac formula b/c it was the closest to breastmilk...I think. I would add that to your breastmilk about 1oz for each feeding and increase it as you go along and see how his stomach goes. My son hated the powder stuff.

Hi R.,

I will double check with a CAPPA Lactation Educator and get back to you.

Right now I'm thinking you probably don't have to start supplementing until you get closer to weaning Om. WHO recommends breastfeeding solely for the first six to eight months. Of course you have to make the right decision for you child and family. Let me double check and I will get back to you asap.

-M.

I would not reccomend supplementing with formula. Breast milk is the best, natural and has so many rewards as I am sure you know if you are breast feeding. I breast fed both of my children until between 15 and 18 months and miss is dearly. It is such a bonding time. I pumped with a double pumper when I returned to work. It is really so beneficial for your baby and I hope you change your mind.

Hi I'm S.. I'm a firm believer in following the natural course of things. If you feed him in a bottle already then what is your concern about the switch-a-roo? Have you heard that they won't take formula because of the taste? Never heard of that. I would advise you not to use up the precious space in his stomach with formula, the breast milk is better for him until he's at least one and it's better for you to continue to express the milk too. Have you considered making a surplus of breastmilk and freezing it. Babies shouldn't have solid food until one year and formula is really expensive. You might need to eat more of this or that to make up for the extra loss in your body while you did it but it's worth it. I breastfed solid until my baby was 18 mos and gently weaned him forthe next 18 months. He probably would've stopped on his own at 18 but there was a dramitic change in the environment at the time he tapered off on his own and I suppose it was the change that made him get back into it more heavily again.)

It is not advisable to mix the formula with the breastmilk since it takes away from the nutrients in the breastmilk.
Giving the formula 2oz water to 1 scoop powder in separate bottle would be better. Also, I am confused as to why you think you need to do that if you are nursing for another couple of months.

Well, they say to cut out feedings gradually. If your goal is to have him weaned at five months, I would cut out a nursing feeding every couple of weeks. Cut out feedings less frequently if you want to nurse until 6 months. It might be helpful at first to have someone else give the bottle (so he's not squirming around when you hold him trying to nurse). I personally did not have a problem giving bottles myself when I started supplementing, but I've heard stories from others...

Hi R.,
Why don't you just try to give him formula without mixing it to your valuable breastmilk?
I breastfed my boys during the day and before their bed time, and fed( actually it was my husband's shift) them formula when they woke up in the middle of the night. I got to rest and they couldn't fuss about the formula since they were somewhat sleepy.
Enjoy your baby,

i would check with the MD but i would think it needs to be diluted with water. because if you just gave formula it would be mixed with water, so i think the same is true if you add it to the breast milk.
E.