What is mixed feeding?
When babies are fed both breastmilk as well as formula milk is known as mixed feeding, often called combination feeding or partial feeding.
Mixed feeding usually means giving formula milk to the baby along with the breastmilk. It is advisable to give breastmilk to the baby till six month. Mother milk contains antibodies which helps babies to build immunity and give strength to fight from the infection and flu.
Find here: How to Boost Immunity in Babies?
When Mixed Feeding is Recommended?
Baby unable to gain weight
Babies survive only on milk till six months of their age, so it is necessary to know whether the feed they are taking is enough for them or not. If a baby starves he will be cranky and unable to gain weight. Many pediatricians recommend top feed or formula milk if breastmilk is not sufficient for the baby. This helps in filling the baby tummy and also increases the weight.
Low supply of breastmilk
Many women start mixed feeding, because of low supply of breastmilk. The milk duct of breasts sometimes takes time to produce milk and didn't come out immediately after the birth of the baby. This is the most common reason of Indian moms to start combination feeding.
Mother's may suffer with low breastmilk supply if they have early breast surgery or any other medical issue, though any woman can suffer which is quite normal these days. There are several tricks and tips to increase the breast-milk supply. Still, if you and your doctor feel that your baby is not getting enough feed then mixed feeding is recommended.
Find here: 5 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply
Working women
Mixed feeding is quite popular among the working ladies. It's convenient for them to feed their baby with formula milk in their absence as well. Mixed feeding also helps in establishing a great bond between baby and father.
Breastfeeding is sometimes stressful and painful too for some mumma, in such cases mixed feeding is recommended to the baby for tummy full feed.
Fussy baby
Premature babies are unable to take feed as their jaws are not so strong to suck the nipple properly and therefore they may become fussy because of hunger. Mixed Feeding is therefore suggested in order to give enough feed to baby which is required through formula milk.
Is it safe to mixed feed the baby?
Yes, mixed feeding or combination feeding is totally safe and recommended by many pediatricians as well. A baby having low weight can get benefit from mixed feeding, as mixed fed babies do not starve. It has also been seen that mixed feeding babies continue to breastfeed for longer time then only formula fed babies.
Things to Know While Mixed Feeding
Nipple confusion
Baby may get confused with the bottle nipple and the breast nipple, as sucking through breast nipple it takes effort to get the milk. While in bottle nipples with little effort only babies can suck the milk, and babies find this easier. Therefore, always introduce bottles once your baby is fully trained to latch on the breast-milk. Basically it is good to introduce bottle only after 1 to 1.5 months till then feed the baby either through a nifty cup or paladai.
Always choose a good quality of baby bottles and nipple to feed the baby. We recommend Dr. Brown bottles or Philips Avent natural latch bottles.
Give similar feeding environment
Make sure your formula feeding style is similar to the breastfeeding style. Babies always need the coziness and warmth of their mother's touch. Give a skin to skin touch formula feed as well so that the baby can feel calm, secure, comfortable and fall asleep easily.
Always give breastfeeding first
Breastfeeding contains all the nutritional benefits for the baby. Therefore, always try to give the breastmilk first, then offer the formula milk to baby during each feed. In this way, your baby can get all the nutritional benefits from breastmilk and then fill his tummy with formula milk. If you offer formula milk first, your baby will refuse to take breast-milk because his tummy would already be full.
Sometimes babies only suck the first part of milk which is known as foremilk, contains water and other nutrition. The later part of breastmilk, known as hindmilk, is composed of fats which helps babies in gaining weight. If a baby is unable to suck the hindmilk then he may feel hungry all day and may get cranky.
Give breastfeeding to make baby fall asleep
Never bottle feed your baby to make him fall asleep. Always offer mothermilk at nap time to make him fall asleep. If you give bottle for night feed, your baby may get addicted to bottles for sleeping which is not good for baby teeth and gums. It's good to offer breastmilk, which will also free you at night, with waking up and making milk-bottle for your baby.
Wean bottle when you start solids
Bottle is not good for babies, therefore try to decrease the bottle feed once you start the solid and give only breastmilk. In this way your baby will soon quit the bottle without any hassle. In seven or eight months, you can start giving formula milk in glass. If you will continue the bottle feeding till one year of your baby age then it becomes very difficult to stop the bottle feed. Early weaning of bottle feed is easy while continuing breast-feeding is good till one to two years of baby. After 9 to 11 months babies do not take much breast-feeding as they have regular food like us. So it is recommended to give breastmilk whenever they demand for 3 to 5 minutes for their satisfaction.
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