It is perfectly possible to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding using infant formula milk or even expressed breastmilk. Wait until your baby is at least eight weeks old if you can, because combining breast and bottle sooner than this may affect your milk supply.
For example, you may want to combine breast and formula milk if you find it hard to express enough breastmilk. It is much better for your baby if you combine breastfeeds with formula feeds than stopping breastfeeds altogether.
Combining breastfeeds and formula feeds can also suit you if you go back to work.
Before going back to work or when you want to start cutting down on breastfeeds, try to gradually reduce the number of feeds. This will stop your breasts from becoming uncomfortably engorged and leaky and it will also reduce your risk of developing mastitis.
Ideally, it will take around three days to seven days for your breasts to adjust to missing one feed. Therefore, start dropping one feed a week, starting with a daytime feed. Your usual supply of milk at that time of day will reduce when you swap a breastfeed for a bottle of formula.
If you have dropped the daytime feeds when you go back to work, you will still have a good supply in the morning and evening.
The amount of milk your baby needs will gradually reduce as he starts solids around six months. You can then feed your baby breastfeeds at either end of the day. Also, you could give him expressed breastmilk, formula milk, or water in a beaker during the daytime.
Your baby may be reluctant to take a bottle at first if you have breastfed him so far. The different sucking actions needed may confuse him and he may not take the bottle from you if he can smell breastmilk.
So, to begin with, ask someone else to offer him a bottle. Give him a variety of bottle teats, softened with warm, boiled water.
Gear Up
Because your little one might have a preference when it comes to bottles, you may need to try a few different types before you finally hit on the ones he likes best. Just make sure the ones you try are free of BPA which is a potential toxin.
The best time to introduce those first few bottles is during the second feeding of the day. This is when your baby is hungry but not starving, and is likely to be in a good mood. It can also help to have your partner feed your baby the first bottle, so that your boobs are not there to tempt him.
Supplementing Secrets
If it is not realistic to pump at work or you cannot do it as often as you need to, then you can supplement with toddler milk formula. Most babies will do fine on a regular cow's-milk formula, but you still need to ask your pediatrician what she recommends for your baby. You can start by replacing just one feeding session with formula, and drop that nursing session. However, if you feel like your breasts are going to explode, pump a little bit to relieve the pressure and make it to your next feeding.
