Giving your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding is called supplemental feeding. Many families choose this type of combined feeding method, either out of necessity (e.g. a low supply of breast milk), for convenience, or simply as a personal choice. In some cases, a doctor may recommend breastfeeding and giving formula for medical reasons.
When Do Doctors Recommend Supplemental Feeding?
When possible, most doctors, as well as WHO (World Health Organization), recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and then continued breastfeeding for up to a year or longer, along with the introduction of solid foods. However, your doctor may want you to give your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding in certain situations:
- Fewer than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period
- Irritability immediately after feeding
- Poor weight gain, especially in the first month after birth
- Weight loss of more than 10 percent of body weight in the first few days of life
When Can Formula Be Added?
If your baby was born prematurely, with low birth weight, or with certain health problems, they may need more than just breast milk. Supplementation is often done to help the baby gain weight.
In case you have little or no milk due to previous breast surgery, mastitis, or another health problem, it is recommended to include formula in the diet.
If you are returning to work after just three months and have enough milk, you will need to pump. It might be too difficult or stressful to pump at work, and you may experience a decrease in breast milk supply when you return from work. If you don’t have a stockpile of breast milk stored in the freezer, you may need to supplement your baby’s diet with formula.
WARNING
Although it’s okay to put breast milk in the same bottle with prepared formula, mixing them can lead to wasting breast milk if your baby doesn’t finish the bottle. If possible, first let them drink the breast milk, as much as you have, and then finish the feeding with formula.
For safety reasons, you should never mix breast milk with unmixed powdered or concentrated formula. Always prepare the formula according to the manufacturer’s instructions, using clean water.
How to Choose the Right Formula?
Before choosing an infant formula for your child, talk to your pediatrician. Milk formulas are categorized by age – number 1 for ages from birth to six months, number 2 for ages from six to twelve months, and number 3 for older than one year. Formulas are also categorized according to specific health problems such as gas, poor digestion, diarrhea, spitting up and vomiting, or in case of allergies. Most milk formulas contain added iron, vitamin D, probiotics, and other beneficial substances that help the proper growth of the baby.
