Combining Breastfeeding And Infant Formula Feeding
Feeding your baby any amount of breastmilk has benefits for you and your baby. You might be able to combine breastfeeding with formula feeding if you are unable to give your baby only breastmilk. Here are some tips to help you:
- Try to breastfeed first before giving formula.
- Any breastmilk has benefits to mother and baby, even if it is only a few drops.
- The more you can express or breastfeed, the more milk you will make.
Choosing The Right Formula
Infant formulas are made to meet your babys nutritional needs, very much like the breast milk on which theyre modeled. Most formulas are modified cows milk, and all standard brands are very similar. Unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise, pick one that is fortified with iron.
Formulas come in three types of preparations: ready-to-feed , liquid concentrate , and powder . Read and follow the mixing directions on the package carefully.
How Will I Know If My Formula
After a while, you’ll get to know the signs that show your baby is ready to feed:
- your baby will start to get restless
- they’ll begin to turn their head and open their mouth
- they’ll find something to suck usually their fist or fingers
Try to feed your baby before they cry, as this is a late sign of hunger.
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How Will Formula Feeding Change As My Baby Grows
How To Mix And Handle Formula
- Check the expiration date on the container. Dont use if the formula is past this date.
- Wash the top of the new container before opening it.
- It is important that you follow the mixing instructions on the can.Your baby can get sick if you use too much water or not enough water.
- You may use city water to mix concentrated or powder formula. You may use well water if you boil it before using.
- Heat the water to a full boil for at least one minute.
- Pour the water into a clean container and cover it. Keep it in the refrigerator.
- Use the water within three days of mixing formula.
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Sterilise All Equipment For Bottle
You must sterilise all bottle-feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old. This is very important.Always remember:
- Steam can cause severe skin burns, so be careful when boiling or steaming equipment.
- Place all equipment out of reach of children.
- Avoid unnecessary handling of sterilised equipment and do not touch the inner surfaces of bottles or teats.
First, wash all the equipment in warm, soapy water. Use a clean bottlebrush to thoroughly remove all traces of milk, then rinse, then sterilise. You can use different sterilising methods, such as boiling, chemicals, steam or microwave steam.
First Weeks And Months
Some babies need additional vitamin D.
Babies who are fed breast milk exclusively or who receive both breast milk and infant formula need extra vitamin D, starting shortly after birth. They can get this through over-the-counter vitamin D drops. Babies receiving only infant formula do not need vitamin D drops. Infant formula is fortified with vitamin D.
- Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will get longerabout every 3 to 4 hours for most infant formula-fed babies. This means you may need to wake your baby to feed. You can try patting, stroking, undressing, or changing the diaper to help wake your baby to feed.
- Some feeding sessions may be long, and other feedings short. That is okay. Babies will generally take what they need at each feeding and stop eating when they are full.
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How To Soften Newborn Stool
Some doctors recommend using corn syrup like Karo, usually around 1 to 2 teaspoons per day, to soften the stools. Once your infant is taking solids you can try vegetables and fruits, especially that old standby, prunes. If these dietary changes dont help, its time to call your childs pediatrician.
Bottles For Expressed Breastmilk Or Infant Formula
When buying bottles, remember that:
- You will need at least 3 large bottles with leak-proof caps, discs and teats.
- Plastic bottles are better, because glass breaks more easily.
- Bottles should be smooth on the inside surface , so they are easy to clean properly.
- Bottles should have clearly marked measurement guides that will not wear off over time.
- Breastmilk is the feeding option of choice for infants.
- If breastmilk is not available, then infant formula is a suitable alternative.
- Breastmilk or formula should be the main milk used until the baby is 12 months old.
- Choose a formula to match the age and needs of your baby, and always read the label carefully as labels for other products can look very similar to those for infants.
- If you believe your baby has a problem with feeding, discuss this with your maternal and child health nurse or doctor before switching brands.
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Can Babies Drink Too Much Formula
If youre concerned that your baby is feeding too much, there are some signs to watch out for. These will probably be very obvious, such as vomiting , or experiencing tummy pain or tension after a feed.
Although some spit up is perfectly normal in babies, if your little one is spitting up very frequently or in large quantities, it might mean that he or she is drinking too much. Feeding more frequently, but with a less volume at each feed, could help.
If you feel your baby is gaining weight rapidly, speak to your doctor about whether he or she thinks your baby might be feeding too much. This is most likely to happen if you feed your baby when they arent actually hungry, but are simply bored or wanting attention, or even just needing to be burped! Your pediatrician may recommend alternatives to defaulting to another bottle, such as cuddling or playing with your baby. Youll also want to make sure that youre preparing formula in the right proportions, so that your baby isnt accidentally getting too much formula powder and too little water.
As youll note from the formula feeding chart, older babies have fewer feeds , with larger bottles at each feed. Still, your baby should not be intaking more than 32 fl oz of formula per 24-hour period.
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Baby Feeding Chart At A Glance
As you watch for those delightful baby milestones â from first smiles and giggles to sitting and crawling â it can be hard to keep track of everything related to your babyâs feeding schedule. Fortunately, you donât have to. We’ve assembled all the necessary details in the chart below, including feeding frequency and portion information.
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How Much Formula Should My Baby Be Eating
Bobbie® knows the key to a happy and healthy baby is keeping them well-fed. Just like Goldilocks, you dont want to feed your baby too much or too littlethe amount of formula theyre given should be just right.
While babies will certainly tell you when theyre hungry, its important to understand their hunger cues and know how much organic infant formula to prepare. This article will help you determine how much formula your baby needs to thrive.
How Many Oz Should My Baby Eat Per Day
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According to a rough estimate, your baby should consume 2.5 ounces of milk for every pound of weight gained. As a result, if your child is 10 pounds, they should eat as many ounces per day as they weigh.
Newborns typically consume between two and three hours of food per day, or eight to twelve times per day. Feedings should be scheduled as soon as the baby is born prematurely or with certain medical conditions, according to your pediatrician. The majority of healthy, full-term infants, on the other hand, can tell their parents if they are hungry by their feeding behavior. Babies typically consume more formula per month by consuming an average of one ounce. When infants are bottle-fed, they are more likely to overfeed. Overfed infants are more likely to develop stomach pains, gas, spit up, or vomit, and may be more likely to be obese as adults. A newborns diaper can tell you how much food he or she is getting. Talk with your pediatrician about how often and how much food to provide your newborn. The healthy growth percentile of babies is probably the best indicator of how much food they require.
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Follow Your Babys Lead
Remember, each baby is unique and will vary her intake from feeding to feeding, and day to day. Never force-feed her extra formula, and dont leave her still smacking her lips for more. A baby who spits up often may do better with smaller, more frequent feedings. Or, consider using paced bottle feeding, a technique that allows your little one to control the pace of their meals and reduces overfeeding.
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When Should You Start Feeding Your Newborn Baby
Newborns especially are most alert an hour or two after birth, which is why its important to start breastfeeding as soon as possible. If you miss that very active stage, your baby may be sleepier later, which makes it harder to practice latching on for that first initial feeding.
If your babys not showing signs of wanting to latch, you should continue to offer your baby the breast every two to three hours. It can take a lot of practice, so its important to be patient as your baby is figuring out the best way to latch.
Write down the feeding times and number of wet and dirty diapers your baby has had while youre in the hospital. Your nurse and doctor will be able to help you determine if your baby needs some additional encouragement to nurse or supplement.
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How Much Formula Milk Does My Weaning Baby Need
From around six months, it could be time to start introducing solids alongside your little ones regular milk. This is called weaning, and theres going be a lot of messy fun from here on in!
If your baby is ready to start eating a variety of purees and finger foods you still need to give your baby their regular milk. At the beginning your little one is more likely to get their solid foods all over you than in their little mouths, so its recommended you give them the same amount of milk feeds as before. As your little one begins to eat more solid foods, they will start to need less bottle-feeding. Babies should naturally and gradually reduce the amount of milk they want themselves, as they build on their diet of solid foods.
What Kind Of Bottle Should I Use
Bottles come in different shapes and sizes. They can be made of glass, plastic, silicone, or stainless steel. Here are some differences:
Plastic bottles are now “BPA-free” meaning they don’t contain the chemical bisphenol A . This chemical may be harmful and is found in some plastics, but is banned from baby bottles. Years ago, some plastic baby bottles had BPA in them, but none do now.
Glass bottles. Glass bottles can cause injury if broken, but silicone sleeves make them easier to grip and help prevent breaks.
Silicone bottles and stainless steel bottles are newer options. They are unbreakable but tend to be more expensive than plastic or glass.
Some babies do better with certain bottle shapes, vented bottles, or bottles with liners on the inside. You may need to try a few kinds before you find what works best for you and your baby.
To get you through the first week or so, be sure to have enough formula, water, bottles, and nipples.
Over time, you may want to buy more or different kinds of bottles. You also may find it’s worth getting other supplies, like a bottle drying rack or special dishwasher basket.
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What If I Need To Transport A Made
If it is not possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed , prepare the feed at home, cool under a running tap or in a bowl of cold water, and cool it for at least 1 hour in the back of the fridge.
Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within 4 hours. If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within 2 hours.
If made-up formula is stored:
- in a fridge use within 24 hours
- in a cool bag with an ice pack use within 4 hours
- at room temperature use within 2 hours
Things You Should Know
Here are some important things to keep in mind about formula feeding:
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Hand washing. Always wash your hands carefully before preparing formula.
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Washing feeding equipment. If you wash and rinse bottles and artificial nipples carefully ââ¬â with hot, clean water ââ¬â boiling or sterilizing them is unnecessary. Be sure to clean out any leftover formula, which can spoil easily and upset your baby’s stomach.
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Heating formula. Never heat formula in the microwave. Microwaves heat the formula unevenly, and hotspots will burn your baby. Place the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes to bring it up to room temperature.
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Bottle position. Whoever is doing the feeding needs to hold the baby’s head at a slightly elevated angle and keep the bottle held up so she doesn’t suck in a lot of air.
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Throwing out used formula. Prepared formula can be kept in the refrigerator for 48 hours if the baby hasn’t touched the nipple. If she has, throw out whatever remains after a feeding.
Read more about how long can formula sit out for once it has been prepared.
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Typical Portion Sizes And Daily Intake For Infants Age
0 to 4 months
- Breast milk or infant formula Feedings per day: eight to 12.
4 to 6 months
- Fruit or vegetable .
- Meat or beans .
While babies do not need additional water or juice for hydration, it is recommended to provide some in a cup to help with transition off the bottle, which is recommended at 12 months. If you have any questions about your babys diet and nutrition, talk to your pediatrician or a dietitian. They can help you form a healthy plan for your child.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 02/17/2020.
References
When Do I Start Timing Feeds
Every baby is different and their appetites vary massively, so it can be normal for them to take more or fewer feeds than the guide above suggests. Your baby wont always wake at an exact time after their previous feed is finished. If youre able to, try and time your babys feeds from the moment you start until the beginning of the next feed . So if you feed your baby at 12 noon and they go back to sleep at 1pm, expect to feed them again at about 4pm. If your baby does follow a routine of feeding every three hours, youre going to be very busy, particularly in the early months!
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