introducing mixed-feeding - how?

[curlyLJ]

I'd like to begin mixed-feeding, partly as BFing in public during the day is now nigh on impossible (dd too distracted) but also in prep for going back to work...

Someone said to me to do one feed at a time...but how long before moving on to the next one? I want to continue BF morning and night...

Also, as DD has always BF on demand, we don't really have a routine as such, just when she asks for it, (anything from 2-4 hourly, depending on naps too) so how do i pick a feed to swap with formula?? is there a better time of the day for the first one to change?

any tips gratefully received!!

anyone?

I'm about a month away from doing this too so hope you get some replies!

have you asked your health visitor? i mixed fed for 5 weeks after birth as i was very ill. but it was different for us as we did it from day 1.

How old is your DD?

she is 6 months next week.

Have given a bottle of formula yesterday and today, but at different times as feeds just happened to be different due to different wake up time...

Juat not sure if I'm doing this right. DOn't want to mess my suuply up, or end up painfully engorged.

And when do you return to work?

Just asking as some babies will reject all milk away from mum and naturally fall into a habit of taking from mum when she's there, so if you've got a couple of months yet then introducing formula may just be extra work for yourself.

Oh, also, you're not likely to mess up your supply at this stage unless you start dropping lots of feeds at once. Replacing one a day for a few weeks is the best way to slow down.

not going back until the end of the year, but I like to plan ahead , but tbh the main reason I want to switch daytime feeds is for the other reason I mentioned (because she is just so distracted and I don't feel I can BF whilst out and about anymore as it just stresses me out!!)

So dropping one feed every couple of weeks is about right is it? Presumably it has to be the same time feed (approx)?

I just dropped the afternoon grind of cluster feeding for a bottle at 4pm, DS is 11 weeks.
Also feeding on demand so we tend to feed roughly 2 hourly from waking up 7am, 9.30am, 11.30am 1,30pm, then a bottle at 3.30pm to 4pm and bedtime at 6.45 which I have to really drag him out to!
He just went through the night as well, although he is pretty rubbish cuddly slow on the bottle and it takes a long time to get 3-4 oz down him. I am persevering though with the bottle. He does take it a bit better from others than me so maybe start on a weekend with other half.

Doesn't really matter which one you drop first, but I found afternoon milk wasn't lasting him as long as morning milk does. And its really filling him up ready for bed. I do think you need to stick to roughly same time each day. Don't worry too much if you just BF an hour ago, the bottle actually becomes the routine and the other feeds fall in around it.

I'm 10 days in on the first bottle and boobs are totally fine. Now they have to tackle the sleeping thru - my god they were agony this morning!