Are there any mixed-feeders out there? Pls come and talk to me!

[curlyLJ]

I am on the verge of changing to mixed feeding for DD. This is for various reasons - but I think the time is right for us both.

I am just so used to feeding on demand with BF that I don't know how often, how much etc. Can you still feed on demand, or is it a more scheduled thing?

I have been givng DD one FF a day for a while now, which she really seems to enjoy and always seems more satisfied after. She is just too distractible to BF i the day, esp while out and about and is always unsettled and then hungry again really quickly.

I would like to continue to BF first thing, bedtime and for any night wakings.

Pls help/share your experiences...

Sorry I should have said - she is 7 months.

My DD who is now 6.5 months, was also very fussy with BF, especially if we were out and about. Think she is just too nosy for her own good! It got to the point where she would just keep pulling off and screaming and pushing me away - also was not gaining weight very much. I introduced a bottle and it was such a relief to have her finally eat without all the fuss and palaver (and I was starting to dread BF times). I still fed her myself to start with and then topped up with a bottle when she started fussing. Then I gradually replaced BF with bottles. The only feeds she was fine BF were the last one of the evening (when she was half asleep), and in the night. However, be warned that once you're doing more bottles, she may then prefer them to BF and self-wean. Like you I wanted to keep doing bedtime feed and night wakings, but she soon started to refuse these as well. So I had to give up sooner than I would have liked (stopped completely at about 5.5 months). This was totally different than with my DD1, who always preferred BF.
Presume your DD is also eating solids, so she shouldn't need many FF during the day as long as she drinks a good amount when it's offerred.

thanks dippy. Yes that's kinda what I'm worried about (that she will prefer the bottle) not sure if she is starting to get a bit lazy with the BF already, since we introduced that first bottle a few weeks back.

Have also given a top-up for the last few nighs as she just doesn't seem like she's getting/taking enough from me anymore.
I guess this could be nearly the end of the BF road for us but I can't go on with the daytime BFing as I am starting to dread them too.

We are weaning, but doing BLW so she's not really taking in any great quantities yet. That's why I am unsure how much FF to give. Are 7oz bottles about right for this age??

I give her 7oz at 7am and she normally drinks about 6, so I use the rest to put on her baby porridge. She has about 6oz again at 11am and I give her the puree of the day just before 12pm. At 3pm she'll have about another 5-6oz and at 5pm I give her a couple more and then some more baby rice/veg mixed with about another oz. Then at bedtime she has about 7oz. This is just how it's evolved for us - I know some babies who'll happily guzzle more at each sitting, but mine is not a very hungry baby. According to the formula packet, I think she should be having more, but she won't take any more in one go. I know at some stage with DD1 she was just having milk first thing, at 3pm and at bedtime, but can't remember when that was - she's only 3, but I've already forgotten so much!

Thanks Dippy

The'recommended amount on the formula box is 5 x 7oz feeds per day, but if she is still BF through the night, I guess she wont need all that?

Is it better to 'schedule' FF rather than giving on demand??

I think you can FF on demand. DD2 is 4mths. I've been mixed feeding for a couple of weeks. Actually think been on same thread as u b4. I'm finding it helpful to keep a rough diary of feeding and sleeping (an issue 4 us at the mo). e.g
7 BF 20mins
11 FF 6oz
2 BF 15
4 BF 10
6.30 BF 15 + 2 oz top up
11 BF + 2 oz top up

No more detail than that but enough to see if pattern emerging for most days

My baby is obviously a lot younger than yours. I'm still BF on demand except I'm on stike between breakfast and lunch (when I will soon be at work) so it's FF between 8 and 1 but still on demand.

I personally schedule her feeds because I like to know when she'll need a feed so I can be organised - having an older one I'm usually out and about doing things with her as well, so I can plan the day better (as am also a complete control freak!) I think you can FF on demand when you're mix-feeding, but not an exclusively FF baby, otherwise they eat too much (so I believe, but am not sure). Formula takes longer to digest than BM, so if she's taking 6-7oz of formula, she won't be hungry a couple of hours' later. You may also find that if you do end up reducing BF more/altogether, she may stop waking at night wanting food. I think the 35oz of formula per day that it says on the box, as well as solids, is a lot, and mine certainly doesn't have that. Mind you, she is long and slender like her sister and is only on the 9th centile for weight, so bigger babies would probably eat more. In general though, I think babies that have been BF exclusively to start with are unlikely to over-eat. I offer 7oz, but she usually leaves some at the bottom.

Thanks again Dippy

DD is also tiny and is only on the next centile up from your DD so I don't think she will need that much milk either.
I would love it if she stopped waking in the night for food [hwink]

I too am a control freak, so I think that is why I like the idea of being able to plan feeds a bit more. I'm all for scheduling [hgrin] in fact I don't know how I managed to BF for so long sometimes!!

Good luck - hope you get a good night's sleep very soon! :)