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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Combination feeding

4 replies

Laugh6 · 16/05/2018 08:03

Hi I've recently decided to give my ebf baby a bottle of formula a day. I am not seeing a lot of information about mixed feeding/combination feeding. My little boy is now 5 months and we got off to a great start breastfeeding however he eats every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the daytime and a bit less often at night usually every 3 hours. He is a quick feeder during the day and feeds in under 5 mins. since about 14 weeks has become quite stressful as he gets frustrated and distracted when feeding. It's really keeping us housebound a lot as when we do go places it's not long before we have to head home to feed. Sometimes I do feed him when we go out but only places that have a breastfeeding room as it's not comfortable with him trashing around from swapping boobs and shouting in-between feeds.
I would like to maybe do another bottle too of expressed milk to take it to 2 bottle feeds a day. He is very content after a bottle feed formula or breast milk. Does anyone have any successful combination feeding experiences they can share. I really feel depressed thinking of giving up breastfeeding but this frequent feeding is also making me feel quite low. I also meant to add he is calmer and more settled feeding at nighttime. He is still a little young for weaning but hoping to start him a little earlier maybe around 24 weeks. My HV says he is a hungry boy and had actually recommended earlier weaning but I've held off as still think he is a bit young. I started going back to a breastfeeding group but they don't seem keen when I tell them I am wanting to feed sometimes with formula. They think it's all very normal my situation and gets easier. I have a 6 year old older brother that's really not getting enough attention with me frequently feeding the youngest.
Thanks for any positive stories you may have and just a little reassurance if anyone knows more about this! 😀

OP posts:
Laugh6 · 16/05/2018 08:05

Sorry meant to say he does have plenty of wet/dirty nappies and is gaining weight well.

OP posts:
ethelfleda · 16/05/2018 11:46

Sorry - I don't have any advice on combination feeding but how long has he been feeding this often? My DS (ebf) fed this often at around this age and then something just changed and he settled down loads - started feeding every 4 hours during the day and now he only feeds once at night. It's become ridiculously easy lately. Although I have always fed in public if needed so I understand how that must be frustrating for you Flowers

ethelfleda · 16/05/2018 11:48

Meant to say - the feeds settled down before we even started weaning so having food made no difference. I personally think he went through a massive growth spurt at that age instead of at 6 months like they say. Would you consider hanging on just for a week or so just to see if things improve?

Laugh6 · 16/05/2018 13:15

He has always fed every 1 1/2 hours during the day since and went a little longer at night from around 3 months. I thought it was growth spurts/development leaps but just has gone on for about 9 weeks lol 😂
I don't know why I never thought of this before but a breastfeeding advisor came over today to check the latch and discuss some of my concerns and she is referring him for tongue tie which would make a lot of sense.
Usually it's picked up sooner but I guess a lot of the things that would have prompted me to wonder what is wrong seemed normal.

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