Mixing breast and bottle

[peckham19]

Hi there - wanted some advice. I currently BF my 11 week old five times a day (7am until 6:30pm every 3.5 hours) and he gets a dream feed bottle at 10pm from his dad. He doesn’t feed overnight. He’s very happy and healthy and weighs 13lbs currently.

I want to start swapping out some of the BF for formula to make life easier when out and about/be able to leave him with people for longer etc.

Is it possible to keep some BF eg the morning ones, and give formula for the later ones or will this ruin my supply? I’m not against switching to formula anyway longer term.

Be great to hear people’s experiences on how this might work.

Thanks!

Sorry should day the bottle is formula and I do pump sometimes but find it a faff ...

I alternate between bf and bottle and try to keep the pattern the same every day. DS is 4.5 months now and has 6 feeds - breast,bottle,breast etc. Last feed is a bottle and he usually sleeps through. I think this is the best way to maintain your supply for the bfs as you’re just spacing them rather than just bfing in the morning or whatever, which you might find uncomfortable later in the day and you might find you make a bit less milk as you’re not regularly emptying.

I will probably drop the lunchtime bf in a month or so and just do morning and night time. Trying to cut down slowly before I return to work

I have never used mixed feeding so can't comment on that, but having bottle fed one and breastfed another I'm not sure you will find bottle feeding easier when out and about. You have to take sterilized bottles and either faff around making them up or use expensive pre-mixed formula. You have to estimate how hungry your baby is likely to be which isn't always easy. You can't suddenly change your plans and stay out all day on whim. Breastfeeding you just need to find somewhere to sit down and you're good.

Really good point about changing plans - hasn't factored that at all. Something to consider. Thanks for advice

I mixed fed and it was fine. Advice was to feed via the breast at night as that helps determine your supply. Sometimes I would take ready made formula out with us, sometimes I’d make up a bottle before leaving the house on the go (my LO liked cold milk). Sometimes I’d switch back to breast to relieve myself.

I did mixed feed and my only regret was that I didn't do it sooner.
Life became so much easier when i did both. I had to go back to work after 18 weeks so would do a breast feed in the morning and evening and a bottle at bed time.