Babies Formula Combining Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding By Donna Murray, RN, BSN facebook twitter Donna Murray, RN, BSN has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University and is a current member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Nursing Honor Society. Learn about our editorial process Donna Murray, RN, BSN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD on March 12, 2019 Joel Forman, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine, and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Joel Forman, MD Updated on July 14, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Reasons for Supplementing When Doctors Recommend It Introducing Formula How Adding Formula Affects You How It Affects Your Baby Giving your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding is called supplementing. It's completely OK and perfectly safe to do, and many families choose this type of combination feeding method, whether out of necessity (e.g., low breast milk supply), convenience, or simply a personal choice. In some cases, breastfeeding and providing formula may be recommended by a doctor for medical reasons. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Reasons for Supplementing With Formula The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first four to six months and then continuing to breastfeed up until one year or longer, along with the introduction of solid food. For this and other reasons, including emotions and cost, making the decision to supplement with formula may not be an easy one. While many moms breastfeed their babies and give them formula because they want to, others do so because they have to. Regardless of whether all or none of these reasons for supplementing apply to you, the decision is entirely up to you. Your Child Has Medical Issues If your baby is born prematurely or with certain medical conditions, they may need more than just breast milk. Supplementing is often done for the purpose of helping a baby gain weight. You Have a Low Breast Milk Supply A previous breast surgery or certain medical conditions can interfere with the production of breast milk, though any woman can experience low supply. If you or your doctor feel that your baby is not getting enough breast milk through breastfeeding alone, you may need to supplement with infant formula. Is Your Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk? You're Going Back to Work It may be too difficult or stressful to pump at work, or you may have a decrease in your breast milk supply once you return to work. If you don't have a stockpile of breast milk stored in the freezer, you may have to supplement your baby's diet with formula. Your Partner Wants to Participate Your partner may want to take part in feedings (and you might welcome sharing the responsibility, too). You could pump and use your breast milk, or you can give your little one a bottle of formula once in a while. You Have Multiples Exclusively breastfeeding twins or triplets can be a challenge. Not only do you have to build and maintain a large enough breast milk supply, but you'll be breastfeeding very often. You may just need a break a few times a day (both physically and mentally), and formula feedings can help with that. Breastfeeding Twins and Multiples You Just Want To You may just have a personal preference to breastfeed some of the time and give your baby formula the rest of the time. When Doctors Recommend Supplementation When possible, most doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding. However, there are certain times when it's necessary for a physician to recommend supplementing a breastfed baby. Your doctor may recommend formula supplementation if: Your newborn loses more than 10% of their body weight in the first few days of life Your newborn loses weight or gains weight slowly after the first few days Your baby is having less than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period Your baby is very fussy and does not seem satisfied after feeding Choosing a Baby Formula Introducing Formula If you're not supplementing your child for medical reasons, experts recommend breastfeeding for at least one month before starting formula. This gives you time to build up a healthy breast milk supply and ensure that your baby is breastfeeding well. At this point, you can slowly begin to add formula. While it is OK to put breast milk and formula in the same bottle if you have already prepared the formula, mixing them can lead to wasted breast milk if your baby does not finish the bottle. If possible, give breast milk first, then finish the feeding with formula. For safety reasons, you should never combine your breast milk with unmixed powdered or concentrated formula. Always prepare formula according to the manufacturer's directions, using clean water. Before choosing an infant formula for your child, talk to your pediatrician. Most recommend an iron-fortified infant formula during the first year of life. If your baby develops a rash, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive crying, fussiness, or gas after starting formula, it may be an allergy. Stop using the formula and check with the baby's doctor to discuss other infant formula options. How Adding Formula Affects You Supplementing will be a change if you've been exclusively breastfeeding. If possible, add formula gradually so that your body can adjust. Start With No More Than One or Two Formula Bottles a Day Each day, your body makes breast milk based on the concept of supply and demand. When you start to add formula, it can affect how much breast milk you make. If you plan on supplementing one or two bottles a week, it shouldn't affect your breast milk supply. But if you give your child one or two bottles of formula a day, your milk supply will begin to drop. Add More Formula Bottles Slowly Going from not supplementing to giving a lot of bottles in a short period could cause problems such as breast engorgement and blocked milk ducts. It may also cause your child gastrointestinal issues. Consider Pumping or Hand Expressing Either can help keep up your breast milk supply and prevent some of the common breastfeeding problems that can pop up when you skip nursing to bottle feed. Removing your breast milk will help relieve the fullness that breast engorgement can cause. Plus you can store your pumped breast milk to use at a later time. Depending on how you store it, breast milk can stay in the freezer for up to one year. How to Properly Store Fresh, Frozen, or Thawed Breast Milk How Adding Formula Affects Your Baby If you've been exclusively breastfeeding your baby and begin to add formula to their daily diet, there are some things you may start to notice. Usually, these are just part of the transition and your baby will eventually adjust. Refusing the Bottle Your child may refuse to take the bottle, especially if you're the one giving it to them. The transition may go more smoothly if your partner or another caregiver offers the formula. Aside from simply wanting milk from Mom, some babies may have a hard time getting the hang of using a bottle. Others may just not like the taste of the formula. Waiting Longer Between Feedings Since your baby can digest breast milk more easily than infant formula, the latter allows them to feel fuller longer. They may not seem as hungry as quickly after formula feedings as they do after breastfeeding. Refusing the Breast Refusing the bottle is usually no longer an issue after some time. After your child gets used to the formula and drinking from a bottle, however, you may have the reverse issue: They may no longer want to nurse. Drinking from the breast takes more work, and many babies end up finding formula more satisfying. Changes in Bowel Movements Adding formula to your baby's diet may change the pattern, color, and consistency of your baby's poop (e.g., it may be firmer, darker in color, and have a stronger odor than before). Your child may also poop less often once you start giving them formula. A Word From Verywell The ultimate goal of every parent is to have a happy, healthy baby who is growing and thriving. It is great if you can breastfeed exclusively, but it's not always possible or desirable for every mom. Breastfeeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. Every baby and situation is unique, and a combination of breastfeeding and formula may work best for your family. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the recommendations for breastfeeding?. Updated January 31, 2017. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Managing poor weight gain in your breastfed infant. KidsHealth. Feeding your newborn. Updated January 2018. KidsHealth. Your newborn's growth. Updated October 2018. KidsHealth. Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and supplementing. Updated June 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant formula preparation and storage. Updated May 7, 2018. Additional Reading ABM clinical protocol #3: Hospital guidelines for the use of supplementary feedings in the healthy term breastfed neonate, revised 2009. Breastfeed Med. 2009;4(3):175-82. doi:10.1089/bfm.2009.9991 Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-41. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552 Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding A Guide For The Medical Professional Eighth Edition. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2015.