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

Infant feeding

Mixed feeding: which feeds would you replace with formula?

14 replies

jinglesticks · 01/12/2012 13:21

I have to start mixed feeding, as I will be taking medication which takes a few hours to leave my system. I'm planning to try to go without any meds and just bf for the first week to build up my supply, and then replace a few feeds in a row with formula. Might not work, but its worth a go. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any advice about which feeds would work best as bottle feeds. Is it worth making them the night feeds? Will this help dd sleep better? It would at least mean someone else could do them. Any advice about mixed feeding appreciated.

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PoppyWearer · 01/12/2012 13:23

I mix-fed my DC2 from very young and we made the last evening feed the formula one, as it gave my breast milk a chance to replenish and I could have a bath or an early night whilst DH fed him. It also gave me the odd night out!

Worked really well for us.

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emsyj · 01/12/2012 13:25

Marking my place - really interested to hear success stories like yours Poppy - DD was a bottle refuser (my own fault for leaving it too long to introduce and not keeping it consistent) so I would like DC2 to be a bit more flexible and I'm considering taking this route.

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PoppyWearer · 01/12/2012 13:28

That's precisely why we did it with DC2, emsyj, our DC1 also a bottle-refuser. We went through hell!

Huge success with DC2, have only just stopped bf him at 15mo.

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emsyj · 01/12/2012 13:35

Brilliant, it's good to hear of folk who have managed to combine - I don't think I could be a slave to DC2 like I was with DD (fed unpredictably and often til 12 months, I couldn't go anywhere or do anything without her - exhausting).

Can I ask if you used a dummy Poppy? I have been collecting anecdotal data and it seems there's a strong correlation between babies who have dummies and those who are happy with a bottle. I didn't use a dummy with DD (no need, she wasn't a cryer and was quite efficient - albeit frequent - with feeding) so would probably not want to bother with DC2 either if I can get away with it, seems much easier than weaning them off...

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jinglesticks · 01/12/2012 17:27

That's a really good suggestion Poppy. Dh gave dd2 a bit of bottle last night so I could have an early night and it worked well. She's just 3 days old so I thought it might be too soon, but she was still happy to be bf for the next feed. My dd1 was a bottle refuser too, but I don't have much choice this time. If the mixed feeding doesn't work ill have to stop bfing which I don't want, so it's great to hear a success story.
Thanks

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jinglesticks · 01/12/2012 17:29

Ooh yes I'd like to hear whether you used a dummy too. We didn't with dd1 but she didn't self settle until she was 2 so anything that might help this time would be great!

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Olympicrock · 01/12/2012 17:50

I gave formula for any feeds between 6pm and midnight so my DP could do these and I could have a break. Worked really well for us.

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PoppyWearer · 01/12/2012 19:45

We did use a dummy with DC2, but not religiously, not every time.

After not using one with DC1 (boon monster) we again wanted the flexibility and it has definitely then been easier when handing DC2 over to other people to have the dummy as an option.

He takes it or leaves it, even now. Never needs it at nursery (they are not even in his bag) but I sometimes drop him off at the gym crèche and they do use one. DH also likes using it with him. I don't.

If I threw the dummies away tonight I think DC2 wouldn't bat an eyelid, it would be DH who would panic!

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PoppyWearer · 01/12/2012 19:46

Aww, didn't realise your baby was so little Jinglesticks. Congrats!

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PoppyWearer · 01/12/2012 19:47

"Boon monster" should read "boob monster"!

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WhoahThereCrazyHorse · 01/12/2012 19:54

Dummy and mixed feeding here, formula feed in the evening. It's enabled me to keep bf-ing with the pressure off, I'm a massive fan of this approach!! To be honest up to now it was all a hit random with various feeds being replaced or topped up, but more by luck than judgement we've found ourselves in a place I'm pretty happy with.

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WhoahThereCrazyHorse · 01/12/2012 19:54

bit not hit

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VisualiseAHorse · 02/12/2012 08:24

Bedtime feed was formula for us. We kept it like that for about 2-3 months, really good as it meant OH could do it when he got in from work, and give me a chance to chill out!
He's now has one BF in the morning, and bottles the rest of the time.

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jinglesticks · 02/12/2012 13:43

Great to hear it can work so well. Tonight we're going to try ff from 8-12 so I can sleep. Dd feeds constantly still so I am looking forward to a few hours sleep.