Combination Feeding

BREAST IS BEST? OR FULL THROTTLE ON THE BOTTLE?

In reality, many mums find a combination of the two offers the most practical way to feed their baby. We asked an expert for her advice on how to blend breastfeeding and bottle-feeding with confidence.

Combination And Mixed Feeding

Combination feeding is all about flexibility and this might be a factor for mums choosing to opt into mixed feeding once their breastfeeding is established. Whether the mum might be away from her baby or needs more flexibility with feeding. Mixed feeding can be an effective way to combine bottle and breast. For example, if going back to work, some mothers opt to breastfeed morning and evening and then express their milk at work, so that their baby can be bottle-fed breast milk during the day. If a mother does not want to express at all during working hours, she should spend a week or so before returning to work gradually reducing feed times during the day to help her breasts and baby adjust to the new routine.

Mothers shouldn’t be discouraged and feel like they need to drop breastfeeding when their lifestyle changes, instead It is far better, in my opinion, for these mothers to give themselves more options when feeding their baby, rather than to give up breastfeeding altogether. And not only do I think it is fine to give the occasional bottle of expressed milk, but I also think it can enhance the whole breastfeeding experience and offer flexibility.

So Relax

Find the best solution which suits you and your baby, everyone has their opinion, research further and make your own decisions on what will make you the happiest, healthiest family… mentally and physically.

“I find that the MAM bottle suits babies of all ages and is the one (using the fastest flow teat) that I most frequently recommend to a mother if her exclusively breastfed baby is refusing to take a bottle. And in my experience and opinion, once her baby is happily taking the bottle, most mothers can then continue breastfeeding. The MAM bottle is perfect for mothers; needing more sleep, returning to work or wanting dad to take some of the load at certain times of the day, but who want to continue breastfeeding at all other times.”

Clare Byam-Cook SRN

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