in June 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Combi feeding advice

Is anyone looking to/has previous combi fed with formula? I EBF my first for 5 months and had to switch to formula after a horrible bout of mastitis and returning to work. It took an age for her to get used to a bottle after refusing and I really want this baby to be happy with bottle and breast - I loved breastfeeding but the lack of flexibility makes social events stressful and we have 3 weddings to attend of close friends this year where they are likely to stay with family for the night. Also think I will need to return to work when they’re 8months old and I am a teacher so pumping isn’t really a practical option. I think one bottle of formula so they are comfortable with the taste and teat is going to work well for us but I would be devastated if they grew to have a bottle preference (have looked into pace feeding). Just looking for advice on how to do it from birth, thinking just giving 1oz at the same time every day and pace fed? Topping up with breast after to start with?

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I breast fed my first till she was 9 months. I had to go back to work when she was 6 weeks old as I had a few clients getting married (I’m a nail tech & beauty therapist) So obviously I really didn’t want my daughter to refuse a bottle when I was back at work! Day 5 of her being born she was loosing a little weight so we gave her a formula bottle, then every other day she had a bottle of my breast milk that I had pumped, and she was fine! She didn’t get confused between the 2 and was happy having milk from wherever it came from 🤣 So this time round. I’ll be doing the same with this baby! I would hate for baby to refuse a bottle when I return back to work again. Hope that helps in any way! Xx

I don’t have first hand experience (my first, like yours, refused bottle) but second hand the key is to introduce bottle early. I had one friend doing exactly what you suggest - 1 formula bottle once a day at the same time (evening when husband was on duty so she could get a few hours sleep), everything else EBF. I’m also trying to work out whether to try the same as I’m not sure how well bottle refusal will mix with also having a toddler…

@Jennifer I think I have decided this is what we will do now, I was going to pump but I didn’t really get much when I pumped with my first, I’ve now got a hen do I’ve been invited to so I just think it’s going to be the less stressful way 🤣 I’m hoping it’ll mean I can spend some time with my first without baby being totally reliant on me too. Good luck!!

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