Parenting after a Loss

Mixing BM and Formula?

I am just not keeping up with Kiran's demands for breastmilk.  I'm thinking of introducing formula.  I thought at first I'd have to do one whole bottle of formula, but my friend today said she used to just top the breastmilk bottles off with formula.  So, for example add 1 oz of formula to 5 oz of breastmilk.  She said she did it the night before and kept it in the fridge.  I thought you had to use formula within 60 minutes of mixing...is that only if it's unrefrigerated, or if the baby has eaten from it already?  Does anyone do this system of mixing the two the night before?
Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

Re: Mixing BM and Formula?

  • Are you sure he needs 6 oz bottles???

    I was just looking for us (Avery isn't drinking her 5 oz bottles any more) and I found this link 

    https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

     

  • Formula will keep for 24 hours in the fridge, or I think 2 hours room temperature.

    I think the only problem with hybrid bottles is that uneaten BM can be put back in the fridge for later, but uneaten formula has to be thrown away.  So you might end up throwing away more BM if you mix the bottles and he doesn't eat it all.

    We don't usually do this, but have sometimes, especially when we know he's really hungry and will polish off the bottle.

    The newtlet eats six ounces at a sitting before bed, but usually less for daytime bottles. 

  • Loading the player...
  • When I was still pumping for DD, I would give her the BM first then give her the formula so the BM wouldn't be wasted if she didn't finish.  I did mix the two toward the end of my pumping days when I was only getting an ounce or two total for the day (I never produced enough for give only BM) because it seemed silly to give her such a small amount by itself. 
  • I mix the two, it's totally fine as long as you use it w/in 24 hours and keep it refrigerated.  You only have to get rid of it within the hour if the baby has drank from the bottle.  There's a risk of contamination at that point.
  • We mixed BM and formula until Avery was on formula exclusively. I had a friend suggest mixing and so I did it that way and it worked great for us. She said her son was extremely gassy and she wished she would have mixed so his system got used to the formula.  I know others who just went from BM to formula and didn't have any problems.  We started mixing when DD drank only 4 oz. We did 1 oz F, 3 oz BM for a week, then half and half for a week, then 3 oz F, 1 oz BM, etc.  It worked really well for us and never had any problems.  PP is right though, you will need to dump the unfinished portion of whatever your DS doesn't drink because formula should only be out at room temp for an hour.  You can mix formula and it keeps in the fridge for 24 hours if I remember correctly. I usually mix it right when we need it.

  • imageporkchop78:
    I mix the two, it's totally fine as long as you use it w/in 24 hours and keep it refrigerated.  You only have to get rid of it within the hour if the baby has drank from the bottle.  There's a risk of contamination at that point.

    ditto but we make them in the morning, we do 2/3bm 1/3f

  • We mix them together.  We make all her bottles the night before so we don't have to do it during the day.  Our LO's are the same age and DD eats 5 or 6 6oz bottles a day.  Sometimes it's closer to 7oz.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickersLilypie Second Birthday tickers
  • I thought this too! we wasted so much formula before I asked the pedi about it. He said it has to be used w/i an hour of LOs first sip. The bubbles carry bacteria up there. He even said it's ok to mix up your formula for the day and leave it in the fridge so it's ready to pour into you bottles. But I'm always afraid of wasting BM so I feed her that first & then add formula to the empty bottle to top her off.
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"