Can I mix breastmilk with formula?

Question

I have a 6 month old baby and I want to start the weaning process. She hesitate to try formula because of its taste. She only wants Mommy's milk :(. We have tried lots of tricks but none had worked. Believe me, this has been really, really difficult. My last resource today was to mix 3/4 of breast milk with 1/4 of Enfamil Lipil formula. The first feeding was almost succesfull (she had 4 of 5 oz). The other feedings were succesfull. Am I doing the correct thing? If so, which next steps do you recommend regarding quantity of breast milk and formula, when I should change the quantities, etc. etc. etc...
Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes you can,I did this with my son for the first 5 months,you can make the formula with water and mix with the breast milk or you can just add powdered formula to your milk,start your dilutions slowly and work your way up.Maybe start with 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk twice a day,the second day same mix but 3 times that day,the third day I would mix 1/2 and 1/2 2 times a day and the fourth day do 1/2 and 1/2 again 3 times a day,the fifth day 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk twice a day,the sixth day same mix three times a day then on the seventh day i would give him a bottle of straight formula two or 3 times a day until you feel comforatable switching him right over.Good luck I have been through this!!

Answer 2

I nursed all four of my girls and with my first two (twins). I did mix my milk with the formula. It does make it a little more "hardy", but it does not hurt anything. It is a good way to wean them into they taste of the formula. Just do like you did for an entire day or two, then back off a little of the milk and add more water for another day or two.

Answer 3

That sounds fine to me. Also if you wanted to try this method which I am told is a last resort if your baby still wont wean is only offer the formula. Eventually she will take to the formula, as she hasn't got anything else to go to. But if mixing breat milk and formula is working, just slowly remove the breat milk and hopefully you'll have her fooled good :).

Answer 4

change the quantities by 1/2 ounce every 3 or 4 days, it will probably be so slight she won't notice and she will have time to get used to the taste of formula without it being a total surprise. by the time it is mostly formula, she will have gotten used to it

Answer 5

its perfectly fine. i did the same for my son when he was born. i mixed formula milk with my breast milk for the first 2 months then i got him on formula.. now at a year old im mixing formula with regular vitamin d milk to help him get used to it. it takes time but you have to be persistant. gradually start off with maybe a fifth and slowly increase formula intake. it should take about a week. 2 at the longest. good luck.

Answer 6

Since you have already started to do this I can't tell you not to. It actually isn't a good idea only because the shelf life of the two is so different. Make sure your child is not developing any allergies to the formula and week by week give less breast milk till it is all formula. Be prepaired for harder stools, smeller stools and different color stools. If it constipates her talk to her Dr. If it gives her diarheaah talk to her Dr. Anyway they alway suggest infants have breast milk till one year old so why start the weaning process now? If it is just coz you want to do formula instead they also suggest getting off the bottle and formula at one as well so think about that. At one they can have whole milk anyway and preferable in a cup.

Answer 7

That's totally fine to do. I would say over the course of the week to gradually add an ounce more of formula and an ounce less of breastmilk every day or so.

Answer 8

it's fine. that is a great idea. i know i will have to do that for my son because he has started not liking the taste of formula. trust your instincts!!

Answer 9

YES YOU CAN WHY NOT