Can breast milk and formula be mixed together? Is it good to feed with mixed breast milk and formula?

Can breast milk and formula be mixed together? Here I will introduce to you whether it is good to mix breast milk and formula for feeding. Many mothers are afraid that their babies will not be able to eat enough because they do not have enough breast milk. So is it good to mix breast milk and formula for feeding? Please see the introduction below.

Can breast milk and formula be mixed together?

It is not recommended to mix breast milk and formula milk together. If the mother does not have enough breast milk, it is recommended to feed the baby with breast milk first and then add formula milk if the baby is not full.

Generally speaking, it is not recommended to mix breast milk and formula milk for babies. First of all, if the baby cannot finish drinking it, the precious breast milk will be thrown away with the formula milk, which is a waste; more importantly, mixing breast milk and formula milk will not only change the composition of breast milk, but also make the micronutrients in the formula milk too concentrated, increasing the burden on the baby's kidneys. Therefore, it is best to use 40℃-50℃ warm water to mix formula milk and feed the baby alone.

Is it okay to mix breast milk and formula?

Formula milk and breast milk can be prepared together. Although there is no big problem in mixing breast milk and prepared formula milk, it is still not recommended for mothers to do so. This is mainly because the shelf life of breast milk and formula milk is different. Generally speaking, the formula milk left over from the baby's bottle must be poured out within 1 hour, while the breast milk left over from the bottle can be kept for many hours if placed in the refrigerator.

When feeding, the best way is to feed only one type of milk at a time. If you want breast milk, feed breast milk. If you want formula milk, feed formula milk. Don't feed breast milk first, and then mix formula milk if it's not enough. This is not good for the baby's digestion, and it is easy for the baby to have a misconception about the nipple, which may cause the baby to dislike formula milk and refuse to eat the bottle.

In addition, some mothers mix formula milk directly into breast milk in order to increase the calories their baby gets from feeding. Please do not do this! This will not only change the composition of breast milk, but also make the micronutrients in the formula milk too concentrated, which will put a heavy burden on the baby's immature kidneys. Be careful to strictly follow the instructions on the formula milk package every time. In addition to distilled water (or boiled water), please do not use other liquids to mix formula milk.

What to do when breast milk is insufficient

When breast milk is insufficient, you can mix and feed your baby. The specific method is as follows: if your baby's current standard milk intake is 120 ml, after you have cleaned your hands and nipples, squeeze out all the milk from both breasts in turn. If the breast milk is insufficient, less than 120 ml, see how much is still missing. When both of your breasts are almost full, immediately use formula milk powder to make up for the difference until the baby is full and pushes away the nipple.

Breast milk is the most natural and does not conflict with any formula milk (unlike between two formula milk powders). You can even squeeze breast milk into formula milk. I have consulted many parenting experts, and they all said that you should feed your baby at regular intervals and feed enough at one time so that the baby can grow. Don't feed a little at a time.

If the expressed breast milk has not been consumed, it should not be placed in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours, and should not be placed at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If it has been consumed, any remaining breast milk should be discarded and not saved for the next meal.

Parents who have insufficient breast milk do not need to switch to formula milk immediately. In fact, following scientific feeding methods can make the mother's breast milk richer.