Food

Mixed feeding: What You Need to Know

Even though there is an opinion that the use of formula along with breast milk negatively affects immunity formation and the digestive system, it is a myth. On the contrary, mixed feeding allows a baby gains weight properly and provides it with the necessary nutrients when breast milk cannot. 

What’s even more, if you spend some time selecting the right formula, a baby won’t feel the difference between adapted formula and breast milk. The latest technologies allow replicating baby food as close to human milk as possible. For instance, in the content of organic infant formula, there are the same oligosaccharides and nutrients as in mother’s milk. In the case of baby food with European organic certification, the risk of any digestive issue is significantly reduced because there are no harmful chemicals, pesticides, or antibiotics in the content. So once you decide to supply the kid’s diet with formula, you need to be aware of some important details.

How to Organize a Mixed Feeding?

The basic rules of mixed feeding are as follow:

  • it is recommended to breastfeed as much and as often as possible, especially in the night and morning hours to maintain lactation for the long period
  • the formula is just a supplementation, therefore, each feeding is started with breast milk, and then a child is fed with formula
  • choose the appropriate feeding accessories. The formula in small quantities is preferably given from a spoon
  • take care of cleanliness and sterility, temperature regime of storage and dilution of formula
  • feed a baby formula on demand, not on a schedule
  • prepare formula right before meal time using only boiled water and sterile utensils. The leftovers should not be stored

Digestive Issues on Mixed Feeding

If a kid is on mixed feeding, such digestive issues as constipation or any other can occur. Usually, such problems appear due to a violation of the intestinal microflora and peristalsis when a baby digests a different kind of food. Formulas are mainly made from specially processed cow or goat milk, which is much more difficult to digest. So the intestinal walls can be easily damaged leading to a denser stool. In such a situation, the reason for that can be the peculiarities of the body. The pediatrician recommends using the formula with pre- and probiotics. Sometimes you might be advised to use specialty anti-reflux or treatment formulas that are adapted to relieve digestive issues if there are ones.

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