will mixing breast and formula make my baby sick?

[kayz]

my son is 3 months old and i have exclusivly breast fed him from day 1. now im trying to introduce him to formula to give myself a break and try and make weaning easier when the time comes. i try to give him one bottle of formula a day and breastmilk the rest of the day. but he seems to sick up most of the formula( when hes not refusing it) and im worried that its upsetting his stomach. im mixing it up right cause i double check it. any ideas?

[Petunia]

Babies' little systems just weren't meant to handle formula.  You're little one's digestive system has been getting the perfect food, perfectly made for his immature gut.  His system is not used to handling formula - it's a foreign substance.  That's why he's spitting it up.  If you're really wanting to substitute with forumla, you may try mixing half formula, half expressed breastmilk in a bottle for a little while to help his gut adjust more slowly.

If that doesn't work you may need to try a different type of formula.  Honestly, though, I think persistence in the long run will be the key to your LO taking formula with no problem.

Here's two articles on the effect formula has on the gut, so you know what's up.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/virgingut.htm

[Jean and Rich]

Hi

My baby is also three months and we introduced a formula feed at the dreamfeed.  We were lucky because she seem to take to it ok, although struggles sometimes to get it in!  I think it may depend on the formula you use, it may be a trial and error thing.  We use SMA gold 1 and my LO is fine with that although I do know some people who have had to try several before getting the right one for them.

Jean

[Samuel's mum]

Hi
I think you may find more advice on the bottlefeeding board as many mums there will have tried different types of formula and will have experience of weaning from breastfeeding. So if you don't mind I'm going to move this thread there - hope that's OK.

[brid]

Hi
Mixing breast and bottle won't make your baby sick! - I've been doing it with my 3 month old LO since she was 10 days old due to breastfeeding problems - she sicked up the entire first feed I gave her but hasn't looked back since and is thriving.  Incidentally, she's down to just one breastfeed a day now and loves it! (unfortunately I can't provide anymore than just the 1 feed).
anyway, hope this helps.

[teezee]

just want to add that perhaps it is the type/brand of formula you were using and maybe you need to try a different kind..one that is perhaps a bit more gentle on lo's belly.

[linfran]

After breastfeeding for three weeks I had to switch to formula as my so had developed very bad reflux and it was easier to medicate for this with formula.  I started introducing it slowly like you but got my husband to give those first few bottles because when I did it he wouldn't take it since the breastmilk was only a sniff away!

I combined the two for a couple of weeks but he was exclusively on formula by six weeks and is healthy and gorgeous and putting on healthy amounts of weight as I found a fomula that suited his digestion, which can be volatile to say the least.

Your lo has had the benefit of breastmilk for 3 months which will stand him in good stead but I found it does take a bit of perseverance.
Good luck, you'll get there!!!

[SylvieA]

Hi Kayz
We started doing the same thing at about the same age as your LO.  DH gave one bottle of ebm or formula once a day for the same reasons as you, to get him used to the bottle and to give me a break. If I was to do it again I would of not given formula as it became way too easy to give. And the weaning process started earlier than wanted to as the milk supply started to reduce, and DS started refusing me. Then he started being fed formula more and more. My DS is 6 1/2 months and will only take 1 bfeed in the morning and is fussing for that one. I think we will be completely done soon. As for formula we tried everything imaginable, as DS has reflux. The easiest on his stomach was Alimentum by similac. It's a hypoallergenic formula. A bit expensive, but worth it. I'm not sure if you're in Canada or the US, but if you are from either place you can get it. If not any other hypoallergenic brand is easiest on baby's stomach.
I didn't mean to ramble but I wanted to let you know that sometimes when the bottle is introdused more often it sometimes results to weaning before you are ready. I know that weaning wasn't your question but I thought I'd share our experience since we started the same way as you.

[twoboys]

 
Hi there....with both of my sons, I had to supplement with formula as I wasn't producing enough.  I tried to breastfeed for at least 6 weeks with both, but unfortunately we all got frustrated and we had to go exclusively to formula. 
My oldest had the roughest time.  He would spit up all the time after a feed....but that was just him. You can try different formula's but you may want to check with the DR first.  The more you switch, the harder it is for their digestive system.  I tried it once and the little one got so constipated.  After he was around 6 months, it got less and less and eventually he stopped.  The DR told me it was because he was getting more active and sitting upright a lot more - which helped.

Don't worry - it will get better soon.  Big hug for you....

Stacey