Can I mix breastfeeding and formula feeding?

Why gradual is the key word

Breast milk supply responds to demand: the more often milk is removed (by baby or a pump), the more your body makes. Dropping several breastfeeds at once tells your body to scale back quickly, which can make it hard to increase supply again later if you change your mind. Replacing one feed at a time, a few days apart, gives supply a chance to adjust gradually if you want to keep breastfeeding alongside formula for longer.

Common patterns that work

• One bottle a day (often introduced by a partner, for a bit of flexibility) with breastfeeding otherwise
• Formula during the day, breastfeeding morning and night — a popular pattern for a return to work
• Whatever ratio suits you — there's no minimum amount of breast milk required for it to be "worth it"; any amount offers some benefit

Practical tips

Introduce the first bottle a few weeks before you need it to work (a return-to-work date, for instance) in case baby needs time to accept it. Someone other than the breastfeeding parent often has more luck with the first bottle. Watch nappy output as you adjust to make sure baby's still getting enough overall.