Alternate breastfeeding and bottle feeding
Important notice: Breast milk is the ideal and natural food for every infant; it is best suited to their specific needs. If using infant formula when the mother cannot or does not wish to breastfeed, it is essential to strictly follow the preparation and usage instructions and consult a healthcare professional.
When the time comes to alternate between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
Every mother chooses the most appropriate time for herself and her baby to begin alternating breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. The timing of alternating breast milk and formula also depends on your individual circumstances. It may be a personal choice, or it may coincide with the end of your maternity leave.
In this second case, you may know that in France, breastfeeding in the workplace is regulated? Until the baby's first birthday, the law stipulates one hour of breastfeeding per day for female employees, divided into 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. ¹
This timeframe applies to mothers who are absent to breastfeed their baby or express milk , and it is 20 minutes if the workplace has a dedicated breastfeeding room . ¹ However , please note that the provisions vary depending on each collective agreement, so now is the time to review the one that applies to you.
Mixed breastfeeding : what does that mean ?
This might be a question you're asking yourself, so here's how to get a clearer understanding ! Mixed feeding refers to alternating between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding with infant formula² . Switching to breast milk via bottle is therefore not, strictly speaking, mixed feeding .
Which infant formula to use when alternating between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding? ?
For healthy babies, there are three types of infant milk , classified according to the baby's age , for when the mother does not wish to or cannot breastfeed :
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Stage 1 infant formula is intended for babies from birth up to 6 months .
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Stage 2 infant formula can be offered to babies from 6 months of age , as a complement to a varied diet and in consultation with your healthcare professional, and up to 10 to 12 months.³
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Finally, growing-up milk is recommended for children from 12 months (from 10 months for organic growing-up milk ) up to 3 years old, particularly due to its composition of nutrients specific to your child's nutritional needs .
Your healthcare professional is the most qualified person to guide you in choosing the infant formula with which you will alternate breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Tips for alternating breastfeeding and bottle-feeding with complete peace of mind
When you alternate between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, your baby will follow their own rhythm to get used to this new routine. To help make this transition as smooth as possible, here are a few tips for you:
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First, the technique for preparing a bottle of infant formula: infant formula is most often presented in powder form, to be diluted in room temperature water . You can choose tap water or bottled water. In the latter case, it must be labeled "suitable for preparing infant food. " Infant formulas come with measuring scoops , the volume of which depends on the baby's age, as well as the formula and manufacturer : simply dip the scoop into the powder and level it off before adding it to the water .
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The correct position : settle comfortably with your baby nestled against you, in a semi-reclined position, so that their head is well supported. 8
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The right time: when you start alternating breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, replacing the smaller afternoon feed with a bottle of formula is the ideal solution to prevent engorgement . 9
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A smooth transition: over the course of a few days, your breasts will adjust to this new rhythm (between 2 and 6 days on average), and you can replace one of the day's feedings with a bottle of formula. It is also recommended to maintain the morning, evening, and nighttime feedings, as these are the most productive. 10
Your body is a remarkable machine , and your breast milk production will gradually adapt. If your milk supply decreases, the best solution is to express your milk to maintain it. As mentioned earlier, if you are employed, you have the right to express milk at work. You will then need to bring a container and keep it in the refrigerator until you return home. And, if you live far from your workplace, it can be stored in a small cooler for the journey .
At Biostime, we do everything we can to best support you in alternating between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Our guiding principles are the comfort and nutritional needs of your baby. Our infant formulas are developed by experts in infant nutrition, always adhering to current regulations and supporting WHO recommendations. At Biostime and Inostime , food safety is our top priority. These priorities are shared daily with the Isigny-Sainte-Mère cooperative, which supports Normandy farmers. This commitment also allows us to offer you infant formulas with high nutritional quality, free from palm oil, and produced locally in Normandy.
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We hope this article has answered your questions.
If you have any questions, or would like to share your experience with us, please feel free to write to us at contact@biostime.fr or send us a private message on Instagram @biostimefr .
2. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-allaitement-mixte/
3. https://www.ameli.fr/gironde/assure/sante/themes/alimentation-0-3-ans/debut-diversification-alimentaire
4. See regulations
5. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-choix-des-laits-croissance/
6.https://www.mpedia.fr/art-eau-biberon/
7.https://www.mpedia.fr/art-preparer-un-biberon/
8. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-premiers-biberons/
9. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-premiers-biberons/
10. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-allaitement-mixte/
11. https://www.mpedia.fr/art-tirer-et-conserver-son-lait/?sr=838
