A US sociological study done in 2016 identified a common (and obvious) cause of mixed feeding: women are seeking a compromise. Breastfeeding is healthier for the baby, but bottle feeding is more convenient for mom [1].
The World Health Organization recommends that children breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their lives, with no additional food or drink [2]. However, over the last 40 years, global formula sales have increased 37 times [3].
Do I need formula if I don’t produce enough milk?
Usually, the mother produces exactly the amount of milk that the child requires. Lactation and sucking are synchronized processes. However, if the baby does not regain the weight lost after birth, consult with the doctor about introducing supplementary feeding [4].
Mom's fear of not producing enough milk can also reduce lactation — it's a vicious cycle. As a result, it is sometimes better to introduce formula, calm down, gain weight for the baby, and then gradually discontinue the formula.
Is it true that formula-fed babies sleep better at night?
It depends on how mom and baby have adjusted to each other. Some are more comfortable with breastfeeding: mom feeds the baby and then both fall asleep immediately. With formula feeding, you need to get up, prepare the mixture (if the bottle has been sterilized since the evening), feed the baby, and clean the bottle. With all of this activity, it may be difficult to fall asleep again.
Bottle-fed babies, on the other hand, frequently stop eating at night by the age of three months because they eat more during the day than breastfed infants [5]. This allows parents to get adequate sleep. Some mothers (particularly working mothers) use a hybrid algorithm: a bottle during the day and a breast at night.
Is mixed feeding only an option for working moms?
Not really. Even in the most mother-friendly workplaces, it is difficult to breastfeed or pump during the day A stay-at-home mother, on the other hand, can opt for a mixed feeding regimen, allowing her to leave the baby with a partner, nanny, or grandmother on occasion. Many people believe that alternating breast and bottle feeding increases father involvement: mom feeds one time, and dad feeds the other [1].
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