The World Health Organization and the International Breastfeeding Association require exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months. However, if the mother’s milk is not enough, the baby is sick, or other reasons really can not nurse, must be supplemented with milk substitutes (such as formula, rice flour, etc.) to infant nutrition, you need to mix feeding. Mixed feeding method 1, supplemental teaching method: first fed breast milk, followed by a certain amount of supplemental feeding milk or milk replacement supplement, for infants before 6 months of age. Its characteristics are, the baby first sucking breast milk, so that the mother’s breasts are stimulated on time to keep the secretion of milk. 2.Replacement method: One feeding of breast milk, one feeding of milk or milk substitute, rotating interval feeding, but the total number of times to not more than half of the daily breastfeeding. The substitution method is suitable for infants after 6 months of age. This feeding method tends to reduce breast milk. Gradually using milk, milk replacer, thin rice, and rotten noodles as substitutes can develop children’s chewing habits and prepare them for weaning later. Frequently Asked Questions about mixed feeding Question 1: Should I eat breast milk or formula first? In mixed feeding, breastfeeding should be done on a daily basis, i.e. breast milk first, then other milk products. (This will keep breast milk production. In addition to regular breastfeeding, each breastfeeding should not be longer than 10 minutes to avoid baby’s fatigue due to too long time, and then feed other milk products. Question 2: How many times a day should I breastfeed and how many times should I formula feed? If the mother cannot breastfeed during the day due to work, and the milk secretion is also insufficient, she can breastfeed at a specific time every day, usually not less than 3 times, so as to ensure the full secretion of breast milk and to meet the baby’s needs each time. The rest of the times can be given to other milk products, so that the amount of milk fed each time is easier to grasp. Question 3: How can I prevent nipple misalignment? Many parents of newborns worry that their babies will be hungry and give them formula in a bottle, which can cause nipple illusion. If a newborn baby needs mixed feeding, care should be taken not to use rubber nipples or bottles to feed the baby, but to use a small spoon, cup or dropper to avoid nipple illusion. Question 4: Should I take formula milk or breast milk at night? The mother is more tired at night, especially in the latter half of the night, it is troublesome to get up and give the baby formula, so it is better to breastfeed. At night when the mother is resting, the amount of milk secretion is relatively increased and the baby’s need is relatively reduced, so breast milk may meet the baby’s need. However, if the amount of breast milk is too little, the baby will not get enough, it will shorten the interval between feedings and affect the rest of mother and child, then it is time to focus on milk. Question 5: Should I feed water to my mixed-feeding baby? Breast milk contains sufficient water, and the water in the formula according to the instructions can also meet the baby’s needs, so in general, mixed-feeding babies do not need to be hydrated. If in the hot season, the ambient temperature is high, the baby shows signs of thirst, the body temperature rises or the skin blisters, you can feed some water between feedings, 2 to 3 times a day. If the baby refuses, do not force him to drink. Children who are not formula-fed should be given water between feedings because even after dilution, animal milk still contains more protein and minerals than breast milk, and proper hydration can help the kidneys excrete body waste and maintain water balance. Question 6: How to maintain breast milk secretion during mixed feeding? First of all, it is recommended to use the “complementary feeding method” as much as possible, breastfeeding first and then supplementing other milk products, especially at night; make sure that the baby sucks the breast more than 8 times a day and try to suck the breast empty each time. In addition, the mother should spend as much time as possible with her baby, often hugging her baby. When the mother’s milk production increases, she should reduce the amount and frequency of formula feedings. Mothers who work can use the “surrogate method”, but it is best to insist on regular suckling while at work. If you have a baby with bottle phobia, follow the plan below to transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding within 24 hours. 1. Set aside a 24-hour period during which only bottle feeds are given. Express your milk to avoid full and sore breasts, and then you can bottle-feed the milk to your child. Do not give your baby anything to eat or drink for at least two to three hours before giving a bottle until your child feels hungry and has an appetite. 2. Try different bottles and pacifiers. A soft nipple-shaped pacifier is best. It is best to use expressed milk at first, as your baby is used to the taste. If breast milk is lacking, use other formulas. 3. Poke a larger hole in the pacifier to ensure that the flow is greater than that of breast milk. For babies who cry once the pacifier is placed in their mouth, this measure is very effective because it gives her the feeling that the milk is flowing very smoothly. 4. Keep the milk at the right temperature and sit your baby straight on your lap to avoid choking or panic in babies with too much flow. Don’t let your baby lie in your arms like you do when breastfeeding, such a position makes your baby feel uncomfortable when bottle-feeding. 5.Distract your baby’s attention with toys or TV that make noise around you. Before your baby realizes that the pacifier is in his mouth, he has unknowingly started sucking. 6. Be patient and persistent. So far, we have found that 24 hours is the longest time frame that a baby can hold on to, and most babies quickly and naturally give up their adherence to breastfeeding. Special tip: Mothers should not give up breastfeeding because of insufficient breast milk, the more breast milk is sucked, at least insist on breastfeeding babies for 6 months before using milk replacer exclusively. Regardless of the method of mixed feeding, the infant must be allowed to suckle breast milk regularly every day, and the amount of milk and food to be supplemented or substituted should be sufficient, and attention should be paid to hygiene.