Medically Reviewed by: Ari Brown, MD - Author of Baby 411, Chief Medical Advisor for Kabrita USA
In the first months of life, babies get all of their essential nutrients from milk, whether it’s breast milk, infant formula, or a combination of both. Ultimately, the best approach to feeding will be the one that works best for your patients and their families.
Every family’s feeding journey is unique and there are as many ways to move through feeding transitions as there are babies!
Let’s explore 3 common infant feeding transitions.
It's important to know that supplementing with formula regularly will likely diminish breast milk supply. Feeding changes should always be discussed first with your healthcare provider.
Nearly 60% of families in the US are combination feeding; that is, using both breast and formula to feed their baby.1
One common strategy is to offer direct breastfeeding first, then supplement with infant formula at each feeding. This helps protect the milk supply, but can be labor intensive.
Alternatively, a baby may have fewer nursing sessions or expressed breast milk feedings during the day and the other feedings are replaced with infant formula. Families should be advised that the longer duration between nursing or pumping may adversely impact breast milk supply. 2
For parents making the transition from breastmilk to formula, it’s recommended to initially pick a few feeding sessions during the day to replace with infant formula. As the amount of infant formula feeding increases, breastmilk supply will likely decrease.
Phasing out one feed or pump session every couple of days, and/or shaving off a few minutes during each feed can help avoid engorgement and reduce the risk of blocked ducts or mastitis. Implementing gentle breast massage and hand expression can be helpful in instances where breastfeeding must stop more abruptly.
It's estimated that families will change formulas at least twice within their baby's first year. While this could be attributed to multiple factors, baby discomfort is often a motivating factor for parents to consider a formula alternative.
For full-term babies who do not have a cow milk protein allergy, Kabrita Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula is a trusted, proven option that is easier to digest and associated with less crying, better sleep, and softer stools when compared to cow’s milk infant formula.3–13
The information on this site is intended for healthcare professionals and should not be considered medical advice.