A Look at Mixed Feeding
When a child begins to drink other liquids such as formula milk, water, or eat solids like baby food, but continues to drink breast milk either through direct breastfeeding or expressed milk, this is called mixed feeding. You can start mixed feeding when your child is old enough to accept solids. Generally it is best to feed your child exclusively with breast milk till they are six months old, and not introduce any other form of liquid or food. Sometimes, though, mothers need to begin mixed feeding earlier.
No matter the reason for beginning mixed feeding, when moving onto mixed feeding from full time breastfeeding, you will need to reduce the amount of milk your breasts will be producing. This is because your baby will be getting their nutrition through a different route, and will not need as much milk as before. Your breasts should automatically slow down its production of breast milk when your child breastfeeds less frequently.
Try making the transition gradual, lessening one feeding session for a few days and replacing that session with another form of liquid or food. After several days have passed, you can stop another feeding session. A gradual reduction of feedings will be better for your body than a sudden reduction because doing a sudden reduction runs the risk of having your breasts become painfully engorged, and you will have to express milk to relieve the pain.
Lessen your number of feeding sessions gradually till you have reached your desired mixed feeding system. You may choose to feed your child breast milk for only half their feedings while allowing the rest of their feedings to be solid foods or formula milk.
Along with the subject of mixed feeding comes the issue of nipple confusion, especially if your baby is being fed formula or expressed milk through a bottle. Generally, mothers are told not to offer their babies the bottle before they are one month to one and a half months old. This is because during this first month, babies are getting used to feeding from the breast, and are learning how to do so properly.
Introducing a bottle too early may lead to the end of direct breastfeeding. Issues such as nipple confusion and the other problems that can be encountered when mixed feeding, like a baby’s issues over who feeds them, is discussed in detail in another article.
The Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding
Exclusive breastfeeding is when a mother chooses to feed her child with breast milk only. This of course cannot be done if you choose or once you have to switch to the mixed feeding method. Tandem breastfeeding allows for this for as long as the mother is willing. The benefits of exclusively breastfeeding your child is not comparable to any other vitamin supplement or formula milk available in the market. These benefits were discussed in detail in another article, and even then only a few benefits among the many were covered.
The longer you choose to exclusively breastfeed your child, the longer the benefits will be for your child. However, your child should begin eating solid foods at around six to seven months of age because there will come a time when they will no longer be satisfied with just breast milk.
You can continue to feed your child breast milk while they begin eating solids so they can continue to enjoy its benefits. You can choose to breastfeed them or to feed them expressed milk. Either way, allow your children to enjoy the benefit of breast milk for as long as possible, or all the way up to two years of age – or even beyond.
Next Article: What to Do While Breastfeeding
|
