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Drawbacks of mixing breast milk with baby formula for feeding
During the first 6 months of a baby's life, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the development of infants. However, some mothers with low milk supply may need to supplement with baby formula for their infants. Many mothers believe that mixing breast milk with baby formula will provide more nutrients for the baby. However, this practice is harmful rather than beneficial for the baby.
Babies are at risk of poisoning when breast milk is mixed with baby formula for feeding
Babies are at risk of poisoning when breastfeeding
Breast milk is a perfect and suitable source of nutrition for babies, tailored to their needs, while formula milk needs to be prepared according to instructions to be beneficial for the baby. Because the protein content and water ratio of these two types of milk are completely different, mixing breast milk with baby formula in the same bottle for feeding can result in excess or interaction of nutrients, which is not good for the baby at all. For infants, especially those in the 0-6 months age range, whose digestive system is still very fragile, they may be at risk of poisoning, which is more dangerous and can even threaten the baby's life.
According to nutrition experts, it is recommended to prioritize breastfeeding before offering formula milk to the baby, typically about 1-3 hours apart.
Prioritize breastfeeding the baby completely before introducing formula milk
Top 5 types of baby formula preferred by mothers for their infants:
- Meiji Japanese Milk in bar or powder form type 0
- FrisolacGold 1 by Dutch Lady
- Nan Pro1 by Nestle
- Morinaga Hagukumi number 1 by Japan
- Dielac Optimum Step 1 by Vinamilk
Waste of breast milk resources
Breast milk is already scarce, so mixing breast milk with formula milk for feeding is quite wasteful. For example, mixing 60ml of breast milk with 60ml of formula milk for the baby, but the baby may not finish the entire 120ml of the mixed milk, perhaps only consuming 60ml. Inadvertently, the mother has wasted a portion of breast milk in the remaining 60ml of mixed milk.
Mothers are unaware that breast milk can be stored in the freezer for an extended period, whereas formula milk can only be kept for about 1 hour after preparation. Therefore, to avoid wasting the best source of nutrition for infants and young children, which is breast milk, mothers should prioritize feeding their baby all the breast milk first, before offering formula milk later.
Ensure to prepare baby formula correctly according to the instructions for each type of formula
Small advice for mothers when preparing baby formula
Mothers must prepare baby formula according to the correct formula and instructions provided by the manufacturer. Typically, the mixing method and formula are printed on the packaging of each product. Mothers should note that each type of formula has a different mixing method, so they should not use the same method and formula for all types of baby formula.
Another note for mothers is to only prepare formula for the baby with warm water, absolutely avoid mixing with fruit juice, boiled water for vegetables, or broth,...
To ensure optimal preparation when preparing baby formula, mothers can also refer to the article: '10 things to avoid when preparing baby formula'
