https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:24:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1229791 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:41:28 +0000 kodybear 1229791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: i always kept bm and formula separate, just because i didn't want her to waste any bm! but if you're just starting out with formula, then mixing sounds good. i def wouldn't transition too fast. i just tried to transition LO to cows milk in a week and she got a bad diaper rash about a week later, so i'd def wait about a week to make sure all is good, then increase the amount of formula. </p> <p>when lo switched to drinking from a cup, daycare said that they would reuse the formula as long as they didn't heat it up. we never had any issues with doing that and it saved us from wasting alot of formula since her intake always varied. i know that there is the 1 hour rule... but since daycare said it was okay, i went with it :-) and its been about 2 months since we've been doing that and she hasn't gotten sick or anything like that.</p> <p>also, i mix powdered formula with filtered water. not sure if thats best but since we have a filtered faucet at home i just use that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1229759 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:33:06 +0000 swurlygurl 1229759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: All this from the top of my head, so you'll probably want to get more input/do research<br /> 1. My ped told us that as soon as DD's lips touch that bottle, you have 1 hour. Formula isn't anti-bac like breastmilk is. We have bent that rule several times, but I can definitely tell that it can start to get funky much quicker than breastmilk.<br /> 2. I've heard that tap water is actually better than bottled water (if you have drinkable tap water). I forget why, but something to do with what they take out of bottled water, I think? We've used tap water except when traveling or somewhere with questionable water</p> <p>Also, Costco has the cheapest formula, and my ped told me that Enfamil sold their research to Kirkland so it's very similar in structure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1229650 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:08:35 +0000 pl0508 1229650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well - his first bottle this morning was about 1.5 oz of formula with 3.5 oz of breastmilk and he drank it fine and has seemed fine! So - that sounds promising! I'll begin to increase that ratio over the next weeks! BUT - I didn't realize those ready mix formulas are only good for 2 days after opening. I need to buy the powder kind. Do you guys just mix it with water then add to a bottle with breastmilk? </p> <p>And, I'm a formula newb so I have some questions. I may need to post on a diff thread if I don't get much back on this one! </p> <p>1. is it true that if you don't warm the bottle (ds drinks his cold) then you can leave it out for longer than one hour and re offer if he doesn't finish in one sitting? We followed the 6 hrs at room temp rule with breastmilk so this will be an adjustment. </p> <p>2. do I need to mix the powdered formula with bottled water? or is tap okay? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1228288 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 20:40:34 +0000 DillonLion 1228288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Use the supplementing to your advantage. Let it give you a break or make iy easier. We did breastmilk at home and formula during daycare which was mega easy simce they provided it. </p> <p>Good work momma! Be proud!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1228287 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 20:40:30 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1228287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Congrats! I'm an EPer also and my boys are just over 10 months. I just dropped down to 3 pumps/day, so I no longer pump enough for them each day. We just recently (over the weekend) introduced formula. For us, we decided to keep the formula separate for now in its own bottle just in case they didn't like it and refused to drink it! The first time, one of them only drank half then refused it but since then they've had a two more bottles of formula and have no problem at all now. GL!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1228268 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 20:35:11 +0000 Anagram 1228268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Congratulations on pumping so long! I'm also an exclusive pumper (4 months now) and on an MSPI diet and it's hard. I'm supposed to start Alimentum soon, but I haven't figured how to do it yet, so following! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1226663 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:26:37 +0000 birdofafeather 1226663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no advice, i just want to say way to go for keeping up EPing for J's 10 months! you are a rock star!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1226654 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:24:02 +0000 BlueWolverine 1226654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started supplementing at around 6 months when my pumping just couldn't keep up and the freezer stash was depleted. I still nurse when with her, so the supplementing is for day care. We just took whatever BM I had pumped the day before, split in between four bottles and filled the rest of the bottle with formula. In the beginning, it was maybe 1oz formula, 3 oz BM, but now at 10 mo, it's more likely to be 1 oz BM and 3 oz formula (my supply is so crappy these days). LO is doing great. I think it helped that the BM/formula ratio changed over time. Gave her a chance to get used to the formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1226652 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:23:11 +0000 pl0508 1226652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: Thanks so much! Gah -that's on top of eating solids. I pray he slows down SOON with the milk! Little boy loves his bottles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1226648 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:22:10 +0000 mrsjyw 1226648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no advice, but wanted to send my kudos for an amazing bf/pumping journey! good job mama! and i can't believe takes in 27 oz!!! big boy!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-supplementing#post-1226642 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:19:54 +0000 pl0508 1226642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 10 months old and has been fed exclusively breastmilk. After restricting diary for 3 months and a HUGE supply dip when my period returned a few months ago I am at the tail end of my freezer stash. I've been using about 15 oz of freezer milk a day and produce about 15 oz of breastmilk a day (I EP). </p> <p>I'm working on phasing out my mid day pump session so I'm only pumping morning and night and should be done with that by the end of this week. </p> <p>I'm really proud of our journey!</p> <p>But - I'm not nearly keeping up with LO's intake. He still takes in an average of 27 oz a day. So, when my freezer stash is gone we will supplement with formula until his first birthday! </p> <p>I bought some formula to have on hand (Alimentum ready mix) . Any advice on how to begin supplementing once the time comes? I think mixing the formula with breastmilk will be best - and my doctor suggested to just use it to "top off" my bottles. </p> <p>Any and all advice is much appreciated! I hope it is a smooth transition for us! </p>