DD is 10 months old and EBF. Recently I've taken a huge dip and my supply and only have 2 freezer bags left. 
My goal was to EBF for one year but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I'm going to need to supplement. She takes three 5 oz bottles of bm at daycare. I'm thinking of replacing one of those bottles with formula. Or would you suggest mixing bm and formula in one bottle? What brand of formula do you like? Do you give 5oz or more since its formula? I have no clue! Please advise!
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Our LO is about 4 months and is about 75% bm/25% formula. We use the Up&Up Target generic of gentlease (quite a bit cheaper w/same ingredients). I haven't ever mixed bm & formula, so I don't have advice on that, but I will say that it seems like at least with my LO, the formula & the bm keep her full for roughly the same amount of time. I'd probably still send the same amount, and up it if needed.
I'm sorry your supply took a hit! Mine did when I went back to work and never recovered. Stinks! Supplementing is working great for us though!
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I'd start off trying formula only and see if she takes it. If not, you could mix 50/50. This is because if she doesn't finish a bottle of BM, you can refrigerate and feed again later, but if she doesn't finish formula, you have to dump the whole thing after an hour. So, just to avoid wasting any BM I'd see if she'll take a completely formula bottle.
Another thing to think about--she's so close to being ready for whole cow's milk, you might call your ped and see if you could start that a little early vs. introducing formula for a couple months and then regular milk.
Lastly, if you were thinking of feeling guilty, don't! We've been EFF since 7 weeks and LO is thriving at 13 months. Formula is great.
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LO is 7 weeks and we either give a bottle of BM or a bottle of formula, depending on my stash in the fridge (usually one formula bottle a day) I don't mix because it seems like more work. My LO takes 4 oz, regardless of whether it's BM or formula. She doesn't seem to prefer one over the other.
The fearless formula feeder website was/is a HUGE help for me... It's hard to find good information out there about FFing but she does a really good job!
ETA: We use Nestlé Goodstart in the concentrate form. The ready to serve stuff is great when traveling...I usually keep a carton of that in my diaper bag for emergencies!
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I always give them separately. And honestly, when I do give thawed breastmilk, I give the same amounts as I would if it was formula. She takes 6 oz of formula or she gets 4 oz of breastmilk and 2 oz of formula.
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I agree w/@hummusgirl: see if your ped is ok w/going straight to cows milk or other type of milk. Formula is so expensive and you may need to try several kinds before you find one that works for you, only to have to wean off it in a few months.
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We supplement with 1 or 2 bottles of formula a day. I breastfeed or R gets a bottle of breast milk for her other feedings. We don't mix formula and breast milk. Right now R is on Alimentum, a hypoallergenic formula because she was allergic to milk protein formula and soy formula. Luckily our insurance is paying for a large chunk of the cost.
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@blackbird: same here. We generally give the same amount of each.
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@Bookish: @hummusgirl: @blackbird: @mrsmate: @swedishfish: thanks ladies!!! I did ask our ped about cows milk at her 9 month appt and she told me to hold off to a year. In the meantime she said if I plan to wean I can supplement w formula. Do you ladies prefer the powder or ready to feed kind?
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@dolphin: I'm using powder right now because a ready to feed bottle should be used within three days (I think) of opening it. We don't use a whole bottle right now so powder is cheaper. When I wean we will probably switch to ready to feed. Much easier!
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@dolphin: I prefer powder because of the price. We have some ready to feed in her diaper bag as a backup, but we find generally use it.
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@dolphin: we used powder bc 1)it was cheaper (tho later ins paid for it) and 2)it was easier to carry around and mix on demand (DD was fine w/tap water).
We used the zoli formula dispenser and it was awesome!
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Don't mix bottles because you might end up wasting some of your precious milk. We used powdered Earth's Best organic.
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Powder! Much much cheaper and you can make as much as you want, when you need it. It's so portable. We always give it with room temperature water so we don't have to mess with warming it
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@swedishfish: @Bookish: @mrsmate: @Mrs. Jacks: @blackbird: thanks! powder it is!
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We used powdered gerber good start which was what agreed with LO's tummy.
Congratulations on making it to 10 months ebf! Whatever happens that's still awesome!
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