Introducing formula milk

It’s true that for some mothers the demands of expressing and storing can be too great a challenge, especially if they are in jobs, or have employers, where it’s not made easy and they don't get enough support. Many other mothers successfully go back to work and express milk; it depends entirely on you, and there is no 'right answer.'

What if you don’t want to express milk for your baby or find it too hard? If he is less than a year old and needs milk when you’re away from him, you’ll have to use formula milk. (Although for a few hours a baby on solids can cope with water.)

Formula milk is usually cow’s milk, modified to make it more suitable for a baby. See more on making up a bottle of formula and choosing an infant formula.

The introduction of formula can mean that your milk supply goes down. If you’re not feeding, or expressing, your breasts will be getting less stimulation to make milk. The older your baby, though, the better. Once it’s well-established, breastfeeding can continue for a long time on just a few feeds a day. See more on how breastfeeding works.

If you do decide to use formula, introduce it gradually so that your body and your baby can adjust to the change over a period of time. You may find you have enough milk to breastfeed without formula at weekends, and you can still revert to combination feeding when you are at work. The amount of formula your baby needs at a feed varies and is related to your baby’s age and/or weight. It’s important to make up the feeds strictly in accordance with the instructions, and to take care with hygiene and sterilising. 

Your breastmilk is exactly the right food for your baby. It’s ready on demand and tailor-made for his age and stage. There’s evidence that babies are likely to do best if they have nothing but breastmilk for around the first six months of life. This might be important for you to know if you have diabetes or allergies in your family, for example. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months reduces the chances of your baby developing a range of infections and illnesses. More on what's in breastmilk.

Feelings and possible problems

If you decide to stop breastfeeding before you had really planned to, then feel good about the breastfeeding you have done. Think about whether you can still offer feeds once or twice a day. Sometimes, babies appear to lose interest in the breast if they get used to a lot of bottles. This is sometimes called ‘nursing strike’. Speak to a breastfeeding counsellor about options to continue, if this is what you want. Babies can sometimes come round to the breast again.

Feeding – however it’s done – is always far more than just a way of getting milk into your baby. It’s a part of your relationship with him. There are many factors – emotional, practical, physical – involved in your decision to carry on breastfeeding, or stop, or wind down. You may find it helpful to find a local support group, or talk to other mothers in your area or online.

NCT supports all parents, whatever their decisions about breast or formula feeding. Breastfeeding help is available from breastfeeding counsellors on the NCT Breastfeeding Line, 8am–10pm every day, phone 0300 330 0771. There may also be breastfeeding counsellors who are available locally.
Other sources of help:

• Midwives in hospital and visiting your home
• Breastfeeding specialists based in some hospitals
• National Breastfeeding Line (government funded) 0844 209 0920

See also:

• Best Beginnings: view video online from the DVD 'from bump to breastfeeding' 'Expressing and returning to work' http://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/expressing-and-returning-to-work/a4b9f50a-8c5d-4d04-b20f-608b17117667
• Healthtalkonline.org- comprehensive library of face-to-face interviews where parents share their experiences about breastfeeding, birth, parenting and many other issues: http://www.healthtalkonline.org

Next steps:

• Expressing by hand
• Using a breast pump
• Storing expressed milk
• Expressing milk and going back to work
• Feeding your baby expressed milk
• Supporting breastfeeding
• Bottle feeding for breastfed babies
• Back to breastfeeding - Home