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Supplementing means giving your baby any other milk in addition to breastfeeding. The decision to supplement is an important one. Sometimes it is medically necessary, and sometimes it is not. Giving your baby a supplement does not mean you have to stop breastfeeding.

Parents often feel they need to supplement because they are worried that their baby is not getting enough milk. The most common times when parents worry are in the first few days before their milk ‘comes in’, especially at night and when their baby goes through growth spurts. Giving your baby a supplement during these times is not recommended. It is normal for a baby to feed more often at certain times. Your baby’s frequent suckling at the breast tells your body to produce the amount of breast milk your baby needs.

If you’re thinking about giving your baby a supplement, speak to your healthcare provider first. They can help you determine what your options are, give you information that will help you breastfeed or
supplement, and help you with safe infant formula preparation and storage.

If you are breastfeeding and need to supplement your baby, consider offering the supplement in a small lidless cup or spoon rather than a bottle. Your baby may have difficulty switching back and forth between the bottle and breast as the sucking technique for getting milk out of a bottle is different. He may become frustrated when trying to latch on to the breast after after using a bottle and may even refuse the breast.

Talk to your Healthcare Provider

Some moms may feel pressured to use formula rather than breastfeed. If you’re having difficulty breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare professional and seek out support in your local community.

For more information on safely preparing infant formula, visit the Health Canada website. You can also find more content on Healthy Families BC on How to Choose, Prepare and Store Infant Formula.

Resources & Links:

Breastfeeding
Bottle-Feeding
Feeding Your Baby Formula: Before You Start
Combining Breast-Feeding and Bottle-Feeding
Choosing Baby Bottles and Nipples
Formula Feeding Your Baby - Safely Preparing and Storing Formula

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