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Combination Feeding: Breast and Bottle

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The NHS says that combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding, using either expressed breast milk or infant formula, is known as mixed or combination feeding. 1 The NHS says introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk a mother produces. 1 The NHS says that to keep up the breast milk supply, it is important to keep breastfeeding the baby regularly. 2

Key takeaways

  • The NHS says combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding, using expressed breast milk or infant formula, is known as mixed or combination feeding. 1
  • The NHS says introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk a mother produces. 1
  • The NHS says that when replacing a breast milk feed with a formula feed, it can take around 5 to 7 days for the breasts to adjust. 2
  • The NHS says that cutting down on breastfeeding gradually will reduce the risk of developing mastitis. 2
  • The CDC says breastfed infants need extra vitamin D beginning at birth, and possibly iron supplements. 3
  • The NHS says that a mother with any feeding worries or concerns should speak to her midwife or health visitor. 4

**A quick, honest note:** we're not medical professionals - everything here was researched by us from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page, and it isn't professional advice. Read our full note ↓

What is combination feeding?

The NHS says combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding, using expressed breast milk or infant formula, is known as mixed or combination feeding. 1 The NHS says, "Mixed feeding is when you combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding, either using expressed breast milk or infant formula." 4

How do I introduce formula while breastfeeding?

The NHS says that if a mother chooses to introduce infant formula, it is best to do it gradually, to give the body time to reduce the amount of milk it makes, which helps lower the chance of getting uncomfortable, swollen breasts, or mastitis. 1 The NHS says that when replacing a breast milk feed with a formula feed, it can take around 5 to 7 days for the breasts to adjust. 2 The CDC says breastfed infants need extra vitamin D beginning at birth, and possibly iron supplements. 3 The NHS says there is a small amount of evidence that babies may not breastfeed as well, because they learn to use a different kind of sucking action at the bottle than at the breast. 1 The NHS says that if a mother wants to breastfeed more and give fewer bottles, it is a good idea for her to ask her midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter for support. 1

Will combination feeding affect my milk supply?

The NHS says, "Introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk you produce." 1 The NHS says that to keep the breast milk supply going, it is important to keep breastfeeding the baby regularly. 2 The CDC says, "How much and how often babies eat may differ whether receiving both breast milk and infant formula or receiving only one or the other." 5

How do I avoid mastitis when cutting down breastfeeds?

The NHS says that cutting down on breastfeeding gradually will reduce the risk of developing mastitis. 2 The NHS says that if a mother chooses to introduce infant formula, it is best to do it gradually, to give the body time to reduce the amount of milk it makes, which helps lower the chance of getting uncomfortable, swollen breasts, or mastitis. 1 The NHS says that when replacing a breast milk feed with a formula feed, it can take around 5 to 7 days for the breasts to adjust. 2 The NHS says that a mother with any feeding worries or concerns should speak to her midwife or health visitor. 4

Frequently asked questions

What is combination feeding?

The NHS says mixed feeding is combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding, using either expressed breast milk or infant formula. 4

How do I introduce formula while breastfeeding?

The NHS says that if a mother chooses to introduce infant formula, it is best to do it gradually, to give the body time to reduce the amount of milk it makes, which helps lower the chance of getting uncomfortable, swollen breasts, or mastitis. 1 The NHS says that if a mother wants to breastfeed more and give fewer bottles, it is a good idea for her to ask her midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter for support. 1

Will combination feeding affect my milk supply?

The NHS says introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk a mother produces. 1 The NHS says that to keep the breast milk supply going, it is important to keep breastfeeding the baby regularly. 2

How do I avoid mastitis when cutting down breastfeeds?

The NHS says that cutting down on breastfeeding gradually will reduce the risk of developing mastitis. 2 The NHS says that when replacing a breast milk feed with a formula feed, it can take around 5 to 7 days for the breasts to adjust. 2

A note from us

We're the team behind Yael & Michal. We are not doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, or psychologists, and nothing here is professional advice.

Everything above was researched by us from public, reputable sources - we name and link every one of them below - and summarized as carefully as we could, as a free resource for other mothers. We do this because we wished something like it had existed for us.

When we name an organisation such as the CDC, the NHS, La Leche League, or the Israeli Ministry of Health, we are only citing their published guidance; it does not mean they endorse, sponsor, approve, or are affiliated with us. They have no involvement with this site, and we never use their logos or seals.

Yael & Michal sells nursing bras, which are comfort garments and not medical devices; we do not claim they prevent, treat, or cure any medical condition. The health information here is written for you as a free resource - it is separate from anything we sell.

We try hard to get it right, and we cite our sources so you can check us. But we are not a medical authority, and this cannot replace talking to a professional who knows you and your baby. Please check anything that matters with your doctor, midwife, or an IBCLC lactation consultant. This content has not been reviewed by a medical professional. Reading this site does not create a doctor-patient relationship, or any other professional relationship, between you and us.

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Sources

  1. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/combine-breast-and-bottle/ (retrieved 2026-07-10).
  2. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/mixed-feeding/introducing-formula-feeds/ (retrieved 2026-07-10).
  3. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/breastfeeding/index.html (retrieved 2026-07-10).
  4. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/mixed-feeding/ (retrieved 2026-07-10).
  5. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/faqs/ (retrieved 2026-07-10).