Breastmilk and Formula Feeding Schedule Guide for Parents

By Jessica D'Argenio Waller, MS, CNS, LDNIn the first six months of life, your baby should be receiving all their nutrition from breastmilk and/or an iron-fortified infant formula. But what's less commonly discussed is how to incorporate both—and how to figure out a breastmilk and formula feeding schedule that makes sense for your family. On the outside, it can seem complicated, but combination feeding (the term for supplementing breastmilk with formula), can bring more flexibility—even from the early months. When it comes to getting started, what's most important is watching for and responding to your baby's hunger cues—taking their lead can help you set an initial feeding schedule for both breastmilk and formula that makes good sense, and one that you can adjust as needed. Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about supplementing with infant formula, how much breastmilk and formula to feed your baby, plus a sample feeding chart to adapt to your own needs.Table of contents...