Mixed Up: Combination Feeding by Choice or Necessity

by Lucy Ruddle

Many families find themselves feeding their baby a combination of breastmilk and formula–either by choice or through circumstance. Despite this being a very common way of infant feeding, there is a lack of non-judgemental, empathic, evidence-based information available to support parents.
In this book you will
-How to choose, prepare, feed and store formula–including the big questions– how much and how often?!
-How to switch between at-breast feeding and topping up in ways which can help to reduce the chances of bottle preference.
-Quick glance “how to combi feed” sections for many scenarios ranging from not wanting to breastfeed in public or to give Mum an occasional “night off” to regular daily bottles due to weight gain worries or long term medical conditions.
-How to care for your breasts and maintain a comfortable milk supply while mixed feeding.
-How to avoid the “top-up trap” of giving more and more formula when you only wanted to introduce a bottle once a day.
-Rebuilding a milk supply if you want combi-feeding to be temporary.
-Basic breastfeeding support and information to help you overcome the most common causes of unwanted combination feeding–including the myths around frequent feeding and low milk supply, and how to overcome pain plus where you can get extra help.
-Real-life stories and quotes from families who have been where you are now.
-A section for premature babies or those with extra needs.
This book won’t tell you to stop combination feeding. It trusts you as the expert on your child and situation. It gives you all the options so that you can feel empowered to feed your baby with confidence.
Lucy Ruddle is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Holistic Sleep Coach, and international speaker on parent-centred care in the lactation field. With a background in child development and psychology She runs a thriving listening-focused private practice in the UK and is Mum to 2 boys, one of which was combination-fed.

Genres: Parenting

215 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2021

Reviews

[Sam]

I think this book was meant to be a broadly useful and inclusive look at all types of feeding. But it’s more shame-y than was likely intended.

[Susanna]

2.5 stars rounded up. There were some helpful bullet-point lists in this book (signs your baby isn't nursing properly, what low milk supply is and isn't, tips to get your baby to take a bottle, how to pace bottle-feed, how to protect your supply, etc.). But overall, it wasn't as helpful as I was hoping it would be. It's repetitive and (because breastfeeding is such a sensitive issue) the words are couched in such careful language that it wasn't always clear what the author meant. It would be better if it were more clear and much shorter.

I read the paperback, which I'd ordered after hearing an interview with the author.

[Tez]

Parent focused bridge between bottle OR breast - useful for parents & professionals

This book is written in really approachable language and I love how it's designed to be picked up and put down for quick chunks of encouragement and information.

I enjoyed the way Lucy combines real parent stories (I felt seen), with the research and intersectionality. It was a quick, refreshing read.

It feels like she's just warming up, what's next Lucy?

Professionals:
It can be hard to know how to support parents about feeding, this book addresses the space in between the common binary narrative surrounding infant feeding.

[Sara]

Some parts felt unnecessarily judgmental / had an undertone of “breast is best.”

The author offered “alternatives” for different scenarios that might lead to combo feeding— these “alternatives” felt dismissive of mom’s mental health, and often redirected back to exclusively breastfeeding.

For example, in cases where families choose combo feeding “For Mum to Get a Reliable Chunk of Sleep Each Night” the author offers alternatives of “Bedsharing” (!!!) or “More rest for Mum in the day” or “An earlier bedtime for Mum.”

[Emma Rosen]

There is so little information for combi feeding parents, and a lot of awkwardness around the choice/decision. This is a fantastic resource for families that really addresses lots of scenarios and it's beautifully inclusive too!

[H]

This book was so reassuring after reluctantly having to combi feed due to slow weight gain. Lots of really great information covering a wide variety of situations.

[Cassi Legat]

Incredibly informative, useful and sensitive. This book will definitely help me in supporting mothers.

[Paige Lounsberry]

Great resource for combination feeding families!