This post is sponsored by Grownsy but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
I’ve Been Combo Feeding for 10 Months: Here’s What Actually Helped
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I spent literal hours researching feeding options. I came to realize there wasn’t one “right” way to do it, so instead of committing to one path, I (somewhat manically) decided to prepare for all of them. I registered for breastfeeding essentials, bottles, a breast pump, a formula maker, a bottle warmer, a bottle washer—you name it. It definitely seemed like an overflow of gear at the time, but I just wanted to be ready no matter where our feeding journey took us. And I’m so glad I did.
Now, more than 10 months into motherhood, combo feeding has been the go-to: we utilize both breast milk and formula, and I also transitioned to exclusively pumping. It ended up being the best fit for my postpartum recovery after a C-section and also our family as a whole. Pumping gave my daughter breast milk, formula took some of the pressure off me, and bottle feeding meant my husband got to really feel involved, too. Alternating those middle-of-the-night feeds got me a few extra hours of sleep, too. Through this method, we’ve figured out that feeding isn’t about sticking to one perfect plan—it’s about finding the rhythm that works for your baby, your body, and your family.
Before I became a mom, I thought feeding was basically deciding between breastfeeding or formula. Turns out it’s a bit more complicated. There’s the pumping schedule you’re constantly trying to stay ahead of. The mental math of figuring out how many ounces are in the fridge, what’s in the freezer, and what needs to be used first. Packing bottles for daycare. Labeling milk bags. Washing pump parts. Sterilizing bottles. If you’re pumping at work, you’re also squeezing sessions into meetings and lunch breaks while hoping your supply cooperates. It’s…a lot.
The pressure to do everything “perfectly” can make it easy to forget that at the end of the day, your baby just needs to eat. And while babies absolutely need to eat, parents deserve support, too. Because the easier your feeding routine becomes, the less time you spend stressing over logistics—and the more time you get to actually enjoy with your baby. The solution isn’t achieving perfection—it’s finding practical tools and routines that gave me a little bit of my time (and sanity) back.
My daily feeding scenarios—and how I actually get through them
Everyone has different feeding challenges, but these are the moments that came up over and over again in our house—and the combo feeding products that made the biggest difference.
The 2 a.m. feedings
If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen in the middle of the night with a hungry baby crying from the other room, you know that every extra minute feels like an hour. When we started using refrigerated breast milk or thawing frozen milk, a quick Google search taught me that microwaving wasn’t an option because it can create dangerous hot spots. So, that meant the alternative was warming bottles in a pot or mug of hot water and checking every few seconds, which is not exactly what you want to be doing while you’re half asleep.
Having a dedicated bottle warmer completely changed the dreaded middle-of-the-night feeds. I could warm refrigerated milk or safely defrost frozen breast milk without hovering over the stove or freaking out about a perfect temperature. This one warms milk in only 3 minutes, and has a “Keep Warm” function that maintains milk temperature before bedtime. It even fits on a nightstand, so you don’t even have to get out of bed during late-night feedings.
One of the biggest benefits of combination feeding has by far been the flexibility. Whether I was heading back to work, leaving my daughter with my husband or her grandparents, or packing bottles for daycare, I loved knowing that someone else could confidently feed her without needing me. I didn’t have to carry the entire feeding load by myself, and having support didn’t make me any less of a mom—it actually gave me more space to enjoy being one.
A formula maker is one of those baby products that you can’t imagine life without once you have it. Sure, you can make formula by hand before daycare drop-off. But mornings become a whirl of anxiety when you’re making multiple bottles with precise measurements of powder and shaking hands. Being able to instantly make bottles with this formula maker’s one-touch prep feature saves so much time. I can make 3 to 5 bottles before sending her to daycare or with other family members in just a few minutes, which saves me what precious mental energy I have left.
And for park days, errands, or family outings, a portable bottle warmer makes on-the-go feedings so much easier. Instead of searching for hot water at a coffee shop or asking a restaurant to warm a bottle, we can warm breast milk or formula wherever we are with this portable warmer’s all-day battery charge and fast-heating insulation. I try to schedule outings around my pumping sessions, but when that’s not possible, a portable breast milk cooler is essential for quick storage. I can also see this portable cooler being a huge help for pumping moms who work in an office.
I don’t think anyone or anything could have adequately prepared me for how much time pumping actually takes. People talk about the pumping session itself, but that’s only part of the whole ordeal. First, you spend around 30 minutes pumping. Then you have to transfer the milk into storage bags, label each one with the date and ounces, organize everything in the refrigerator or freezer, and make sure you’re rotating older milk first. Lastly, you’re cleaning pump parts, washing bottles, sterilizing everything, and drying. Just to do it all again in just a few hours. It’s practically a part-time job.
That’s why a 4-in-1 bottle washer and sterilizer is an absolute must-have for anyone pumping and bottle feeding. I registered for one before my daughter was even born because I’d heard other moms rave about them, and they were absolutely right. Being able to wash bottles and pump parts in one machine, then have everything sanitized and dried all at once, made such a difference during those early postpartum months. Yes, it takes up counter space—but I’d gladly give up the space to reclaim that much time every day. Like, it is so much time.
Even now, more than 10 months into our feeding journey, we still use it daily. It’s one of the first products I recommend to every expecting parent because no matter how you choose to feed your baby, there’s always something that needs cleaning.
During the 6 to 10 month stage, feeding starts to shift again. You’re still deep in baby bottles, but you’re also researching first foods, wondering whether you’re mashing or cutting everything correctly, and constantly Googling choking hazards. For me, starting solids felt almost as overwhelming as those first newborn feeds.
Buying premade baby food is definitely convenient, but the cost also adds up quickly—especially if you’re still purchasing formula. Making your own purées is often more affordable, but of course, it adds one more thing on an already full plate. A baby food maker is a great option for parents preparing homemade purées. It’s also reassuring to know exactly what’s going into your baby’s meals.
All in all, it’s about finding confidence in what works for your family
A family’s feeding journey is the complete opposite of one-size-fits-all. Schedules change. Babies change. Your body changes. Your plans change. What worked in the newborn stage might look completely different 10 months later—and that’s not a sign you’re doing anything wrong.
Looking back, I don’t think what mattered most was whether I breastfed, pumped, used formula, or combined all three. What mattered was that my daughter was fed, thriving, and we found a routine that supported everyone. That’s something I wish more parents heard: Every feeding journey deserves to be celebrated, not compared.
Looking for more expert advice, practical guides, or real-family feeding stories? Explore Grownsy’s Feeding Support Hub—a judgment-free space packed with downloadable tools, lactation expert tips, feeding quizzes, and guidance for every stage of your feeding journey.
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.
McKenna Pringle, Assistant Editor of Branded Content
As the Assistant Editor of Branded Content, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth and productive process.
This post is sponsored by Grownsy but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
