What is triple feeding: Nursing, pumping, and bottle feeding

Triple feeding is a method that involves nursing your baby at the breast, pumping to maintain or increase milk supply, and supplementing with a bottle. If that sounds like a lot, well . . . it is. For some families, triple feeding can be a temporary solution and crucial to balancing the needs of your baby with your desire for a breastfeeding journey.

With a bit of planning and the right support (along with a sprinkle or two of patience), triple feeding can help your baby get the nutrition they need while protecting your breastfeeding journey. Think of it as a temporary yet supercharged feeding routine designed to set both you and your baby up for success.

In this article, we’ll go through why families triple feed, possible challenges that pop up while triple feeding, as well as a sample schedule for the practical side of triple feeding your baby.

Why parents use triple feeding

Triple feeding is a medically recognized method to support breastfeeding and is far more common than many parents realize []. Consider triple feeding as a bridge between where you are now and where you’d like to be in your baby’s feeding journey.

Parents may choose triple feeding for several reasons:

• Increasing a

• Supplementing NICU or premature babies to gain weight

• Circumventing shallow latches or other

That said, triple feeding is intended to be a temporary solution. It is often not a sustainable option for longer than a few weeks because of the time and energy spent nursing, preparing and cleaning bottles, pumping, cleaning pump parts, and more. And that’s completely OK! Using this method for a short time is still a huge win for your baby’s nutrition and your breastfeeding journey. You’re doing exactly what your baby needs in the moment – even when it feels overwhelming.

What triple feeding looks like: Triple feeding schedule

Have you ever wondered what working on an assembly line would be like? Well, triple feeding could be categorized as an assembly line, but with more cuddles. The idea is simple in concept but requires a lot of planning in practice: you nurse your baby at the breast, follow up with a bottle to ensure they’re getting enough milk, and then pump to maintain or boost your supply. It’s a lot of moving parts, and it can feel overwhelming at first.

Knowing what a typical day looks like can help remind you that you’re doing an incredible job. The standard pattern of triple feeding involves nursing, bottle feeding, and pumping. Timing may vary based on your baby’s age and needs, but here’s an example schedule to illustrate how it might look in practice []:

When and how to stop triple feeding

Triple feeding is a temporary superhero move — intense and time-consuming, but often effective when your baby needs that extra boost. Eventually, most parents wonder: When can we ease up? At what point can I stop without risking my supply?  Will my baby still eat enough if I stop triple feeding?

Here’s how to know it might be time to start scaling back:

• Your baby is gaining weight consistently on breastfeeding alone. When the scale shows steady growth, it’s a strong sign that your milk is doing its job. Celebrate this milestone—it’s proof your body is keeping up!

• Latch is improving. If nursing sessions feel more efficient and your baby is actively transferring milk, those extra bottles start to feel less essential. Watch for longer feeds, audible swallowing, and content post-nursing behavior.

• Milk supply has stabilized. When pumping output is steady, it’s an indication that your supply can sustain your baby’s needs without constant supplementation.

• You want to transition to exclusive pumping. Some parents find pumping more manageable than juggling nursing, bottles, and pumping. As long as your baby feeds well from a bottle and your pumping output is what you need, exclusively pumping can be an option.

• You’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. Triple feeding can be intense. If it’s taking a toll on your sleep, , or daily life, it’s OK to stop, consider exclusive pumping or switch to formula. Some families choose to use formula for some feeds and breastfeed the rest, or they decide to switch to only formula. The choice is yours.

​​The key here is gradual reduction, not an overnight elimination. It is important to work alongside your medical provider or lactation consultant to ensure things go smoothly. Start by:

• Dropping one bottle or pumping session at a time

• Keeping a close eye on your baby’s

• Making sure your baby is having enough wet diapers (a minimum of 6 per day)

How to transition from triple feeding to exclusive breastfeeding

Transitioning from triple feeding to exclusive breastfeeding may take time and patience. If baby has been gaining weight, and your milk supply is steady, you can transition by paying close attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. If your baby latches, you hear swallows throughout the feed, and is content after latching, you can choose to skip supplementation and pumping. If your baby is showing signs that they are still hungry, offering a bottle is important, along with pumping to help protect and/or increase your milk supply. Remember, it’s normal if it takes time or if some days feel messy. You, your body, and your baby are learning together.

When to get help from a lactation consultant

Sometimes, even the most organized or hard-working parents need a little extra backup — and that’s exactly what lactation consultants are for. 

Reach out to one if you notice:

• Persistent low milk supply despite regular pumping

• Baby isn’t gaining weight as recommended

• Nursing feels painful, frustrating, or stressful

• You’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out by the juggling act of triple feeding

• You’re struggling to manage the schedule or nail nursing techniques despite your best efforts

Lactation consultants play the role of troubleshooting and cheering you on. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own! If it is difficult to find a lactation consultant in your area, try a local breastfeeding or new parent support group. Many times, they will have baby scales and a professional available to help guide your progress.

Tips to manage triple feeding

Tip #1: Get partner or helper support

Don’t be shy about asking for backup. Have someone else handle bottle prep, cleaning, or washing pump parts to lighten your load. Maybe you nurse your baby and then you pump while your partner feeds baby a bottle of expressed milk from earlier.

Tip #2: Pump during bottle feeding

Simultaneously pumping while your baby takes a bottle can save time and energy in the long run. 

Tip #3: Simplify bottle prep

Prepare bottles in advance by keeping pre-measured formula or pumped milk from a previous session ready. This can reduce your stress between feeding sessions.

Tip #4: Track sessions with an app

Using feeding tracker apps like Huckleberry can help you log nursing, pumping, and bottle times, making the schedule more manageable.

Tip #5: Prioritize self-care mini-breaks

Even five minutes to sip water, stretch, or breathe can make a difference. Tiny rituals of care keep you from burning out while managing triple feeding.

Tip #6: Celebrate small wins

Every ounce of milk pumped, every feeding that goes smoothly, every moment your baby seems satisfied — take a second to pat yourself on the back. Those small victories remind you that you’re doing an amazing job, even on the tough days.

Takeaway

• Triple feeding involves nursing, bottle-feeding, and pumping. It’s a temporary solution that can be used to meet your baby’s needs in a variety of scenarios — like your milk supply is low or your baby is in the NICU. It demands energy and planning, but it can be exactly what your baby needs during a critical growth phase.

• Consistent weight gain, improved latch, and steady diaper output are your markers of feeding success. Use these signals to guide adjustments rather than adhering strictly to the clock. Slowly reducing bottle or pumping sessions becomes much more manageable when you follow your baby’s lead.

• Whether it’s a partner, friend, family member, or lactation consultant, asking for help can lighten the load. Delegating tasks like washing pump parts, prepping bottles, or handling feeds gives you room to rest and recharge.

• Celebrating the small wins can be essential to your triple feeding journey. Give yourself credit for the commitment it takes to keep your baby nourished. You’re doing a wonderful job!