Increased risk of chronic diseases Studies have shown that prolonged bottle feeding may increase the risk of chronic diseases later in life, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Start with mostly breast milk – say 3 ounces to 1 ounce of formula. Then reduce the amount of breast milk a little at a time until your baby is drinking the straight formula. Offer the bottle at other times of day. If your baby won't take the bottle during the day, offer it during a nighttime feeding or vice versa.

You can start by offering your baby 1 to 2 ounces of infant formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life if your baby is only getting infant formula and no breast milk. Give your baby more if he or she is showing signs of hunger. Most infant formula-fed newborns will feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

Formula feeding increases the risk of getting diabetes later in life. Children who have not been breastfed are more likely to get leukemia and other cancers than children who were given only breastmilk. Breastfeeding may help to reduce the risk of heart disease by keeping cholesterol levels low later in life.