BLW & Returning to Work
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Infant/toddler feeding
Forum Description: From breast/bottle feeding and starting solids, to fussy toddlers, discuss it here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39172
Printed Date: 27 July 2025 at 5:13pm
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Topic: BLW & Returning to Work
Posted By: KiwiL
Subject: BLW & Returning to Work
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 1:45pm
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My DS2 is 6 months old now, and I have to return to work 3 days a week just before his 1st birthday.
He's exclusively breast fed and has never had a bottle. I am intending to do a gentle mix of BLW and some purees. But I want to take it reasonably slowly. I think with BLW kids tend to wean slower, would that be right? Whilst I would like to think that we will have some breast feeding going on after DS2 is one, I also need to plan for the fact that he will be in day care and will need bottles (or cups) of milk, as well as solids. I am a terrible cow, so it is likely to be formula that he gets at day care. But I am at a loss on how to prepare for this. Although it's still 5.5 months away, I feel a bit overwhelmed by the thought. I am a worrier at the best of times, and I sort of feel like I need a plan of attack. Does anyone have any tips? Or anyone been in this situation and wouldn't mind sharing what you did? I don't want to rush solids, but I also don't want DS2 to be dependent on the breast and then us find ourselves in a tricky situation where it is all too sudden for him. (PS I am a bit fragile about having to return to work too, so even thinking about this gets me a little anxious and upset!!) |
Replies:
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 3:02pm
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My DD has never had a bottle, and has been in daycare 8.30-5 for 3 days a week from 6.5-12 months and 4 days a week from 12 months.
We did BLW and no purees, and started solids at 5.5 months. She was very, very ready for them, and has eaten like a horse from day 1 - helped by the fact that I too am no dairy cow, and that solids were so much better for her reflux than BM/liquids. What we did re solids was make sure she'd tried everything in her lunchbox at least once before at home, although I don't do that so much anymore. By 11 months he should be eating fine, and I don't think he'll go hungry 
For milk, our daycare is 200m from my office so I'd pop up a couple of times a day initially (they'd ring when she was hungry) and around 8-9 months she started mucking around at the morning feed to the point where we decided to try just a lunchtime feed. That worked much better - she was obviously ready to drop the second feed. So from there till 12 months I went up at lunchtime to feed her, but around 11.5 months I arrived to find her *helping* to decorate the christmas tree. She looked up from where she was sitting in a sea of tinsel, grinned at me, and went back to playing. From the next 2 weeks, I still offered at lunch time, but she'd never have more than a couple of sucks. So I took that as time to quit the day feeds. She's with me 3-4 days a week, and those days she'd have more feeds than when she was in daycare, but eventually she dropped those day feeds too. She weaned at 16 months, but really because I was pg and the milk dried up from that. I know the thought of leaving your baby to go back to work is heartbreaking and terrifying but tbh I found the thought of it way worse than the reality. And I think your situation sounds very do-able without too much stress on the baby. Good luck (and try not to spend the next 5.5 months worrying about it, it really isn't so bad as it seems!). ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kellynz
Date Posted: 19 May 2011 at 12:29pm
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Hi - we did similar, DS went to daycare from 8 mths (starting 3 days per week). You'll be a different mum by the time he is 11.5mths - and no doubt feel a bit more confident about it all :)
With BLW it depends on the child - some wont be eating much at 11mths, and others like my son will be into it and not even care about bottles / milk. If you don't use formula before he starts daycare I think it would be much easier to wean him to breastfeeds just morning and night - and get him used to water during the day. You might be suprised how easy it is to wean (down to less feeds) once they are eating :) Regarding food choices - as you are planning to do a mix of BLW and purees you'll probably be more flexible with what daycare can offer him to eat - and he can try big kids food (like toast and fruit fingers) or eat baby food they prepare (assuming they make the food). Lots will change in the next 5 months Laurie - so kepe your chin up and don't think about it too much until closer to the time :) One more thing - if you can, do heaps of visits before starting daycare. Maybe do 3 weeks warm up - week one you take him along for an hour or so 2x, week 2 you go for an hour, leave him for an hour while you get a coffee then pop back to get him 2x, week 3 - same as above plus try and get him to sleep there. Kelly :) |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 19 May 2011 at 9:45pm
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Thanks guys. I have been thinking of this a lot recently and realising that I am being over anxious.
I figure I can carry on as I am now at least until he's 10 months old, and if it starts to look problematic then deal with it then. Why worry for 6 months when it might be just fine. Appreciate all your comments - some good tips to keep in mind. :) |