Do they still cry for BF when they're eating and drinking a little?

[sourpatchkid]

DS was EBF. I spent an afternoon without him at 7 months (before he really ate anything) and he was heartbroken because he needed a breastfeed and I wasn't there. It was genuinely just a hunger thing and he so rarely cries.

I go back to work in 9 weeks, only part time but he still won't take formula. He eats a little bit (1 small finger of Toast for breakfast, a small frontage frais and a piece of apple at lunch, a very small piece of cheese and tiny mouthful of whatever I'm having at dinner) he drinks water well from a straw cup.

Is he likely to be devastated again when I leave him? Will some water and some snacks get him by for 6 hours?

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

How old is he now?

I went back to work when my DD was 9 months and I was gone for 5 hours. She was generally fine but did want to feed as soon as I got back! I didn't leave any milk for her; she just had snacks, water and lunch if I was running late. She then started nursery at 12 months for 2 days a week and I was at work 7:30-16:30. Again she was fine, she had cows milk at nursery but I never left any expressed milk or formula.

[sourpatchkid]

Thanks he's 10 months now and will be 1 year when he has to go more than 4 hours without me

[nightshade]

Anyone that I knew who went back to work when feeding found that they made up for it in the evening when you are home...

That should keep wee one going until you are back...no need to move to formula unless you want to...

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I really wouldn't give yourself the stress of formula to be honest. He'll be fine at 12 months. Like the pp said, he'll probably catch up in the evenings. I'd just keep going with a wide range of solids, water in his cup and then introduce some cows milk if you want to in a few more weeks.

[sourpatchkid]

Thanks everyone thats really helpful