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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask roughly how many times a day your breastfed 1 year old nurses?

37 replies

ethelfleda · 03/06/2018 19:24

I know all babies are different but I'm trying to manage my expectations of going back to work when DS is 12 months (not until October) how often did/does your 12 month old nurse a day?? I have the option of doing 2 full days a week or 4 half days a week from October until the end of the year (after which I will be full time) and I'm trying to decide what will work best for both of us. By 12 months are they in the territory of nursing when mum is around but happily going without if she isn't?? Did you go back to work around this time and needed to express every day?

OP posts:
Annabelle4 · 03/06/2018 19:27

Mine fed first thing in the morning and then bedtime from 12 months. maybe during the day, for a nap, if very unsettled, but could easily go without it.
I brought it down to just bedtime from 13-14 months.

It's definitely compatible with working, and you shouldn't need to express imo. They can drink cows milk from 12 months anyway (worth a shot)?

Good luck!

MuddyForestWalks · 03/06/2018 19:27

I went back to work when DD was 8.5 months, and she was a crazed nurser when I was there. She coped absolutely fine when I wasn't, though I found I needed to bring a little handpump in and express off some excess milk or I got over full.

DS was 10 months when I went back. He was mainly just feeding for naps at that point and I didn't even need the pump. Oddly he nurses more now at 15 months but I think that is because his molars are hurting, and because he is walking.

chequeplease · 03/06/2018 19:31

All the time when I wasn't at work Grin but he managed fine when I was working (3x full days) and just fed when I got home. At first my boobs were uncomfortable but they adapted within a couple of months.
You're body (and baby) are cleverer than you know!

user1483387154 · 03/06/2018 19:32

3 or 4 times in the day and 4 or 5 at night 🙁

Butterflykissess · 03/06/2018 19:34

Hourly. Though I don't mind as I enjoy feeding her. Although funny enough she manages around 4 hours when out before wanting a feed (so if we are out for the day she won't really need bf unless we are out the whole day)

SensingWeakness · 03/06/2018 19:36

Ds3 is 12 months. I'm due back to work at the end of this month. Currently he has:

Bf on waking, 7.30am
10am to send him to sleep for a nap
Cows milk at 3 followed by a tiny bf
6pm after dinner
Bf to sleep at 8

So he's still having 5 a day ATM most days. However it's only really the morning and night ones which are essential now, and they are his two proper bfs, lasting about 25 minutes.

He can be easily distracted from the 6pm one with a yoghurt or biscuit and water. And the 10am and 3pm are only 5 minute feeds to put him to sleep...I've already warned our CM that she might have to go for a 10 minute drive at those times as the only things that put him to sleep ATM are the boob or the car!

I'm definitely not planning on expressing or anything though, it's not necessary at 12/13 months imo - it's more, they have a bf if it's available or make do with cows milk or a snack if not.

wontbedoingthat · 03/06/2018 19:39

First thing in the morning, once or twice in the day (maybe just one side each time) then last thing at night. The day time feeds are more for me and comfort as I get mastitis quite easily this time round. Expressing is a faff if I can just get the baby on. She doesn't really need it, but it helps settle for a nap for example.
I too am about to return to work and am more concerned about my levels of discomfort than my baby being hungry.

Original poster
ethelfleda · 03/06/2018 19:52

3 or 4 times in the day and 4 or 5 at night

That sounds familiar Grin

Thank you for the replies. Sounds like I've no need to worry.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 03/06/2018 19:58

My second GC is completely different to her Sibling.

She is eleven months and won't take a bottle. I think it's best to start them on one from as young as possible.

She feeds around 4/5 times a day. Some of that is for comfort because she is teething.

MrsKoala · 03/06/2018 20:01

18 mo has 'first' feed at 5am. Then another at 10.30am. Then one at 2pm. Then 7pm before bed. Then 9pm,11pm,1am and 3am :(

Original poster
ethelfleda · 03/06/2018 20:02

She is eleven months and won't take a bottle. I think it's best to start them on one from as young as possible

Do you mean a bottle of ebm? I may be being really stupid here but DS is drinking from a sippy cup so surely he would just have one of those instead once he gets to that age?

OP posts:
Original poster
ethelfleda · 03/06/2018 20:04

MrsKoala that sounds similar to DS' feeding pattern Smile

OP posts:
Bear2014 · 03/06/2018 20:09

On days I was with her, morning and evening, both naps and generally 1 night feed. On nursery days, not for the naps but fed as soon as we got home then again at bedtime. It's hard to imagine now but it should be fine.

Sashkin · 03/06/2018 20:15

My 14 month old feeds at 5am and bedtime, plus once or twice during the day if I’m around. If I’m not around, he’s perfectly happy to go without.

And if I was willing to get out of bed and play with him downstairs at 5am he’d be quite happy to skip that one too - I’m choosing to feed him to get him back off to sleep for a couple more hours. When I work nightshifts he just has a bottle at bedtime from DH. He does want a bottle, it’s the sucking action he likes. He drinks water out of a cup during the day but likes a bedtime bottle when I’m not around. Yours may not be that fussy.

I do find that when I get home from work he glues himself to me immediately and wants far more feeding than he ever wants on my non-working days. But I think that is more separation anxiety than anything. He isn’t actually hungry.

wrimad · 03/06/2018 20:15

Both my children nurses what seemed like constantly at that age - hourly at the very least

AveAtqueVale · 03/06/2018 20:17

My 11 month old varies massively. At the moment it’s hot and he’s a bit poorly, so if I’m around he’s asking for it every time we have a cuddle (so basically constantly!). More usually he feeds first thing in the morning, around lunchtime, and in the evening before bed, then on and off all night. But he’s also not bothered when he’s with DH or at nursery. Some days he just feeds (in his sleep) at about 5am, and doesn’t get another chance until 6pm when I’m home, and he’s fine with that.

MoodyTwo · 03/06/2018 20:18

My DS was in nursery full time from 9 months ... I expressed every day around 10 Oz and he would drink none (NONE!) out of a bottle, he just had extra boobie when we got in. So I fed him when he woke up, when he got home and before bed (and 2-3 times throughout the evening)
But nursery just gave him yogurts and good and gave him water instead. He was fine ! And then on a weekend he was abit of a boobie monster but he understood boobie was for at home (I just fed whenever he asked) but outside was for big boy food (after 1 year old).

cadburyegg · 03/06/2018 20:37

She is eleven months and won’t take a bottle. I think it’s best to start them on one from as young as possible.

At that age there isn’t any need at all to introduce bottles.

OP, I went back to work when my first was 12 months and he just fed morning, when I got home from work (5.30 ish) and bedtime. I hate expressing and didn’t want to bother with it when I was working. By that age they understand that breastfeeding is a mummy thing only so he will be fine on food and water when you are not there.

With regards to solids, I started weaning at 6 months and offered milk first but to prepare him for my return to work I started offering solids first from 9ish months. I think from around 10 months I stopped offering during the day and only breastfed when he asked.

With my second I plan on returning when he is 10 months

OohMavis · 03/06/2018 20:38

Ooh about a million ¬_¬

Bambamber · 03/06/2018 20:40

When she's with me she feeds throughout the day and night (I don't even bother counting now)

When I'm at work she will have 2 feeds in the morning, one after nursery and then throughout the evening and nighr

Worlds0kayestmum · 03/06/2018 20:41

My boy is 11 months and feeds twice during the day before naps but would be fine without it and if we are out, he doesn't have it. Once at bedtime and then 3 -4 times overnight

Original poster
ethelfleda · 03/06/2018 20:43

Thank you cadbury with this being my first I wasn't sure when that awareness kicks in! And good idea on the offering food first from 10months to ease the transition.

OP posts:
Herewegoagain01 · 03/06/2018 20:44

Mine has a big feed in the morning and just before bed. Daytime feeds are more for comfort and usually become more frequent as the day goes on and he gets tired. He easily goes the whole day without a bf.

fascinated · 03/06/2018 20:46

Curious as to how a baby “asks”? I’m ten months in and unclear how much I should be feeding still....

PeterRabbitsBlueCoat · 03/06/2018 20:53

I found it depended on how well they took to food.

My first was ok with food, but not great. However by 10months she was down to BF on waking and for bed, but that was it. By 12 months it was only at bedtime and she swapped to cows milk no problem.

My second is 7 months and is a food monster!! Some days she will only feed at bedtime, as when she wakes up she goes straight for weetabix! However some days, when it's really hot, she will feed once or twice in the day too, as she's not that good with her sippy cup yet.

But every child is different and I think there's an element of "what are they using the BF for?" i.e. Is it food, hydration or comfort?