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

[ethelfleda]

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?

Fascinated- my first didn't ask. I just fed her. My second didn't really ask much either. My third...throws himself sideways then scrapes, pulls, literally takes my clothes off whilst going mmamamamammmamamma.

Curious as to how a baby “asks”?

Mine climbs me and starts trying to get my top off. If that doesn’t produce the immediate desired effect he yodels in my face and whacks my boobs until I comply. He’s not subtle .

Not quite 1 but my DD is 10 months old and BFs on waking (approx 7am) and then twice, once in the morning (11ish) and once in the afternoon (3ish) if I'm there, but on the days I work she usually just has a bottle at 3. And she has a bottle of formula before bed now as I was getting exhausted with night wake-ups, and started sleeping through almost immediately.

I work full time so he goes throughout the day on food and water and is absolutely fine.

If I’m there, he’d do it all day long if he could. Realistically, we do it during night, first thing, for nap, probably once else in the afternoon and then bedtime.

By one I think whilst it’s still important I don’t think you need to be worrying really. If you’re not there they will be just eat more. Mine barely ate before nursery.

Back in the day, when extended bf wasn't a thing, I gave up bf all 3 of mine at 9 months. They didn't like bottles and went straight from me to cow's milk from a sippy cup. I gave up the bedtime feed last, but I don't remember it being a problem. It was only a token feed by then because they were eating enough food at tea-time to see them through the night and they were old enough to enjoy a cuddly bedtime routine without needing a comfort feed.

This was standard practice in the 70's, tho' most mothers didn't bf for as long. Each to her own, etc etc. Just mentioning it to show what is possible. They all seem to have grown up all right. No digestive issues.

Smiling at extended bf'ing being a 'thing

To whoever said they still don't know how often to feed during the day - same here! They outgrow 'rooting' so how do you know?? I currently just offer it and he always takes it. But I'm never sure if he is hungry anymore or if he understands now that good can satiate his hunger. He is doing really well with weaning so far and seems to enjoy his food like his mum

Baby now 13m and I've been back at work full time since 10 days before his birthday. I did express religiously every morning for a while and did a few lunchtime sessions but found I could hardly get anything so was just getting stressed.

Got him to his birthday on just BM (as opposed to other milks, obviously he eats LOTS now) and then relaxed a bit. He now has BM often when I get home from work and always at bed time so maybe two feeds of an evening. I'm usually out before he gets up in the morning but no issues with leaks etc (I never really did so don't think I'm a massive producer, albeit when he feeds I see milk round his mouth when he comes off so he can get plenty out)

He's perfectly happy with water and some ff cows milk in day then mummy evenings and weekends - your body will just adapt x

Oh and re question how do you know when they want it, if baby like mine he sticks his hand down my top or buries his head in my chest ☺️ subtle he is not!

I went back to work 4 days a week when dd was 14 months. She fed in the morning before I left for work and drank cows milk and ate solids during the day (baby led weaning but always loved her food!). When i got in from work she would breast feed like a monster throughout the evening and have her last feed at bedtime. Was totally managable and on days i wasnt working she would feed regularly through out the day as normal. For first month or so i need to express at work to relief discomfort but supply then regulated. We kept feeding until dd was 2yrs 5mths and my supply dried up as I was expecting again. Good luck!

DS2 is 1 year tomorrow (no flipping clue how that has happened so quickly ) and I work full time. He breast feeds first thing in the morning, bed time and as needed over night - he likes to mix things up and keep me on my toes by veering between sleeping through and wanting to feed all night like a new born!

He is offered a beaker of formula at nursery mid afternoon - it was EBM until 10 months as I was only working part time and then to make life a little easier when I went back to full time we switched his afternoon feed over to formula - and some days he guzzles the lot and others he isn’t interested. Planning on having that feed dropped in favour of water over the next few weeks.

I’ve found with both my boys that they have reduced their feeds quite naturally as they progressed with weaning

Aside from nursing, when deciding what days you are going to work, don’t forget to factor in your commute time, and what activities you like doing with your little one. No point working (as an example) 4 mornings if little one naps all afternoon, or if you’ll miss out on your favourite groups. When I was doing part time I found full days at home or at work easier than the half days where I was switching partway through the day from ‘professional me’ to ‘mum me’ and not really feeling like I had the time to do anything properly!

I’m sure what ever you decide, you and your DS will find something that works for you.

Thank you notmore I think you might be right about half days. Luckily my commute is very short and nursery is nearby!