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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Tips needed for travelling with routine exclusively breastfed baby

40 replies

beartime · 08/12/2005 19:17

Help, I'm going to America for 2 months with 6wk old and will probably be out all day and every day from around 11am to 10pm at night. I am feeding him 3hrly, just breastfeeding and no expressing, and am doing Baby Whisperer routine - feed, then waketime, then nap. Any tips on how to maintain a routine (demand feeders I already know what you think )?!!! We'll be visiting homes, going to meetings, eating out, shopping etc. Oh, and I've ordered a sling!

OP posts:
bobbybob · 08/12/2005 19:36

I think you'll have a better time if you go with the flow and let baby sleep when tired and eat when hungry or when you are in a good place (cafe etc).

Original poster
beartime · 09/12/2005 21:45

thanks for the tip, I guess I'll have to make do with that since no more forthcoming don't want to lose my sleep at night though! Plus it helps to know where you are, and makes me more confident of leaving him in a creche if I know when the next feed is.

OP posts:
moondog · 09/12/2005 21:49

The sling will help.
The fact that you are b/feeding will make life so much easier.
Although a dyed in the wall hippy,have to admit that my second child seemed to be a more contented baby than my first as I maintained (and still do-only 17 mths) some sort of routine.
A sleep in a quiet dark room at a regular time seems to be the key to it all.

Are you seeing family?
Have a great time!

SueW · 09/12/2005 21:51

How does your current life work? If you already live a similar routine to that which you plan to live in the US then it's no big deal, you'll just continue on.

However, if your life currently revolves around the routine you have set up for your baby then you'll have to ensure that your 11am-10pm out and about time is carefully planned to ensure that all your baby's requirements are built into it e.g. that you will always be able to feed him at the usual time, that you'll have a bed available at nap times etc.

morningpaper · 09/12/2005 21:58

Always plan your meals so that they are RIGHT after you've fed baby - he might be quiet now but over the next few weeks he will get LOUDER.

Bear in mind that he might turn into a total monster at any time - colic/growth spurts - and this will feck up your routine because he may need to be in a place by himself (in the case of colic - because he will drive everyone mad) or may need frequent/constant feeding (in the case of a growth spurt).

Also don't assume that messing with the routine will affect the sleep at night - my 8 week old is all over the place with NO routine at all but her nights are all pretty identical.

Also remember that if you have a shite week then everything will be different the next week and try not to stress - HAVE A GOOD TIME!

sazhig · 10/12/2005 00:42

Sorry to add to your worries - but don't forget the time difference - you might find that your LO's schedule goes out the window from that anyway as he will probably still feed as per UK time. Might be better to ignore the clock & just go with the flow, feeding on demand when he needs it - especially as you will have the same problem with time difference when you come back.

Original poster
beartime · 10/12/2005 03:44

well I might bite my tongue, but I really don't want to feed on demand!

We are seeing family, but also business-related.

Moondog - if quiet dark rooms are key how on earth am I going to do that if we are out all day?!

And current life is totally different - I'm home all day and put him in his room for naps. I don' think feeding will be too much of a problem, but napping will be. Any ideas on how to get him to stay awake and nap at the right times in the day?

Morningpaper - thanks for the tip on mealtimes! If he has a growth spurt maybe I'll stay home that day!

And with the time difference I have heard that if you get up same time as normal on the new time, and do the day as normal they pretty soon get on schedule.

OP posts:
Steppy1 · 10/12/2005 03:55

no advice for you other than I'm sure you'll be able to work out something that fits with you all but be prepared to be as flexible as you can be (sounds like a busy time!!!) - baby's needs and demands do change from day to day, week to week and month to month as you've probably already discovered...where in the States are you off to - am really jealous, just looove America !!!

AussieSim · 10/12/2005 04:16

If your baby is holding his head up well than I would recommend a baby bjorn style carrier for the times when you want him to be awake as forward facing they get to see a lot of what is going on and it keeps them alert and not inclined to sleep unless they are indeed tired. I recommend a stroller for sleeping in on the run. I found that when we were on holidays and went to a restaurant with the stroller I could order my meal, wheel DS1 around the local block a couple of times and then park him at the table asleep while I ate. HTH

Auntybrandybutter · 10/12/2005 05:58

Think you will need to relax the routine a bit if you are to enjoy your trip. otherwise you will be stressed out worrying how to maintain it.

SKYLERtnightholynight · 10/12/2005 06:17

The fact you are b/f will make this all so much easier, and it sounds like you will have some help if you are seeing family etc. Family generally love to hold new babies. Does he nap in a buggy? He is very small but something like the Maclaren Techno lies flat I think and so is suitable from birth and I think you might appreciate the break from holding him all the time. It gets hot having a baby strapped too you.(I love baby carriers too BTW and use a sling and a Wilkinet regularly). I think you will have a great time if you don't get too stressed. Try to get him used to sleeping when there is noise around/distractions now and then he will manage better when you are out and about. It is a good age for this.....gets harder as they get older and interested in everything. You might consider feeding a little bit more on demand while you are away and then getting the routine back on your return. IME this is the easier option. I think the darkened room that MD mentions could be for the nighttime sleep so try to make this the consistent one. It will be fine. Enjoy yourself.
Oh I have a 'Shade a babe' which we used to use at night to put over the buggy to keep it dark and therefore help to keep dd asleep when we were out in the evenings. This worked a treat esp if there is no room to leave him in until 10pm. HTH

SKYLERtnightholynight · 10/12/2005 06:19

I mean get too stressed about maintaining the routine......

Original poster
beartime · 10/12/2005 07:18

We're going to Texas and California. I love it there too, but not as pretty green as here!

Aussiesim I hadn't thought of the forward facing thing, that's a good idea.

Mine definitely goes to sleep in a stroller.

Does a travel cot work for being out in the evenings or is it too much hassle to cart around and put up?

OP posts:
bobbybobbobbingalong · 10/12/2005 07:51

beartime - a 6 week old and a baby 2 months older are really quite different, so even if you were staying at home you would have to adapt your routine several times.

Babies can sleep anywhere, and it sounds like yours is going to need to. I don't understand why her having a sleep in the sling when she is tired would be a problem.

Routines work best if you never go anywhere.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 10/12/2005 07:52

And I don't think that your baby is going to be old enough for forward facing.

morningpaper · 10/12/2005 11:12

Why are you so determined to keep to a routine? I'm not sure what your reasons are? When travelling, you may find that abandoning the routine makes no difference to how happy baby is but a lot of difference to how happy you are. It's worth bearing this possibility in mind!

I have a baby bjorn and my 8 week old can be forward facing already - they are very sturdy and give quit a lot of support - but it will depend on how strong baby's neck muscles are!

I think you are setting yourself up for unecessary stress if you totally aren't prepared to feed on demand with such a young baby - you may risk your milk supply not keeping up to baby's requirements which will result in an increasingly fractious baby. I would recommend getting baby weighed regularly to reassure yourself that this isn't happening and if problems occur you can increase feeding.

Good luck!

moondog · 10/12/2005 11:25

Beartime..you seem to want the moon!

You can't enter a completely diiferent 'scene' and yet assume that you ca maintain the status quo.

What's so bad about feeding on demand???? If you relaxed and went with the flow,a more casual approach to feeding would help you all to relax and enjoy yourselves.

I speak as one who travels constantly with two small children and have done since their births more or less.

This is a baby we are talking about,not a battery hen!!!

SKYLERtnightholynight · 10/12/2005 11:50

MD - I agree with you but think perhaps you are being a little harsh with the battery hen analogy. Beartime, I am assuming this is your first baby and only child so far. You may tune into your babies requirements a bit quicker without a strict routine, and like someone said the routine will be changing in the next two months whether you are at home or away. You are obviously doing great so far and lucky to have a baby happy on a routine that works for you both.
I wouldn't bother carting a travel cot around with you if you have a stroller, that will do fine as it is not for all night. There is nothing wrong with the baby sleeping in the sling, but I know I get tired carrying my lo and like to put her down sometimes or at least have the option.

hornbag · 10/12/2005 12:05

I tend to agree that I think a lot of your routines might have to go out of the window otherwise it could become qute stressful. Agree with posters who have said to get baby used to sleeping in stroller and in different environments including noisy ones.
Maybe concentrate on a good bedtime routine that you could use at the end of every day -that way, no matter where you are, or the time, baby will "know" that these triggers mean its night time. My DS has a "sleep-time only toy" in his cot -if we are away from home he knows that when we put him in a cot/travelcot/buggy(if its only a nap) and give him this toy then its sleeptime. Also we've always taken his GroBag with us for overnight stays as it seems to reassure him

SueW · 10/12/2005 15:19

By the time she was 12mo my DD had slept in 26 different beds in 5 countries and been on 11 flights. I think. Something like that anyway.

But I breastfed on demand, we slept whenever we felt like it and routine was a word which didn't enter our vocab.

It was a very hard year though; in fact a very hard two years cos we didn't really settle into one place until she was 2yo.

Original poster
beartime · 10/12/2005 16:48

wow Sue that's a lot of travelling - what were the flights like?

Bobby I agree with routines working best if you never go anywhere, but I want to try it anyway, so there

The sling I have is a sling easy but I don't have it yet so can't try it out, d'you think that would work with forward facing at this age?

Why I am determined to keep to a routine... partly I like knowing where i am - so if I have to go to a meeting that's 2 hrs long, I can adjust routine half an hour earlier maybe, and know he'll go for three hrs b4 wanting next feed. Also I did try demand feeding (for a day!) and we both cried more! And probably other reasons too, but don't really want to get into an argument But I am prepared to feed on demand if it turns out that is what I need to do.

Is a travel Grobag a good idea for easy transfer at night? And do sheets and blankets work with a travel cot, or is a grobag better for nighttime sleeping?

OP posts:
bobbybobbobbingalong · 10/12/2005 18:03

I think we are all just saying keep an open mind about the feeding. it sounds like you want to try it and ditch it if it doesn't work - a good plan.

Gro bags are ace to transfer a baby between a stroller and a travel cot because they stay the same temperature and don't wake up as easily.

Then it's only one thing to take - rather than sheets and blankets and something for the stroller.

Waswondering · 10/12/2005 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SueW · 10/12/2005 20:21

Flight to NZ wasa complete nigtmare - 36 hours of travelling with very unhappy 11mo. And I didn't realise had a cold until I checked into a hotel at Auckalnd airport - we had a 6-hour layover before flying internally - got in the shower and as I rehydrated discovered I was completely bunged up!

Transatlantic flights and those around US and Canada - at 8mo-10mo - were fine even the delayed from Toronto to Richmond VA which ended up going via New York and meant the carefully timed flight to fit in with sleep didn't happen!!

Also coped very well with a six-hour delay coming back from Jersey at 3mo. Had plenty of nappies but of course breastfeeding meant didn't run out of food.

Original poster
beartime · 10/12/2005 21:08

I'm going to try and get a grobag tomorrow. Is there any particular type I should get? Or should I get a travel grobag with the slot for in the car seat which I heard about. And what tog? During the daytime in texas today it was 64 degrees, so its not majorly hot, but will be warmer than here.

Oh, also what do they wear under grobags? I looked on the website and it said wear a longsleeved bodysuit under it - but surely you don't have to do that do you? Otherwise I'd change him for ever nap!!

Waswondering - thanks to admitting to a routine That's a good idea about the bed.

And how do you cope with crying babies and flying?

Thanks for all your help everyone - it's really been good to have some ideas to try out.

OP posts:
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