Going back to work (DS 1yr old)

[CocoPopsAddict]

Hi all,

Am due back at work in a couple of weeks, will only be doing two days a week though.

Still bfing DS, who will have just turned 1 when I go back (doesn't time fly?).

He usually feeds when he wakes up, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and before bed.

He will be with my DH because we work together and have arranged to job-share.

Do I need to really cut down his two daytime feeds before I go back? I think he mainly uses them for comfort, but will nap with DH without me.

Is it possible to continue bfing on the days I am not at work? Or will it end up just being morning and evening every day?

Thanks in advance.

I went back just under a month ago, when my twins were a week over one. They were feeding first thing, last thing and one or two other feeds in the day and about a zillion feeds each all through the night.

I introduced a sippy cup of water with meals and a sippy cup of milk in the later afternoon before I went back, but still fed whenever they pestered for a breastfeed.

Now I am back at work, they take water/milk from a sippy cup at nursery or from my mum. Then they have a bedtime feed and early morning feed and a zillion feeds each in the night from me. On days when I'm with them, I don't without feeds.

I have been pleasantly suprised by how they, and I, have adapted.

Good luck when you go back, and um sure the feeding will just work itself out

I meant I don't withhold feeds, not without!

That is very encouraging, and what I was hoping to hear, thank you!

I think it depends on the personality of your child.

When I went back to work, DD1 was still feeding mid afternoon (dropped mid morning a few weeks before), morning and bedtime. She was 11 months.

She was fine with me not being there and for a while she wanted a feed as soon as I got home. But she wasn't interested in a mid-afternoon feed even on the four days a week I was around.

We carried on happily until she was 21 months ish though. She self weaned when I was pregnant with DD2. Though for about the last six months it was mornings only (at her choosing).

Thanks as well, Secondtimelucky. I'm not too bothered if DS wants to continue bfing in the daytime when I am home - just curious about people's experiences in that area. But I wouldn't want to stop bfing completely yet. Again, what you've said is reassuring.

I've found that my daughter who fed like it was going out of fashion before starting nursery, suddenly couldn't care less about breastfeeding in the day while she's at nursery. She started at 12 months too. She still feeds normally from me when I am there though. There's a lot about her going to nursery that I didn't expect actually. She used to be very clingy, but she settled into nursery pretty much immediately. In fact, she loves it so much that she doesn't even look back at me when I drop her off!

Coco- oh, if it's just that you're worried she'll go off breastfeeding entirely, I think that's highly unlikely. Some babies want to feed in the day when you're around. Some prefer to keep a regular pattern for all days (so times when you are normally around). Of the half dozen friends I have who were still breastfeeding when they went back to work at about this stage, no babies wanted to stop entirely. A couple went into a bit of a feeding frenzy when their mums were around, but none went the other way.

Thanks aswellasyou - that's good to hear. Wondering how DS will fare with DH all day - I sound like such a martyr but have never been away from him for as long as I will be at work! And I work a normal eight-hour day, about nine and a half hours with travel! Sure it will all be fine as with your DD.

Secondtimelucky - thanks again. DS actually skipped his afternoon feed today. It's almost as if he knows! Glad to hear that all your friends were able to continue breastfeeding, as would like to continue with DS for another few months at least.