6 month old - what feeds needed for 2 half days at childminders?

[Saffra]

Just planning in advance...

DD is 12 wks old and EBF. I'm planning on using childminder for two half days when I return to work on a more FT basis when she's 26 wks. I am self-employed. (Mum and MIL will be covering other days but only 2-3 hours each time at my house, so feeding not required).

So.... Not sure what I'd need to think about. Would I need to take bottles of expressed milk on the two half days? I do find it hard to express, but guess things might be very different then with her moving onto weaning?

Try not to think too far ahead as you don't necessarily know what your lo will be like/needing by then. If you want her to stay EBF, you'll need either to keep expressing when you're away from her and/or build up a frozen supply to give to CM. Depending on your timing, you should still be able to feed her first thing in the morning and when you collect her, so you may not need that much in any case. But wait and see.

PS Expressing at work is a challenge. I did it twice in one day during a day of 3 job interviews and didn't have the stomach for it when I went back to the office.

I know every baby is different, but do you think it would make much difference if I delayed starting her at childminders for a month or so? i.e. if she started at 7 months instead of 6? I do a little flexibility with when I choose to up my hours and also what childcare to use.

I do want to stay EBF, ideally. I find it such a faff to express though. At the mo, I find it hard to put DD down as she tends to protest. So, she's either in the sling or on the go in the pram - neither are particularly compatible with expressing, unfortunately!

Last night, I only managed to express 1.75oz. Rubbish!

how many hours will you be away, wouldn't have thought you 'needed' many, if any at all, if you fed as you dropped her off and picked her up. If 3 hours I'd leave a small amount to tide her over, if longer I'd leave a 3/4oz for one feed while your away

I used the 1oz per hour plus 1 for good measure and I was working full days. At 7 months I had her on 1 times 3oz bottle at lunch time.

DD is a bit of a milk monster - has about 7 oz per feed at the moment if she takes an expressed bottle. I thought this was quite normal? (I believe I'd read this in a baby book - what to expect week-by-week, or something).

Will be away about 4.5 hours, including travel to childminders. I think I'd find it hard to express 9oz a week (based on your amounts) - although not impossible, I suppose.

I personally think you could get away with two 3oz bottles a week, if you fed just before and after as I'm off the opinion that BM with just enough is better than some formula but depends on you.

Problem with bottles is that babies can take a lot more than they need due to the technique of bottle feeding. BF babies need very different amounts to FF babies anyway e.g. intake doesn't go up with time after 6 weeks.

Have a look here for some great pumping info.

Thanks Penguin, I think you're right... I had looked at the Kellymom calculator recently, but quickly referred to the book when I left DD with DH the other night. Must have been referring to FF babies.

OK, 2 x 3oz a week seems doable. That's reassuring - thanks.

plus it won't be long until weaning and you've got time to build up some frozen stash if you'd rather leave ample amounts for the first 1/2 months until food is happening a bit more frequently