First question asked on here so please be gentle with me!
I will be going on a hen weekend abroad the last weekend in March and will be leaving my breastfed baby boy with his dad. DS will be just over 6 months when I go and we will be introducing solids the week before but I don't anticipate that he'll be eating enough to be dropping feeds. He is at daycare during the day and gets 2 7oz bottles at 11am and 3pm, all other feeds I nurse him and he's quite happy going from breast to bottle.
I am pumping during the day to replace feeds and currently only have about 15 feeds worth in the freezer (this is what happens when you get complacent on mat leave!!) DS has also upped his intake at each bottle feed in the last couple of days from 5oz to 7oz so am pumping round the clock to make up for the previous shortfall. Having looked at it realistically, I'm not going to be able to pump enough extra to make up as many bags as I'd need for the entire time I'm gone, so I'd like to introduce formula as well to take the pressure off.
Can anybody give me some advice on how best to do this? I will be taking my pump with me and will be expressing whilst I'm gone so my supply doesn't drop and will still be trying to store as much extra as possible but need some guidance on the first steps. Should I just mix feed or stick it all in a bottle and let him chow down?
PS - yes I know 6 months is young to be leaving baby (trying not to think about it!) but we live on a small island and the closest place to party and shop is Miami an hours flight away so it has to be done!