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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Can I leave my EBF baby overnight?

13 replies

Gintonic · 30/12/2012 19:39

DP wants to take me away to a nice hotel for a night (woohoo!) and grandparents have offered to look after my LO who will be 7 months by the time we go. He is EBF and happy to take a bottle. I would love a bit of a break, but dont want to risk messing up the BFing.

For it to be worth going, the minimum time I would need to be apart from LO would be from 4pm the day before until 11 am the next day. That would be 3 or 4 feeds, including his biggest feeds of the day. I could express while we were apart, but the most I have ever left him for before is 2 feeds, and I am worried that even with expressing my milk supply could drop and/or I could get engorgement (as I understand the pump is not as effective at getting the milk out?)

Does anyone else have experience of being away from their baby overnight while BFing?

Thanks all!

OP posts:

squidkid · 30/12/2012 20:44

Watching with interest as planning to do the same for a friend's wedding (no babies allowed!) when LO is nearly 6 months, EBF at the moment.

poppy283 · 30/12/2012 20:50

Hello, I left my 4mo old overnight recently. Pump wasn't as affective as ds so a bit uncomfortable but no huge leaks!

Did the same when Dd was around 3mo without a pump and it was fine but uncomfortable.

It didn't affect my supply at all either time. I think past 12ish weeks it switches from supply and demand anyway.

So go and enjoy yourself!

Original poster

Gintonic · 30/12/2012 22:25

Thanks poppy, how many feeds did you miss when you were away?

OP posts:

sleeplessinderbyshire · 31/12/2012 17:22

I left dd1 overnight for the first time when she was 7 months for a hen do. She was fine. I expressed every few hours and had a lovely rest. Dd was fine too

Welovecouscous · 31/12/2012 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatAndKit · 01/01/2013 01:12

For me it would have been a little too long. My DS is 8 months now and i haven't managed an all nighter under a different roof yet. I think it is more dependent on how you feel about leaving your baby. if you know they will take a bottle for 2 or 3 feeds in a row then you are alright as far as milk is concerned but of course breastfeeding, and mothering, is about a lot more than just providing milk.
Everyone is different. i wasn't ready at 7 months but some are. Do what makes you feel comfortable.

Original poster

Gintonic · 01/01/2013 10:33

Thanks for the replies, sounds like it should work from a practical point of view so just need to decide if I am ready to leave him. So far we have not even left him for a meal out in the evening so might be a bit of a big step all at once. I think if we do go I will make sure there is the option of a travel cot just in case!

Thanks

OP posts:

squidkid · 01/01/2013 14:03

further to my note above...

I have had a chat with boyfriend today and I don't think I'm going to stay overnight at the wedding after all. Weddings suck anyway. Sigh, I am anxious about being a bad friend though. But it's just too soon...

Ineedacoffee · 02/01/2013 08:28

I left ds at 5 months for a wedding. It was more than 24hrs because of the distance.No probs at all although not very glamorous expressing in the loo! Now feeding 3 month old dd amd no chance as she wont take a bottle. I would go for it. Just make sure you talk about something other than the baby!

Mapal · 02/01/2013 08:32

I'd be a bit p'd off at the 'no babies allowed' rule personally to be honest. No way I could have left DS overnight at that age. My first night away from him was when he was 2 and I missed him so much I didn't enjoy myself at all.

MikeOxardInTheSnow · 02/01/2013 08:48

I wouldn't be ready yet, but from just a milk supply perspective I don't think it would be a problem. Milk supply is well established at that point and a 24 hour blip won't affect it.

I think it makes a big difference that at that age the baby will be established on 3 meals a day, and also that your baby is quite happy and used to taking solids. Is he used to being looked after by other people yet? You could have a practise night out beforehand to see how he does without you at bedtime?

I don't think engorgement will be a big problem, as long as you take your pump with you and use it when you feel the need, and wear breast pads.

Have a lovely time. Xx

MikeOxardInTheSnow · 02/01/2013 08:53

*happy and used to taking bottles. Sorry.

Original poster

Gintonic · 03/01/2013 16:29

Thanks everyone, we have decided it is a bit too big a step at the moment, we are going to try leaving him more in the daytime first and postpone the hotel til later when he is taking fewer milk feeds. Mike, unfortunately LO is nowhere near 3 meals a day! He just ate one raspberry and threw the rest of his lunch on the floor in disgust!

Squid, I don't think you should feel bad about your wedding as your friend is effectively excluding you by having a no babies rule. Do you think she realises? Most weddings I have been to have been happy to have little babies even if there is a no children rule.

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