9 mo ebf dd, how long does she need milk in daytime?

[catellington]

My ebf 9mo DD goes to the childminder from 8 - 4.30 each weekday. I feed her beforehand at about 6.30am, then afterwards at about 4.45pm, she cluster feeds before bed from 6-7 pm, then she feeds about 4 or 5 times during the evening and overnight. The sleep isn't a problem as we co sleep so no intention to cut down night feeds.

I express milk for her to have in a cup during the day. She does have some milk, but there is usually quite a lot left from the 100ml or so that I provide. I am wondering if / for how long I need to continue to provide milk for the daytime rather than just water, given her intake for the hours she is with me is still quite a lot.

She eats quite well, has ready brek, mashed banana and fruit purée, yoghurt, etc, and has sips of water with meals.

We have got to his point very gradually so it's no problem for me not to express during the day.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Milk (breast or first stage formula) should be her main source of nutrition up until the age of 1. Every child is different though, and some take to solids really quickly and show less and less interest in milk.

It sounds like she prefers it from the source and you are doing a great job keeping up with feeds in the evenings and at night.

At 1, you can switch to cows milk as a main drink, so there will be no need for you to send expressed milk (unless you want to). In the meantime, it sounds like she's getting plenty at night if you decide to stop sending expressed milk to the childminder.

Sorry if that isn't amazingly helpful. Every child is so different, there's no hard and fast rule.

Thanks nancerama, i think that bm is still very much her main source of nutrition! But it isn't clear to me whether it would be an issue if none of her milk feeds are in the day. I mean an issue for her health, because I don't mind .

The way I see it, her daytime snacks and water keep her from getting hungry and thirsty during the day but all the essential stuff from milk she still gets at night.

You're absolutely fine to just feed in the evening and at night. Lots of mums and babies find it works best that way for them.

In fact, lots of mums have no choice when faced with a baby who hates bottles. The human body is very clever at regulating feeds so that your baby will get what she needs.

Thank you, I think that's right too. Yes she hates bottles!