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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breastfed baby screams all day at nursery

40 replies

BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:15

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on how to make my dd2 more content at nursery.
This is her third week there, she goes 3 days for about 5 hours and the other 2 days she is looked after by family.
When shes with my family they tend to either drive round with her or take her for a walk so she sleeps all day but its nursery thats a problem.
She refuses a bottle off anyone but me. I bought her the ones that are meant to be the shape of a breast but she'll still only have one off me.
Nursery suggested today that from tomorrow they should start giving her some solids which I have agreed with.
I can't stand to think of her upset all day. The nursery are been good about it, most days they resort to feeding her milk off a spoon.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

OP posts:
emkana · 27/02/2007 15:16

how old is she?

ScottishThistle · 27/02/2007 15:17

How old is your ds2?

compo · 27/02/2007 15:17

Is there anyway you can cut back your hours so she doesn't need to go at all?

JodieG1 · 27/02/2007 15:17

I wouldn't give solids until at least 6 months. Why are they suggesting this? The milk off a spoon is good for a breastfed baby, can be easier than using bottles.

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:18

shes 25 weeks

OP posts:
PrisonerCellBlockAitch · 27/02/2007 15:19

close enough, i'd say... i can understand the nursery's position.

CanSleepWeirdShifts · 27/02/2007 15:20

They could use a medicine syringe too - they can hold about 10-15ml at a time.

Agree that solids shouldn't be given unless she's 6 months (or very nearly).

Are you leaving EBM for the bottles?

madmarchhare · 27/02/2007 15:20

When she is with your family she sleeps all day?

CanSleepWeirdShifts · 27/02/2007 15:20

Ah, cross posted - seems a reasonable idea at that age.

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:20

I can't really cut my hours. I decided to work eveyday so I wouldn't be away from her for too long.
The nursery have tried really hard with her but it can't carry on for too long because of the other babies.

OP posts:
hairymclary · 27/02/2007 15:20

This is probably no help at all, but if it were me I would seriuously consider leaving work.
I couldn't bear the thought of ds at 25 weeks crying all day.

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:22

I feed her in the morning and she usually sleeps for about 2.5 hours. They struggle for a bit with a bottle and then she usually falls asleep again soon after

OP posts:
JodieG1 · 27/02/2007 15:22

Why are they suggesting solids though? At that age the tiny amount they eat won't make any difference and she will lost out on the calories from the milk that she needs. The food won't really help imo. It's often better to wait longer than 6 months as well.

Agree with HM, I wouldn't be able to bear that either.

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:23

I did think about leaving but we really need the money.

OP posts:
madmarchhare · 27/02/2007 15:23

So whats the full routine?

HaggisSupper · 27/02/2007 15:23

Some people don't have the luxury of not going back though. I'm going back to work in 5 weeks because I have to. I'm not looking forward to it but needs must.

hairymclary · 27/02/2007 15:26

I know, I don't know what i'd have done if i'd had to go back to work after I had ds.
He's over 2 now and I only just feel like I'm happy leaving him at a nursery lol

do you work near the nursery at all? i know it isn't ideal, but i'm just wondering if you couldn't pop over and feed her during your lunch break or something?

ScottishThistle · 27/02/2007 15:26

Do you think it would help if the nursery staff had a muslin which had Mummy's smell?

To be honest I'm not a lover of Nursery for Babies as they don't get enough 1-1 or get out as much as they should.

Perhaps you could look for a Childminder in your area?

kiskidee · 27/02/2007 15:28

if she has to have milk off a spoon then i think they should take the time to do that. in time, she will learn to trust them and accept milk maybe from a cup. have you seen/heard of the doidy cup? also, if she needs lots and lots of cuddles to reassure her and to build her trust in them so that she can move on to the next stage then so be it. this is traumatic for you baby and whatever it takes to make her more settled there, then so be it. maybe a pouchsling for her main carer? it is all about them learning too.

at my dd's nursery, i have watched kids (over a year old) start and need constant carrying before they slowly accepted that this is normal. i also watch them cuddle babies to sleep who have been there for ages as that is what the baby / toddler is used to.

funnypeculiar · 27/02/2007 15:29

Does she really, really scream all day, or just it just feel like that?
DD started at a childminder slightly older than your dd - it took her ages to settle. I was lucky as I am self employed, so just eased off work and took things slowly - but even so it took a good 2 mths for her to be reasonably settled ... & she still refuses to drink more that 2-3 oz milk on her c/m days (she's now 11 mths) She tanks up either side of the day (& I only work 2 days). With my dd is was totally separation anxiety - she's a very very attached babe Me & c/m treid varioous things, but none of them are relly realistic with a nursery... sorry!
I suspect the introducing food thing might also make you feel better (it helped me with dd) - just b/cos I felt she was having something rather than nothing.
Sorry, not sure if that's much help.
I should say dd now grins hugely as we go up to the c/m house ... although she ALWAYS cries when I leave her still...

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:29

I wake her about half 7, get her and dd1 ready and give her a breastfeed at 8:15.
Off to nursery/Grans and shes usually dropped off in the car and will sleep for 2 hours. If she doesn't go to sleep then shes terrible.
They try and feed her when she wakes up but never any luck and she'll cry herself to sleep at 12ish.
Another hours sleep and I pick them up at 2:15ish.
When we get home theres no routine, shes breastfed on demand. This maybe the problem.

OP posts:
funnypeculiar · 27/02/2007 15:30

god, appalling spelling, sorry!

madmarchhare · 27/02/2007 15:33

So between 7.30 and 2.15ish, there can often be only one breastfeed.

I agree that solids may be the way to go.

hairymclary · 27/02/2007 15:34

i don't think the problem is a lack of routine at home. bf on demand is good.
could you bf her when you get to nursery just so that it's a little bit more time til she needs it again?

Original poster
BornToBeAPrincess · 27/02/2007 15:34

Her main carer is a family friend who did start off carrying her in a sling but they thought she prefered to see what was going on.
I think shes crying because shes hungry. She seems to like been there if shes full and still awake from her morning feed.
I'd love to pop out and feed her but don't think my boss would approve, might ask him though!

OP posts:
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