Leaving breastfed toddler overnight

[SisterA]

I've been having a rough return to work after maternity leave and there's a new job potential on the horizon. The only drawback would be the occasional required night away, would t be frequent and wouldn't be prolonged - maybe one or two nights at a time.

DS has just turned 1 and is breastfed a lot through the night & wakes frequently. We've never spent a night apart and he doesn't take a bottle. A cuddle from me is comfort enough most of the time but he does scream when it's anyone but me through the night, even if he isn't having a feed and just needs to be held.

He does 3 full days at nursery soon to be full time in the new year and manages totally fine without me with food and water out of a cup. I've never left expressed milk for him.

The new job likely wouldn't start until the new year and so realistically DS may be around 13 months at the earliest for a night away but does anyone have any experience of leaving their breastfed toddlers for a night or 2 when they still wake frequently or is this just out of the question for me for now?

Your DS will be different with carer overnight if he knows you are not there as an option. DS screams bloody murder if DH goes through even though not still BF if he thinks/ knows I'm home but is fine (if not better than for me if I am away)

You will almost certainly need to express for comfort even if only to pump and dump

Thanks @Harrysmummy246 for your reply! I would pump for relief... will need to purchase a pump!

You're right, I have noticed he even goes to bed better when I'm not in the house.

I'm assuming/hoping my supply won't suffer too badly from the odd night or 2 away and also hoping it won't adversely affect DS/our bf relationship but I guess that parts up to him & time will tell.

TBH it's still an unknown as to whether this job will even materialise, I was just curious to know if anyone spends any time away from their bf children overnight and still manage to continue to breastfeed longer term. But it's all personal I suppose and everyone's different!

You might find hand expressing does enough

And it rarely ends a bf relationship afaik