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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Formula for 36 hours only?

18 replies

PurpleCurtain · 31/10/2021 00:54

We're going abroad to a wedding next year when DS will be 9 months. The celebrations start with a meal and drinks on the Friday night, and go all through the Saturday, and I'm a bridesmaid and DH a groomsman.

I currently ebf but undecided about our longer term plan.

My dress was chosen before I was pregnant - it's not the slightest bit breastfeeding friendly. We also have family members coming away with us staying in a hotel room nearby so if all goes to plan they could potentially look after DS for part of the wedding (e.g. both the Fri and Sat evenings) so that we could both have a few drinks.

I'm dreading the idea of having to organise bottles, formula, sterilising equipment for travel / not sure if our accommodation give s us somewhere easy and hygienic to sort feeding stuff.... so I was wondering if it would work to just give DS those ready made bottles of formula milk for most of the 36 hours around the wedding, and breastfeed him the rest of the trip (we're away for a week). I could take a manual pump to express for comfort during those 36 hours (that I could just wipe down given I'm not using the milk). I was hoping that 36 hours worth of formula was viable for me to pack in our case. Is this a terrible idea?

OP posts:

PanicBuyingSprouts · 31/10/2021 08:47

How old is LO now?

Fallagain · 31/10/2021 10:39

Have they taken formula before? In a different environment they may need bf for comfort as well as more watery bf to compensate for the heat (assuming your going somewhere warm). I would be wary of not bf and using a pump for 36 hours if your not already doing so as much as a pump isnt as effective and you will be more likely to get blocked ducts and mastitis.

Original poster

PurpleCurtain · 31/10/2021 12:00

He's 4 months now and no not had any formula yet. We're just going to Italy so it probably won't be that warm. When we first knew about baby and wedding I assumed we would switch to formula by 6 months if not sooner but it's actually going well and we're enjoying it so I'm not so sure anymore, particularly because I find sterilising such a pain.

OP posts:

BrokenLink · 31/10/2021 12:22

At 9 months your baby will possibly be eating three solid meals a day. You probably will not need to supplement any formula. Lots of breastfed 9 month olds only breastfeed twice a day, first thing in the morning and before bed.

Original poster

PurpleCurtain · 31/10/2021 12:39

@BrokenLink

Ooh this would be perfect if this is the case, both for this and generally for any days I go back to work before he's 1! At what stage could we try and get him into this kind of routine/ would we get an inkling of whether this will work with him? If "before bed" was a feed about 7pm and I find somewhere to change out of the restrictive bridesmaid dress and feed him, and then family could come pick him up from the wedding and take him to bed (I guess maybe with a single emergency bottle of pre made formula in case?) that would be fantastic. I would only have a couple of drinks anyway ie think I'd be fine to feed in the morning.

OP posts:

Fallagain · 31/10/2021 16:16

@BrokenLink

At 9 months a baby should be having more milk than this.

TooMinty · 31/10/2021 16:30

At 9 months, my babies breastfed 4 times a day at least, plus had 3 solid meals. But at regular times, not on demand like a newborn so you can probably still manage it. It would have been first thing in the morning, morning nap time, afternoon nap time and before bed.

PrimeraVez · 31/10/2021 16:40

Can you give him expressed milk rather than formula? Can you pump when you first arrive in Italy and store it somewhere? I would think he’s more likely to take breast milk than formula if he hasn’t had formula before.

Miliao · 31/10/2021 16:42

I did this. Was very easy to do as bottles stay sterilised for 24-48hrs depending on the ones you get. Just got those cartons of ready made and they were fine. Also meant we could both do a feed. I did get them used to bottles before though as my partner would do a couple of feeds of expressed a day (which was great, meant I could have a bit of time to myself!).

Miliao · 31/10/2021 16:43

Mine had no problem switching between breast/bottle/formula, but we did start them early. As long as you get them used to a bottle, I don’t think they care about formula or breast milk - I couldn’t tell the difference!

DockOTheBay · 31/10/2021 16:46

@BrokenLink

Really depends on the baby though. Mine still has a fair amount of milk during the day and she's 18 months, at 9 months she wouldn't have gone all day without any milk as she was hardly eating any solids. And she would never take formula or expressed milk from a bottle.

I do think you need to start introducing a bottle now if you want him to take one alongside breastfeeding.

Notwhatweagreed · 31/10/2021 16:49

At 9m with my bf babies they were eating /drinking and bf on a good schedule
A bf on waking then porridge for breakfast
Mid morning bf before nap
Lunch
Mid aft bf for nap
Snack after nap
Dinner
Bf before bed

Occasionally waking once at night but mostly sleeping through. Friend s babies pretty much the same so I really wouldn’t worry

Notwhatweagreed · 31/10/2021 16:51

If we ever gave milk the free flow cups were better accepted by miles so worth trying x

whatswithtodaytoday · 31/10/2021 16:52

You'll need to start introducing a bottle now. Why don't you use expressed milk rather than formula? At least then you'll know he'll be ok with the milk.

Or you could start formula bottles now, with a view to reducing your breastfeeding and getting a bit of freedom.

Original poster

PurpleCurtain · 31/10/2021 18:55

He already takes bottles fine, probably has 6 a week when im out and about.

My whole concern is having the right equipment or environment when abroad to do washing and sterilising. I hate staying away from home and am a bit of a germaphobe so not sure how well I'll deal with having to wash up and sterilise pump equipment / bottles if the accommodation isn't very clean (will obviously try and find something suitable but you never really know til you get there)...hence was suggesting using the ready made, ready sterile bottles of formula when not breastfeeding.

Although perhaps I'll still have to face this washing and sterilising problem when feeding him solids on the rest of the trip anyway?! To be honest, I really really wish this wedding was in the UK! My family and friends' advice so far has just been "don't go" - I don't seem to know anyone who has taken an under 1 abroad.

OP posts:

Original poster

PurpleCurtain · 31/10/2021 18:56

@Notwhatweagreed

At 9m with my bf babies they were eating /drinking and bf on a good schedule A bf on waking then porridge for breakfast Mid morning bf before nap Lunch Mid aft bf for nap Snack after nap Dinner Bf before bed

Occasionally waking once at night but mostly sleeping through. Friend s babies pretty much the same so I really wouldn’t worry

What time was bed at this age?

I'd like to stick to ebf until 6 months if I can now that we're doing well, but open to introducing a bottle or more of formula after that.

OP posts:

Franca123 · 31/10/2021 19:14

We've not sterilised bottles for our 9 month old for bloody ages. Seems pointless with the amount of germs she comes into contact with through everyday life. They just get a good thorough clean. If we went to a wedding in a hotel now, we'd wash the bottles in the hotel sink using fairy liquid. Then use pre made formula. We did this for our son when he was about 3 months. Just for one night.

Franca123 · 31/10/2021 19:16

If you're particularly worried about the germs, pour boiling water from the kettle over the teats in a hotel mug.

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