Starting nursery, how did you go from breast to an alternative?

[Pac35]

My son is starting nursery next month. He has only ever had breastmilk. He will take EBM in a bottle

I had a fairly good freezer stash which has dwindled. I had hoped to pump more recently but I'm just not getting any milk any more (10 months)

He will be 11 months old and I think he'll have about a weeks worth of EBM.

Obviously he won't yet be 1 but he Will be close. I spoke to nursery today and they won't give cows milk as a drink before one (understandable).

I'm not against giving formula, but i am a bit wary of starting formula (will he take it? Will it give him an upset stomach? Finding the right brand, constipation etc) for just 3 weeks

Did anyone have any experience of starting formula late? Any recommendations? Tips? Or suggestions?

Thanks!

My eldest went to a childminder at 11 months and was ebf and wouldn’t take a bottle. I had tried in the weeks before she went to get her onto a formula bottle for her drink during the day with the childminder but no luck and she wouldn’t drink water from any type of sippy cup either so I was worried how she would manage. But she was totally fine taking nothing during the day and having lots of yoghurt and liquidy things to keep her going between morning and evening breastfeeds. And by then she was only having one feed during the day anyway. If your son takes a bottle and will accept formula then I wouldn’t worry about him having it or it upsetting his stomach. And you can switch to cows milk a month after he starts anyway. But if he’s not keen then try not to worry, you can feed him when you collect him. Our childminder tried a range of cups and finally found one our daughter was happy to drink water from so then I knew she was getting enough liquid during the day.

DD would barely take milk other than breastfed, by any method or source. I left her with some expressed milk every day, knowing she wouldn't really take much. They fed her solids and she made up for it by cluster feeding in the evenings and mornings when she was with me.

It depends a bit how long the days at nursery are, and how many days a week, but by 11 months he may well just not take milk at all at nursery, or very little. They will give him water and solids, and you can leave some formula for him - but don't stress if he doesn't take it.

I just sent lots of dairy food (yoghurt, cheese, rice pudding). Fed before nursery, as soon as I collected him (6pm in the car) and at bed time and once in night. It was for a few months and on my days off he made up for it. Did try formula but didn't like it so I decided instead of having this battle I'd wait till was older and just gave cows milk.

That's really helpful. I hadn't considered that he might not take any milk at all. He eats well and does take water when offered so I guess he'll get his nutrients and hydration from food and water.

Thank you 😊