Help! How to feed my baby?

[Nige413]

Tomorrow i unexpectedly have to be away for the first time from my 9 month old baby girl. She’s exclusively breastfed. I’ll be away for 8-9 hours, meaning she will miss at least 2 feeds. She does have solids but still loves her milk.

• do I buy ready made formula/ follow on milk for my husband to give her? She’s never had it before so I worry how her tummy will respond to it.
• do I let him feed her extra solids
• another solution?

unfortunately I don’t have any expressed milk ready to go. Hate pumping so have always avoided it. Could try to pump in an hour or two but don’t think much will come out at this hour.

Your advise will be greatly appreciated. I’ll make sure to bring my pump with me tomorrow so I don’t get engorged.

many thanks

I will be away from 11:30. Will try to feed her then. She will miss her afternoon and bedtime feeds.

You say she’s EBF but has solids so realistically she isn’t EXCLUSIVELY breast fed anymore. Formula will be absolutely fine- it’s a literal breast milk substitute. If you’re worried about her tummy then buy some ready to feed as it’s gentler on the tummy. But I assume you give her cows milk in food now anyway, so if she’s fine with that she’ll be fine with formula now.

She might not take it if she's never had it before, she'll be ok with solids and water and may just make up for the missed feeds overnight. Will you be able to hand express whilst you're away from her otherwise you're going to get quite uncomfortable and risk blocked ducts/mastitis.

@Nodlikeyouwerelistening thank you. She’s had tiny amounts of cows milk in her porridge and yoghurt for example. Might give the pre-made formula.

@EdithGrantham thanks for your quick reply too. No, I do worry about this. We will have to find out I guess. Hopefully she’ll take it from her cup. I’ll bring my pump and will dispose the milk whilst away.

Good luck!

As a one off at this age I’d just give loads of extra solids, make up ready brek with formula etc. Lots of super filling replacement type meals. I wouldn’t start faffing with milk feeds, it’s likely to be a waste of time.

I left both my EBF babies (no bottles/expressed milk/formula ever) for a day or so at this age and they were fine with food and water. Over bedtime would have been difficult and I didn’t try that till later, but she should be fine with just solids and water for that time, give her a good feed before you go and be prepared for a mega feed when you return!

She doesn't need formula. Food and water will be enough