Need Advice: Daytime Weaning for a 1-Year-Old

GregariousMum · 2026-01-20T10:45:56+00:00

My DD is turning 1 this week and is currently breastfeeding. In about 1.5 months, I’ll be returning to work, and my DH will be taking care of her during the day. Because of this, I need to start weaning her off breastfeeding *during the daytime*. I’m feeling quite lost about how to begin. She usually falls asleep while feeding, which makes it even harder to figure out the next steps. I’m unsure whether I should introduce a bottle—my pediatrician has advised against it, but I’d love to hear real-life experiences. For those who have been through this: How did you wean your baby off daytime feeds? What worked (or didn’t work) for you? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Peonies12 · 20/01/2026 10:51

I didn’t wean off day feeds before nursery (she was 11 months), and you don’t need to, unless you want to. For me I wanted her to have the consistency of feeds on non working days. Definitely don’t introduce a bottle, they can drink cows milk from whatever cup they drink water from, if they want that, or just eat food / have water whilst you’re away.
It doesn’t matter that she falls asleep feeding - your DH will find ways to enable sleep. I suggest building up before going back to work, for all your benefit - so start having a few hours away, half a day etc. I never pumped as I didn’t get uncomfortable. I still fed a few times a day on non working days, and at night. Now shes 15 months I have cut down to a breakfast and bedtime feed, this was made much easier by her being used to no feeds on my work days.

tarheelbaby · 20/01/2026 11:03

I'd increase her rations during the day: more food at each meal if she wants it and 'food' snacks + water/cow's milk/formula rather than BF during the day.

That said, as I remember it, by the time DDs were 12mos, they were only BF at bedtime and not at all during the day or overnight. From 10mos, they went to CM on days I worked and managed fine without BF. I have no idea how CM lulled them to sleep without BF but she did somehow. Buggy rides are often soporific.

Jrisix · 20/01/2026 11:34

I had the same situation with my first. I wouldn't bother trying to introduce a bottle at this age. I just said no and offered food/water/her dummy if she wanted to breastfeed. She dropped a few centiles although that could have been because she started walking at the same time, either way the doctor just said to give her lots of calorie dense meals and snacks, she was back on track with weight very soon after.

Original poster

GregariousMum · 20/01/2026 14:04

Peonies12 · 20/01/2026 10:51

I didn’t wean off day feeds before nursery (she was 11 months), and you don’t need to, unless you want to. For me I wanted her to have the consistency of feeds on non working days. Definitely don’t introduce a bottle, they can drink cows milk from whatever cup they drink water from, if they want that, or just eat food / have water whilst you’re away.
It doesn’t matter that she falls asleep feeding - your DH will find ways to enable sleep. I suggest building up before going back to work, for all your benefit - so start having a few hours away, half a day etc. I never pumped as I didn’t get uncomfortable. I still fed a few times a day on non working days, and at night. Now shes 15 months I have cut down to a breakfast and bedtime feed, this was made much easier by her being used to no feeds on my work days.

Thanks a lot. Thats the best advice or may be thats what I wanted to hear. I really hope I don’t have to stop my BF journey because of my job and manage to continue feeding her during my days off.

OP posts:

SleafordSods · 23/01/2026 17:27

I didn’t stop feeds during the day either. If you have regular hours you can still feed before or after breakfast if you want to, when you get home and before bed.

DH can offer her a cup of cow’s milk with her lunch, change her nappy and take her out for a walk in the buggy of she won’t settle without a feed.

Your supply will be well established so you can feed her wheb you want to on your days off. My DC quickly got used to it being available if I was there and drinking cow’s milk from a cup if I wasn’t.

schoolrundashsprint · 23/01/2026 17:34

No need to wean her off unless you want to. I went back to work part time from when both of mine were a year old. I carried on feeding to sleep for naps on my non-working days but on my working days they learnt to nap without feeding to sleep. My mum had them and would either take them for a walk to sleep or cuddled them to sleep after some stories then put them in the cot. They both tansitioned fine to the change. I would feed in the morning, on my return from work and bedtime. My supply was so established that the change in routine wasn't a problem. I fed the first for 2 years, the second for 2 and a half. Your little one will be fine.

Original poster

GregariousMum · 23/01/2026 21:25

schoolrundashsprint · 23/01/2026 17:34

No need to wean her off unless you want to. I went back to work part time from when both of mine were a year old. I carried on feeding to sleep for naps on my non-working days but on my working days they learnt to nap without feeding to sleep. My mum had them and would either take them for a walk to sleep or cuddled them to sleep after some stories then put them in the cot. They both tansitioned fine to the change. I would feed in the morning, on my return from work and bedtime. My supply was so established that the change in routine wasn't a problem. I fed the first for 2 years, the second for 2 and a half. Your little one will be fine.

Thank you. That’s reassuring. :)

OP posts: