advice please on what to do when 1yo goes to nursery

[IHeartIona]

I'm going back to work in 2 months. DD is currently 10 mo and bf's 4-5 times a day (and twice at night).
I have read a bit on here and have read that some babies are down to 3 feeds by 1 and some mums don't send ebm to nursery/childminder, instead bf'ing morning, on pickup and evening. I;m not sure if dd will be down to 3 bf's by then so am thinking of starting offering her a bottle or beaker of ebm now during the day to get her used to it. Not sure how successful this will be!!
If I express for her when she is 1, do I still have to sterilise pump, beaker etc?
Does anyone have any advice on whether it is worth expressing and offering bottles etc please?
She does like yogurt, cheese etc, and I am not sure if she actually needs to have milk once she is one?
Loads of questions basically - any tips welcome!

DS has always been less worried about BM when away from me, so personally I wouldn't bother. Even if she BF when she is with you she'll probably happily go without BM and you can just offer cows milk if you want. She'll get quite a bit of milk from just 2/3 feeds a day if she wants.

I only work part time and DS (nearly 1) dropped his day feeds entirely for about 3 weeks - over Xmas when I was around a lot (but DH helped with naps by walking him in the sling). Got ill last week now he's back to 2 during the day time - but he seemed quite happy either way - and won't take cow's milk

thanks Chairmum that is interesting to hear

I think in your situation and with your DD being just 1 when she starts I would aim to try and send in expressed milk for one feed.

It's probably easier to start off this way in terms of logistics - you can always stop after a bit.

Nicer for her if she is sued to feeding quite often.
My DS1 was only down to 2 feeds a day at around 14 months and DS2 is only now down to 2 feeds ar 20 months, so babies do vary.

I really wouldn't worry about sterilisng bottles/pump at this age, just do a very hot wash or bung them in the dishwasher.

Also I wouldnt bother ezxpressing and offering bottles/cups now.
Just wait until she starts and send in ebm.
At age 1 prob easier/better to rely in cups not bottles. Think b-fed babies often prefer to drink from cups anyway (IME this is certainly the case).

thanks for your comments Pannacotta and Starlight - any other advice/experiences pls anyone?

My DD went to nursery for 3 full days at 10 mo (full time at 15 mo). She is BF and was still feeding quite often through the day. I expressed (at work) to start with and sent in about 2 oz EBM to nursery. She didn't drink much of it so I stopped bothering once I felt comfortable enough to stop expressing at work.

She is 22 mo now. I BF her at nursery when we get there. She drinks water from a beaker through the day, and has breakfast, dinner and tea there, then she comes home and BF through the evening and night. (she isn't down to just 3 BF now!!)

Hi, I was in a similar situation a few months back.

My (exclusively breastfed) dd started nursery 2 day/week at 10mo, when she was still nursing at least 5x day! I was very stressed about how it would work. I spoke to a bfc, who assured me that she would get enough milk with me in the mornings and evenings. I was skeptical, but it really was fine.

At first I sent her in with ebm. 2-4oz depending on how much I expressed, which she would drink from a beaker. The last few weeks I haven't even bothered; she is eating so much and drinks water all day.

She's still bfing on demand, 4-5x, on non-nursery days (I'm going for 'natural term'). But on nursery days she's fine with morning and evenings only. I think what others have said is really it: at this age when you are not around they are less concerned with bfing. Out of sight, out of mind!

My advice (from my limited experience):

• Use a beaker, not a bottle. If she isn't already using a beaker, introduce one with water.
• Don't bother with giving her ebm now. It'll be fine when she starts.
• BUT if you are not expressing now, remember it takes a while to get used to it. So, plan to start a few days before you need the ebm.
• Sterilising isn't such an issue. Hot water and a good clean is enough.

You'll be surprised how their behaviour evolves with nursery. Things that seem unimaginable will become plausible once they start. For example, my dd is a terrible napper at home, but when she's there she lies down and goes to sleep on cue with all the other little ones. Very sweet. Wish she would do it with me too!

Best of luck

thanks catweazle and almama - your experiences are really helpful!

almama, that is great to hear that a bfc assured you your dd would get enough milk morning and evening, that is really comforting to know.
I use a tommee tippee first cup for her water with her meals so she is used to that luckily.
will plan to do some expressing at work at least to start with and ask about this when I meet my director to discuss my return to work (there isn;t really anywhere I could use!).
that's great your dd naps well at nursery, that was another thing I am worrying about as my dd is an awful napper too...
thanks for wishing me luck, it is daunting to think about leaving them isn't it.
cheers

I went back to work when my DS was 1. I bf him morning and before bed and he had rice milk during the day at nursery (dairy allergic). It was fine.

I had worked to try and get him used to the 2 feeds a day with a cup of rice milk during the day for a month or so before he went to nursery.