Transition from maternity leave to childminder

[cornflakes5]

My daughter is 10 months and I'm going back to work in April. She will be going to a childminder, who also looks after a handful of other children.

Whilst my daughter eats two meals a day, she is still breastfeeding 4-5 times during the day and a few times during the night. She's quite fussy with food, and doesn't eat enough solids to do without milk. She also refuses to take milk from a bottle.

I'm a bit worried about what she will do when I go back to work. I will continue to give her a feed in the morning and at night, but will she go hungry during the day? Should I start cutting down the breastfeeds now to help her transition?

Any advice would be much appreciated. I'd be grateful too for any other advice around transitioning after going back to work!

I cut down the feeds with mine so they were just having one in day and then tried to replace with a beaker of milk . Neither drank that much milk but ate fine at nursery /childminder .

Thank you. Were your little ones eating well? I'm worried about her not getting enough food/nutrition if I cut down on breastfeeds...

I was in the same position, it was all fine in the end. DC refused completely to take a bottle the first week or so but just ended up eating more food, eventually took a bottle and we continued it by getting DP to do the night feeds so I wasn’t as shattered.
I was so worried as my Ds wasn’t eating much food and was a complete boob monster but it was honestly fine. No advise though as nothing I tried actually worked until he started! Good luck

Thanks @Seaseasea did you then send your little one to the childminder with expressed milk? Or just cow's milk?

If breastfeeding during the day is not an option, she will either eat more (very likely) or "reverse cycle" (small possibility!). There's really no need to cut down breastfeeds in anticipation. Breastfed babies know the boob isn't an option when Mummy's not around and find their own way to adapt. If you'd like to express at work you can send expressed milk in a beaker - it's up to you.

Oh yes, reverse cycling... that happened, but only lasted a week or so. If it’s an option to send her for a few days before you go back to work that may help if you struggle with sleep deprivation.

I sent expressed milk but once he took it better switched to formula.

Oh my goodness, reverse cycling. The very thought is making me shudder. She's a terrible sleeper and I'm already worried about going back to work with so little sleep.

I'd prefer not to have to pump at work. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she just eats more to make up for it.

Can I ask - if I don't pump during the day Monday to Friday, will my body still produce milk at the weekend?

Mine did... I didn’t pump ever at work, worked 4 days a week and only BF morning and night at that time (our 8-6), but on my 3 days off he BF like normal, still bf now and he’s 15 months. (Returned when he was 9 months)
I stopped leaking and getting engorged but It didn’t seem to stop him being able to feed as normal when I was able too.