12 month old BF constantly - how to transition to nursery?

[Jackinthebox89]

My 12 month old is a boob monster. Still breastfeeds every 2-3 hours during the day. He starts nursery next month and I’m panicking about him starving. He has CMPA (and soy allergy) but I have started to try introducing oat milk as a drink. He’s not a huge fan but will take some every now and again, if I catch him in the right mood. He’s also not the best with solids. Some days barely eats anything - probably because he has too much boob 🙈 I’ve always struggled to express much milk so I don’t know how sustainable me pumping and sending him in with BM will be but he will drink BM from a bottle.

Anyone have any advice or shared experience?

First don't panic.

At 12 months he doesn't 'need' the milk. He likes the milk and you're there and it's working for you.

At nursery, you're not there. The bar is closed. He will be around other babies eating solids and likely he will follow the herd. He will also be fine just having solids and water.

When he's back with you he can have some milk. Likely he will naturally drop some of his feeds this way too.

You can feed him on demand when you're together if you want. Your supply will regulate.

I had the same but my son was 6 months old, I'd been trying from 4 months old to get him to take a bottle but he wouldn't, I tried them all! There's no need to worry as he'll get liquids through foods and may take some milk from one of the nursery nurses. My son would just feed before and after nursery and my supply adapted really well, in fact he continued breast feeding until he was nearly 3!

He’ll do settling in session so won’t go straight to long days and hopefully you’re worrying about nothing. When he sees the other babies all having a snack together and milk isn’t an option because you’re not there then there’s a very good chance he’ll follow suit. Then he’ll build up to staying for lunch, then afternoon snack. He can breast feed before and after. I personally wouldn’t send a bottle for an over 1 unless that’s the only way he’s likely to go down for a nap. At that age you’re supposed to be cutting out bottles as they’re bad for teeth, not adding them in to the routine.

He doesn't need that much milk now so he will just adapt at nursery. You won't be there and there's loads of new toys and children eating he can copy. He can still feed after breakfast and bedtine. Both mine still breastfed lots when they started childcare but they settled quickly. One wouldn't drink alternative milk (still won't) the other loved it.