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Reassurance about leaving breastfed baby

9 replies

TsMummy2023 · 03/03/2024 22:16

Hi all, just looking for a bit of reassurance from mums who have been through this before. My little girl is almost 8 months old and is exclusively breastfed. She doesn’t eat much solids-wise, nibbled here and there, likes a rice cake snack, refuses to be spoon fed. She enjoys exploring finger food but doesn’t actually eat much of it. She drinks sips of water from her beaker. She’s never taken a bottle.
In June I’ve got tickets for Taylor Swift, it’s a big deal to me so I’m really determined to make it work. My concern is that I’m likely to be out of the house for 6 hours at least, and the longest she’s ever spent away from me is 2.5 hours during the day when my parents took her out for a walk and then did play time at their house. We co-sleep and she feeds to sleep each night and uses the boob for comfort and to stay asleep in the first part of the night. She will fall asleep for my husband and mum during the day in the carrier.

She’ll be 11 months at the time of the concert, so I guess what I’m asking is how much did your babies change between 8 and 11 months with the above? I don’t want to change what we do, it works so well for us and she sleeps 12 hours a night in my arms, but I really, really want to go to this concert and know that she’ll be OK. Anyone done similar and can offer any words of reassurance?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TsMummy2023 · 03/03/2024 22:21

I know worst case scenario will be that she is unsettled and doesn’t go to ‘bed’ until I get home and instead just naps in the carrier. I know so many women leave their babies earlier than this and don’t have a choice. I know that I’m being a bit of a pansy, but it’s really playing on my mind. I so badly want to be excited about this concert but I’m spending most of my time worrying about leaving her. My mum and husband are fantastic and she adores them, but I just worry about how it’ll go so any experiences are appreciated!

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 03/03/2024 22:21

Hi
i went back to work at 6 months I think I used to express but it wasn’t enough. So we mixed fed for a while until my son was ready for cows milk during the day. However, as soon as he saw me he’d bf like he hadn’t had food during the day. Think we did this for 6months until 13m. If it’s only a day id say that probably they’ll have some solids and then when they see you will bf if they’ve got any lack.

noodlesfortea · 03/03/2024 22:59

Congrats on the tickets!

How they beat changes massively from 8 to 11 months so I would try not to worry too much until much closer to the time.

Can you try out some other beakers to see if she'll drink more? Worst case scenario would she take water from the calpol syringe?

Does she eat yoghurt or cheese? Toast? Have you tried her on pouches? I know you're not supposed to let them suck on the pouches, but needs must sometimes.

If you can get some dairy and water into her I think she'll most probably be fine for that amount of time. You can always feed her when you get back.

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Overthebow · 03/03/2024 23:04

They change a lot in that time but you do need to do some prep work with her to get her ready if all she is used to is breastfeeding and cosleeping. If you express some milk she could drink it from a cup.

TenderChicken · 03/03/2024 23:12

They change a lot. I stopped breastfeeding mine at 11 months and 14 months, they were both eating almost exclusively solid food by then.

LizardOfOz · 03/03/2024 23:13

They change so much.
Anyway, like you say, the worst that'll happen is she'll still be up watching cartoons with Daddy/Grandma when you come home

Wirelessbird · 04/03/2024 08:05

they change a huge amount. I would try not to spend the next few months pushing bottles etc on her (unless that’s a thing you want to do anyway) or changing anything that currently works for you. At eight months I co-slept and by eleven months DD was in her own cot (as she got so mobile it became unsafe to leave her in the next to me). You’re also not being a pansy. I hated leaving my daughter but when I did I found that an NCT friend could get her to sleep in the carrier so whilst not a ‘normal’ night it was absolutely fine. She BF when I got home and went straight to sleep. You’ll feel anxious but there will be a moment when you’re there when you feel so amazing. Best of luck x

DimLlaeth · 04/03/2024 08:09

My sister in.law went back to work after 9 months. I looked after her baby, and she was the same. She just fed lots when mum was home, and ate more solids jn the day. By 11 months she will be fine!

InTheRainOnATrain · 04/03/2024 08:14

So she’ll almost 1 by then? Whilst lots of 8MOs aren’t eating much in way of solids, it’s really quite unusual for a nearly 1YO to not be eating properly, and probably most babies even if breastfed are in childcare so spending hours a day away from mum. And when they eat more, they then drink more water, she just doesn’t need it now because she’s still having a lot of breastmilk. Baby will be fine! Enjoy TS, I’m very jealous!

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