Leaving breastfed baby for weekend

[Fupoffyagrasshole]

Been invited to a cousins wedding in Ireland

it happens next year when my baby boy is 11months old

plan was for me to go alone and husband stay here in London with the kids (it’s a child free wedding and we can’t really afford to fly us all back anyway at the moment)

he’s 6 months now and exclusively breastfed and a bottle refuser!

can I realistically leave him for say 3 nights while I go when he’s 11 months or is it just not going to be possible.

My daughter is 3 and was bottle refuser too and I don’t think I would have even considered going when she was 11 months old

however as he’s my second I’m a bit more chill about these things - but I’m having second thoughts now - i can’t really picture how things will be in 5 months time and I’d be so far away and couldn’t easily come back if it was a disaster

so I just need to decline or do you think I could go ?

I honestly couldn't even contemplate leaving him for even a night. He's up multiple times in the night wanting milk

Mine was the same, until I left for the weekend. He was fine and slept through the night ever since.

im thinking maybe I can try hold off a bit longer to confirm and book things! Maybe try leave him a bit more over the coming months see how he gets on! He only started weaning last week so it’s early days yet! And see if I’m feeling more confident that he’ll manage without me !

I’ve also a few nights out planned in lead up to Christmas so will see how husband manages getting him to bed without me :)

Usually I'd guess a mix of both. As I said, he has CMPA, reflux, is teething, separation anxiety age, nursery colds non-stop so coughing himself awake. I totally get that it's likely more for comfort than nutrition.

But he's a baby. It being 'just for comfort' doesn't mean he doesn't need it. Breastfeeding is what comforts him, and I chose to bring this baby into the world. There are few things I'd consider 'important enough' to leave him. A family wedding where the couple getting married are distant enough not to invite the baby isn't one. Not for 3 days.

I think it would be possible as by 11 months he would be eating food and would manage with that alone, no need for bottles, however it would more than likely be the end of your breastfeeding journey, and it may be quite upsetting to him to be weaned so abruptly and also uncomfortable for you, risking mastitis etc.

By 11 months he'd only need 400 mo of formula a day anyway. If you're having some success with a bottle already I'd make one bottle a day at the same time a regular thing, then in a few weeks introduce another.

You can either fully wean before you go by intruding a new bottle every two weeks or so or just have him regularly take a bottle each day and pump for comfort whilst you're there.

They're breastfed

No it’s not ! He would be with his dad.

* They're breastfed

And I was taking about how she'd cope being away for a weekend.

Thanks all!! I’ve thought about it all weekend ! I think il just bow out of this one !

I’ve been pretty busy and stressed out lately as it is and having to add another thing to my load (getting him to take a bottle & having to get a pump and be doing that at the weekend away) I’m already feeling stressed about it all

on top of that I’m due back at work the week before the wedding so it’s a lot on all at once

i need to confirm my air bnb with my sister by tomorrow and flights are only going to get more expensive as time goes by so if I was going I’d want to be booking asap.

ive already had mastitis twice and I don’t want that happening again !

it’s a shame as it’s probably the last big family wedding we have that side of the family !

but there’ll be other parties and weekends away I can another time I’m sure 😬

on top of that I’m due back at work the week before the wedding so it’s a lot on all at once

Have you got a plan for BFing and going back to work?

I think no bits something to give consideration to, especially if you've already had Mastitis. A BFC on one of the BFing Helpliness* should be able to help you come up with a plan to reduce your risk

@TinyMouseTheatre

not really got a plan yet but I only work 8-4 4 days a week so with my daughter I used to only feed her first thing in the morning and then at pick up and before bed by the time she was at nursery at 10 months - so the hours I was away from her while at work was fine ! So hoping it will be a similar situation this time round!!

Sounds good. You can always give one of the Helplies a call nearer the time if things aren't going quite to plan

Yes @TinyMouseTheatre tjete is actually a very lovely breastfeeding group that meets in a cafe around my area on a Friday as well so might pop in there again closer the time ! Always found it very helpful in the early days

I would say to go with your gut feeling. Anything can be sorted and made possible if you really want it to. If you think you'll have a stress free time and relax, then it's worth it and your baby will be ok with dad!

Why??

My daughter is almost eight months, and she was a bottle refuser until this week! Now she has two bottles per day, so she’s all prepared for nursery. Feel free to message me and I can give you some tips if you need them 🤍

Wouldn't have worked for mine at that age. It would have just made me stressed and miserable.

I’ve managed a few nights out and mornings away from him in the last few weeks since I posted - he will have a bit of a bottle for my husband but not much like a few ounces and he loses interest

he has started to eat a bit now which js making it easier to leave as husband can at least offer him food

but realistically leaving the country for a few days doesn’t sit right with me as there’s no way I can just come back if he’s really struggling without me !

ive gotten Glastonbury tickets (woo) so il work towards that as my few days away from him in the summer - hel be over a year old then !

the wedding has just fallen at that awkward time where he’s on the cusp of possibly being able to be left but he Might still need me !!

Don't worry about him taking just a few floz.

BF babies typically take one floz ounce per hour. So even if he takes just two Floz at a feed, he shouldn't need feeding again for a couple of hours.

BF babies just don't need the huge quantities of milk like a FF baby would.

I'm glad that DH has had some time alone either him and that you e had a break

I'd decline personally, I could do a day but not three nights away.