BLW, BF, FF?!

[MyBalletShoes]

Am looking for advice on the whole weaning process!

21 week old DS is EBF and I'm looking to start weaning from 6 months onwards. We're hoping to do BLW and take it as slowly or as fast as he needs/wants.

I have to return to work when he is 7.5 months but only for 7 weeks. Then I'll be off again.

The long term breastfeeding plan is/was to gradually increase the food, reduce the BF and eventually just BF morning, night and during the night - although I hope the frequency of his night feeds slows down as he gets older! . I really don't want the partial return to work to scupper this!

But my main question is - what do I do about his milk feeds during the day when I go back to work? Will he be eating enough food by then? Will he manage from 7:30 ish until 4:30 ish with just food and water and then make up for the milk in the evening and at night? Am by no means against formula so could I leave him with some bottles of formula during the day - don't think I can express enough to leave expressed breast milk for him.

Am not hugely worried about my supply as on the (extremely rare) occasions when he's done a long sleep at night there has been no problem the next day. Same too on the (again extremely rare!) occasions when I've left him, there hasn't been a problem. But then again this is for a much long period of time so perhaps I should consider that side of things.

So, I guess I'm just looking for advice and to hear what other ladies have done in similar situations. Or can someone tell me it's too far away to worry about and I should just see where we are on the BLW route closer to the time? Thanks!

I think at 7.5 months he will need at least one milk feed while you are at work still even if he feeds more in the evening/middle of night to make up for when you are apart. If you can't express at work, or can't express as much as he needs then it would be a good idea to leave formula. Obviously as the weaning process goes on, the amount of milk he has in the day will reduce and he will get through your working day with solids and water. But I don't think at 7.5 months a BLW baby will be taking in anywhere near enough milk to drop that much milk in the day. For most of them it is more like 8 or 9 months before they really "get" solids and consume a significant amount.

As for your supply, at this stage your body will adjust to the change in demand and you should be able to carry on breastfeeding when you are at home for as long as you want to.

Thanks KatandKit.

Looks like leaving bottles of formula and/or as much breast milk as I can will be the way to go!

Have no experience of this as am yet to return to work but my little one is 8months am being led by him on how much food he wants and he hasn't dropped any of his milk feeds yet. So I would be prepared for needing an alternative but all babies are different so who knows.

Thanks mamapants. That's the problem really. Thought we'd have plenty time to do the BLW but an earlier return to work has got in the way! Still, I can leave plenty formula or my milk and just supplement this with food. And hope the weeks at work pass quickly! He'll be in nursery for a couple days a week so just hoping they understand BLW and let him get on with it!

On another note, any tips for dealing with 'helpful' comments from people about how he should already be on solids?! Some people just can't understand (or respect?!) that we're leaving it till 6 months. Anyone would think we're starving him based on some of the comments we've had!

Tell them you are just doing what your doctor and health visitor have recommended. even if that is not actually true, 6 months is the official NHS guideline.

Have tried! Our mantra is 'we're following current guidelines'. But nope, they know better.

Guess its a case of biting my tongue for the next 5 weeks or so ... heaven forbid we don't start bang on 6 months!

My 7.5 mo DS is blw and isn't taking much solid food at all, and is as much of a boob monster as ever.

I've ended up lying when people ask me if he's on three meals a day yet....

Perhaps that's the way forward flipflops

It's each to their own but I just don't understand the rush!

I could have written this exact post - are you a teacher too by any chance? I too am going to work just for 7 weeks except lo will be 8.5 months at the time and been wondering exact same thing about supply what to leave, reading with interest! thanks :)

Indeed I am shop1909! Fingers crossed it will go well for the both of us!

To add a question to this, 2weeks in BLW with my ds is going really well but I was wondering if for the 7 weeks I'm going back to work whether to not always give him food at lunch just to make it easier for family looking after him. Will he 'miss' a meal a day at this stage? He'll be 8.5 months when I leave him but then will be a sahm after the 7 weeks are up.

I'm in the same situation so interested to hear responses.

Does it make a difference if we do a mix of puree and BLW?

DD will be 8 months, will she take a cup by then? We have never given a bottle and don't really want to (no idea why!) but will have to think about getting her used to one if she is going to need it.

My son has only taken a bottle once, simply as on the other occasions I've left him for 3-4 hours+ he didn't want a feed while I've been gone. When we started blw I've offered him a sippy cup with water in after each meal and it's amazing how quickly he's picked up drinking from it already, needs some help holding it but picks it up and guides it to his mouth and swallows some, so I'm hoping by time I leave him he'll have cracked it and have the 2/3 feeds I'll miss using that rather than bottle. From his past record I wonder if he may just up his allowance when I'm around though and maybe only take 1 feed.