Planning return to work - EBF bottle refuser - tips anyone?

[Glitterspy]

Hi all, I'm hoping you might have some advice or tips...Basically my big worry is how to wean my EBF DD successfully so that by 8.5mo she will eat/ drink enough to keep her going during the day, when I'll be at work. It's really concerning me for some reason, as I'm worried she'll freak out emotionally and/ or starve!

I'm planning to return to work 3 days a week in mid October, DD will be looked after by childminder/ MIL from around 8am-6.30pm on those days.

At the moment we're EBF and she won't drink from bottles really, never has - just chews the teat (same with sippy cups - just chews the spout). Some milk/ water goes down, but most just soaks down her front. Tried loads of bottles, positions, warm/cool milk, etc etc and DH/ SIL feeding her too. Nothing doing.

We've recently begun weaning, started slightly early with agreement of HV. Currently on 2 meals a day (mashed fruit/ baby rice for breakfast, finger food veg/ fruit for lunch or tea) and things are going well, as soon as she's 6mo (in 10 days!) we'll be full steam ahead BLW.

I think we're both loving the BF so I want to hang onto early morning and late night BF for as long as milk supply allows - but will this "confuse" her? And how can I help her start accepting proper milk feeds from the bottle or the sippy cup? Or can she do without milk feeds in the day by that age if she's feeding in the morning and at night?

So grateful for any help or advice you can offer, as I'm panicking I've got time as it stands to plan and approach this rationally.

It's hard with a bottle refuser but it does get easier as they get a bit older and understand what to do with a cup.

Ds2 (now 15mo) has always refused bottles, he's still ebf now and will happily take milk in a sippy cup. I work 3 days and at nursery he takes milk in a sippy cup, I bf him am/pm (and through the night - not so good ) on those days and additionally once/twice in the day on the days I don't work.

What I did was to give him water in a sippy cup from the start of weaning, initially he didn't take very much but gradually he would take more as he realised what it was for. I think by 8mo he was drinking water ok in it and on the odd occasion I left him for the evening he would drink some milk from it. He started nursery at 11mo and he always took it very easily there - I think they learn quite quickly the difference between mum being there and bf being available and mum not being there and therefore they have milk in a cup.

Both of mine were ebf and I continued feeding them after going back to work and there was never a problem with confusion - they were just happy to latch on when they saw me.

I suggest you just carry on as you are and encourage the use of a sippy cup (no point bothering with bottles now IMO) and see how your dd is nearer the time. The difference between 6mo and 8mo is quite a lot in terms of feeding/motor control to hold a cup etc.

Good luck!

My DD is also a bottle refuser, now 9 months old and happily coping without bf during the day, and has been for the last 3 or 4 weeks. I had the same worries as you, but it's all turned out fine.

I would second the advice above to introduce a sippy cup at each meal. I would recommend a simple non-valved spout ( my DD struggled with a valved spout and just chewed).

We chose to offer formula with meals, but you could use water or expressed milk. As your DD progresses with weaning and eats more you will find that she will start to drop breast feeds. As it got closer to my return to work date I slowly started replacing breast feeds with formula in the sippy cup and a snack, and by my first day back DD could go from her morning bf at about 7am to 5.30pm when I got home.

I'm still breast feeding in the morning, before bed, and (unfortunately!) whenever she wakes at night, and she doesn't seem confused, supply seems fine too.

Thanks so much these bits of reassurance are great! So good to know that book-ending the day with BF can work.

I have been trying to offer drinks at mealtimes but often just get ignored, she's much more focused on the food. I have also been giving her a sippy cup to play with in her buggy when I'm out walking (she holds it in her mouth but mainly chews with the occasional gulp).

I think I'll knock the bottles idea on the head, I agree I can't see much point in insisting now when it's more practical in the long run to drink from a cup.

Littleoaktree do you express for the feeds at nursery? I'm wondering about how to keep up! I have visions of having to express all night long to provide enough for the daytimes...or hiding in the loos at work to express during the day!

Watches thread keenly
I'm going back to work when DD will have just turned 1, so am not even bothering with formula. I can't express enough for 1 feed, let alone a supply for nursery days, I am just nervous about having the odd leak during the day... I guess a spare bra and breast pads will be in my bag. And DD will just have to manage on full fat milk from a cup when she's at nursery. Eeek - panicking times ahead!!

I used straw beakers for my bottle refuser. And didn't give water with meals - did it afterwards or around snack time. She used straw beakers no problem - i had read that BF babies find straws easier. I went back to work 3 days at 10 months

no hiding in loos to express

Expressing during the day is important for your comfort, and reduce chance of getting mastitis and blocked ducts. If you are planning to continue bf, talk to your manager about a place to express during your working day. The toilet is NOT appropriate.

You will worry about your child taking enough food while you are away.
We all do, but most of us found it worked out.

Hi OP, yes I do express in the day at work for his nursery feeds, I find expressing once at lunchtime is sufficient as he doesn't need that much milk at nursery - as your Dd will be younger she'll prob need a bit more so you may need to express a couple of times or you may be happy to supplement with formula.

Second the advice above to talk to your boss about your plans and not to express in the loo. Your employer is obliged by law to provide you with a suitable place to express (ie not an unhygienic loo). Our office is open plan so I express in one of the quiet rooms and store the milk in the office fridge.