Going back to work, baby 10 months old and still BF

[Mummyandworklife]

Hey, so I’m due to go back to work (mornings only) in the office in November. LO will be almost 11 months.

At the moment she’s on 5 nursing sessions a day and 3 solid meals (which she doesn’t eat much of). She refuses a bottle. The problem I have is is that her 2nd feed of the day is usually before her 1st nap, so around 9am. I’ll be at work at this time and she will be in nursery! She starts nursery at 7:30 and finishes at 12:30.

I’m so stressed and worried how she will nap without her milk? Will she take a bottle? Will she manage to sleep some other way? She literally only sleeps after she is nursed and only ever falls asleep with me. Ah so worried! Has anyone been through this and how did they get round it?

I’ve thought about dropping that feed altogether but again she just won’t sleep.. and she needs that morning nap.

Help and advice appreciated!

I’ve returned to work three times breastfeeding my then seven month old children. For whole days, 4/5 days a week

It will be fine. Honest. Without you there, once they’ve eaten food, they get used to other ways to settle - ways that they would never do if you were there. And yes they loved their milk when I returned (and through the night) but it was fine whilst it was gone.

Go back to work and enjoy it (if you can!)

Hi , I went back to work at 12 months and my little one was still using nursing to sleep. On the days she was with her grandparents she napped by being walked in the pram and the days she was with me napped nursing . She would literally be asleep within minutes nursing so I knew she didn't really need it for food . The nursery staff will know what works best youd be surprised how they sleep for others. I kept on nursing until she gave it up herself at about 3. Although the day time nap was dropped altogether at about 2 so only nursed at bedtime then.

She’ll probably drop to one nap a day once she goes to nursery. They usually go around one anyway. There will be a lot going on and IME the toddlers tend to sleep after lunch, depending on the nursery routine.
She’ll get a new routine, anyway.
Try not to fret. Nothing bad will happen if she doesn’t nurse or nap while she’s there