Breastmilk Needs

I'm think that at this age 24 oz is right on. I know my friend tried to avoid formula (with daycare, same sitch), but the baby was younger, but they definitely told her, he was unhappy and needed another bottle (she wasn't pumping enough for the extra bottle, so she had to supplement). You could always try to cut out that bottle and if the daycare says that he isn't satisfied with just food, you could add the pumping back in.

You sound very busy but if you can make it to a La Leche League meeting that would be very helpful. I was lucky enough to nurse both my kids and never need to pump. You could always write a question to the LLL website. They are very helpful and supportive.

Of course check with your pediatrician first, but you should be able to start introducing cow milk between 9 and 12 months. If he does well, you may be able to switch to cow milk, or soy milk during his day time feeding. It isn't okay to have only cow milk or soy milk and no breast milk or formula, but if he's still getting the other, one feeding of regular milk should be fine. Good luck! (And way to go on breast feeding for 10 months!)

Since your son is 10 months old, he is probably mature enough to start using a sippy cup. I didn't use formula at all with my first child, and at 14 months he was fully using the cup, and he weaned himself from me. His dietary needs can be met with the food he is eating, and the times you breast feed, so you won't be depriving him! I would check out the many varieties of sippy cups available, buy two, and let him choose the one he likes best.
Good Luck!

contact a good lactation nurse, I use lori ###-###-####.
I have used her for the last 2 months I have 9 week old and I have had issues with work, breast feeding ect that I never had with my first child Lori has helped me out alot.
good luck

Hi,
When I was nursing my kids, I planned to have them weaned to a cup by 1yr so I started cutting out feedings and by the time they were your son's age, they were down to one feeding in the morning and one at night. The night feeding was the last to go just for the nightime comfort.
I wish you well with raising your kids. I love being a mom and now a grandma.
Thanks,
E.

B.,
Good job with the breastfeeding! I have a couple of suggestions. At this age, you can probably cut out the midday bottle, since he's losing interest in it, especially since you're still feeding him at home. He's probably getting enough from you to keep him healthy and happy since he eats solids so well.
Or you can try pumping when you first wake up, and skip doing it during the day. I always had more luck getting extra milk in the morning than I did during the day at work anyway. It seemed easier to pump at home where I could be near my babies, even if they were still asleep.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

My son was strictly breast fed (as far as milk, he ate table food) up until his one year birthday. At ten months he was only taking two feedings a day through nursing so I would say three a day would be fine. I am not an expert though! Good luck!

Doctors will say he needs 32 oz of milk a day. I always wonder how they know this, since no one knows how much a fully breastfed baby drinks! (I mean, who is measuring?!)

First I would really look at the thought that there is no where to pump. I would really examine that, look very creatively at all options, and talk to human resources about your need to have that space. Perhaps something can be worked out. Or is it possible for him to be brought to you so you can nurse him that one feeding? Or is it possible that you could split your work into two shifts so you could return home to nurse in the middle of the day? (if your commute is reasonable) Explore every option...and maybe you have.

If he manages ok without a bottle, he may just nurse more when you are there. I'm with you on the formula idea...I would want to avoid that too.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi there, with my first son, one of my sisters also had a 6 week old baby and had to go back to work for the airlines so, she couldn't pump at all because there was no where to keep it frozen for the 4 days she'd be gone. So, I was a wet nurse for her baby for 9 months. I'd feed my baby, and then pump for hers. Basically, I was nursing two babies. I commend you on your dedication at breast feeding. It seems these days, mothers give up so easily, not knowing ahead of time that breastfeeding truly is a commitment and hard work. ie; eating enough calories, drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest; essential for successful breastfeeding. Anyway, if your baby is just missing one breastfeeding session, he should be okay with solid food and a sippie cup of water. I have 4 kids and when things would get busy for us and I didn't have time or privacy to stop, the sippie would work great. Just make sure it's one of those "no spill" so that he holds on to his great sucking for breast feeding, otherwise, he might get lazy, and not want to work at breastfeeding. You are doing an awesome job. I also read other responses and I have to add that I would be careful about cow's milk. The actual protein cell in cow's milk is larger than the cells in our breastmilk and is hard for babies to digest. They commonly have a bad reaction and don't suspect it's the milk. I switched to goat's milk with my kids and it worked just great. All of my kids couldn't handle cow's milk until about the age of 4. The symptoms of the cow's milk upseting their little bodies would be; little red dots around their mouth, frequent yeast rash on their bottom, yucky, unusual smelling dirty diapers. I never had a problem with goat's milk. They now have goat's milk in a powder form so, it's great for on- the-go. My sister with 7 children can vouch for all of this too. The situation was the same for her kids, and she was very successful with goat's milk. Well, I'll call this novel finished and let you get back to life. Good luck and God Bless. A.

I asked our pediatrician this exact same question when my son was this age because I wasn't sure when I started weaning him how many bottles I was supposed to give him. She said if they are eating table foods and a good amount of it, that they only need 24oz of milk per day. So, it sounds like what your son is getting now would be sufficient. Does he use the bottle at daycare as comfort or just nutrition? I personally would not suggest taking the bottle away at daycare or perhaps start sending a sippy cup with whole milk to daycare. Ask your pediatrician first, but ours said that we could start feeding whole milk to our son at 9 months old since he had been exclusively breastfed up until that point. Definitely talk to your ped and find out what their suggestion is.

Congratulations on breastfeeding! I nursed my 4 children for 9-26 months. My suggestion would be to give him your milk in a sippy cup instead of a bottle. I'd continue to pump if you can.

Good luck!

You might talk to your doctor about options other than formula. If your son is healthy and doesn't have any allergies, he may be able to go to cow's milk a little early. You may also be able to give him soy milk or goat's milk instead of formula.
I wouldn't completely discount supplementing with formula either. My milk supply dropped dramatically around 8 months with both my sons and I had to start supplementing with formula even though I didn't want to. If your son is getting the majority of his nutrition through breastfeeding at home and solid foods, you could think of one bottle a day of formula as an extra nutritional supplement.
I'm sure lots of other moms will have excellent advice, so good luck with whatever you decide.

Now is a good time to switch to a sippy cup. You can put your milk in it and send it off to school. Just ask them to not heat it up and give it to him just like regular milk. I have seen many moms do this at daycare. The kids liked it cold and had no trouble nursing after since they used a hard to suck sippy. They do need to swirl the milk for the fats get mixed in but it shouldnt be a problem just throw out what ever he doesnt drink at the end of his day there.