Leaving Nursing Toddler for a Few Days

You should go on the trip - it is important for you and your husband to connect with each other and get a break from parenting for a few days. It is not too long to leave your son, especially if he is with people he knows and loves (like grandparents). He will not be traumatized.

As for nursing, I can't say how he'll react when you come home. But if you pump while you're gone, you'll be able to keep your supply up and continue nursing upon return if he still wants to.

As for his intake, he's old enough that breast milk isn't really providing his main nutrition anymore (I assume he's eating a lot of table food by now), so having less for a few days won't hurt him physically. He can drink more water to make sure he's still getting enough liquids each day if he doesn't want the milk in bottles.

Also, if the trip isn't for a few months, things may change between now and then. Work a little harder (without adversely affecting nursing) on getting him to take a bit more from the bottle so he's used to it when the trip comes along.

K.
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i did it several times, a few trips and 2 surgeries, each caused me to stop nursing for at least a few days. i did 8 days in hawaii when my first was just 6 mos old! he did just fine going back to nursing. 18 mos is resillient. just pump as much as you can while you are away, at least as often as he nurses, better if you can do a bit more. i cannot recommend strongly enough that you get a little advent isis hand pump. learn how to use it/put it together etc well before you go, there is a learning curve. once you work out how you like to carry it, you can stick the whole thing in your bag in a ziplock and you are good to go. i used mine on planes, trains, in cars, rest stops, parks, on the beach, dressing rooms, everywhere. tank tops and a big button up/ zip up shirt help a lot.... and used my electric pump morning and night in the hotel room. and if you think you will want to drink while you are away, then just decide ahead of time that you are going to close your eyes and pump and dump, makes it even easier, no storing or sterilizing. just bring a little travel bottle of dishwasher soap, wash in the hotel sink with hot water. i hear those microwave bags are awesome too. if you do decide to save it, be aware that you might have to take the bags of milk out at the airport, so just save it in amts less than 3 oz. all you need is an insulated bag and a hotel room with a freezer. even just fridge for that many days. and your little one will be fine. if you have someone you trust to watch him, and you know he will be safe and have some fun, then go and enjoy yourselves, it will do all of you a world of good.

I didn't leave my toddler son, but he had a nasty head cold and couldn't nurse (couldn't breathe through his nose) well enough to get milk. He came right back to it after about 3 days. I'll tell you, I was miserable, though. He tried the first night and gave up - primed that pump and left it there. Don't forget to take care of you. You might want to take a pump to relieve the stress of not nursing.

Have fun, he'll be fine.

My 2 1/2 year old still nurses and has also spent long weekends at Grandma and Grandpa's. The first time I figured it would be 50/50 on whether he would wean or nurse MORE because he missed it. He nursed more! I would go on the trip. There's a chance he might wean while your away but I doubt it-- offer to nurse as soon as your reunited!

I don't pump when he's gone and have never had my supply drop, but the first few times especially I had to hand express some for discomfort!

Go and have fun! I nursed my son past that age, they are pretty resilient through things like this :)