Hi all! I would like to ask if anyone had similar experience. My husband and I planning to take a vacation in April for a week. I am SAHM with 2 little kids and would REALLY love to spend some good time with my husband plus he would take his paid vacation at work anyways. The only thing that concerns me is that I am still breastfeeding my now 5 mo old baby (who will be 8 month in April). She does not take a bottle and does not want to eat anything except the breast milk at this moment. My question is the following: do you think that if I will be able to get enough milk for her for that week and will be pumping at least twice a day on vacation, will she accept the breast when I return? I wouldn't want to wean her from the breast at 8 mo. Please let me know if anyone had any similar experience. Thanks for your time.
I would like to thank all of you who took their time and helped me to make a decision about our vacation with my husband. Although it would be really nice if we would go this April, but we decided to wait a little bit longer and then go when I'll not have to breastfeed/pump. Don't know when it will be, but I am sure it will turn out better for us and our kids...
Totally agree with Sabra S.
I wouldn't be able to enjoy my vacation if I knew things were not OK with my children.
It took me more than 3 months to get my daughter to take a bottle.
hey hun -
my only concern reading your queary is that you be sure that your young one WILL take a bottle before you leave her with her grandparents! it's important that her caretakers and she not have a horrible time and be forced into using the bottle just because you are gone... you hadn't mentioned that you'll be working on this, and i'm sure that you will be, but i just wanted to "say it out loud" - i would definately be sure that she is feeding easily away from you before subjecting her and them to the stresses of the seperation - she is going to be more of a handfull at 8 months, as well, so the more that can be done to ensure it goes well, the better - i know you're "on it" and i'm sure everything will work out just dandy :) enjoy your trip!
XXXOOO
S.
Hi A.,
I agree with Jill. Both my children who are now 5 and 4 yrs old are the same way. When they were 13mo. I started introducing sippy cups when they were 4mo. I started to weaning them at 13mo., and It took 2 weeks. My husband and I would go on a date twice a month and we stated of with a movie. As much as we love our kids we enjoy our date.
M.
I would wait on the vacation until my 8 month old was solidly off the breast. It will be hard enough for her not having you there for the first time, but too also have her take a bottle, that will still be fairly new is asking for trouble. Your daughter will be miserable as will the grandparents. Plan the vacation for next year or a later date. Just my opinion.
My husband and I took a trip (many years ago) when our kids were about the same age. In the weeks before our departure, I pumped like a fiend and we also introduced the occasional bottle of formula and also breast milk from a bottle. We tried to do the bottle when we knew he was hungry so there was less chance of him resisting. He was willing to accept the breast on my return and we continued to use both for 6 months or so beyond that. I did not pump while I was on vacation much so I had less milk when I came back. It all worked out just fine. The most beneficial thing for both parents and baby was that we got to get away for a nice vacation and get reconnected and rejuvenated. If she ends up weaning at 8 months that'll be okay too.
I think it's great that you are nurturing your marriage, but to everything there is a season, and your little one won't be nursing forever.
Have you considered having the grandparents come along to wherever you're going, then you get the best of both worlds.
Hi A.,
I have gone on 5-day vacations with my husband when my daughters were still breastfeeding. I pumped extra before we went and I started them on a bottle or two a day a couple of months before so that they got used to it. (I even slipped in some formula.)
Luckily, at 8 months your daughter could be eating more food and not need so much milk.
Also, my daughters did not hesitate to continue breastfeeding when I returned. Both of us were happy to be at it again and I was rejuvinated from my bonding time with my husband.
Good Luck!
D.
I would think she would go back to nursing if she is a good nurser. I would start pumping as soon as you can just to be on the safe side to save up. The more you pump the more you will produce, supply and demand. I know when I am not used to pumping I will pump an ounce between sides and when I am doing it more often it will be more like 3 oz between both sides. Try to get to know your body to see what you need to do.
I haven't had this experience, but have heard of things like this happening. For instance, I've heard of mother's returning to work and the baby deciding he no longer wants to breast feed. You may come home and not have a single problem, but it's entirely possible that your daughter could decide that the bottle works just as well. One of my daughter's weaned herself at about 9 months. I didn't take any breaks or change her schedule, she just decided that it wasn't her gig anymore.
Hopefully somebody on here has had this experience and can give you tips on getting back on the breast easily after such a long break.
My son (4.5 months) is anti-bottle but he'll drink a few ounces from a sippy cup. When I'm at work his nanny uses a medicine dropper or small cup to feed him. Please look into alternatives. The bottle isn't the end all-be all. Try a sippy cup (a friends daughter took to a cup and straw pretty early on) a few times a week from now until you leave. Maybe even have one of the grands, who'll be watching her while you're gone, come over and feed her a few times a week. That way she isn't dealing with a completly new feeding situation AND your being gone.
oh, and enjoy your trip!
