Need help from bottle feeding Moms

Rebis58

Quick version: For bottle fed babies, how many ounces of milk/formula does your LO drink a day?

Longer version if more details are needed:

In a few weeks I have a day long course and DD will be staying with MIL for the day (at least 6 hours, but I may take advantage of MIL babysitting and make plans with friends after the course). I've never left DD for more than a couple of hours. She's exclusively breastfed, and rarely takes a bottle since I'm almost always with her. Since we've never done a day of bottle feeding I have no clue how much milk she actually gets from me and feel totally lost. I feed her on demand when we're home for the day (6+ times a day), but on days when we're busy or out of the house she has less frequent feedings and seems fine. I have a small stockpile of pumped milk (probably about 8-10oz, give or take). She also eats 3 meals of solid foods a day. She'll be 10 months at the time of the course.

Also, she has taken a bottle before in the past from MIL, but on a day to day basis never has a bottle. She drinks water from a sippy cup when she eats her solid meals. Should I put the milk in a bottle or sippy cup? Or does it not matter?

MaryBB77

I'd try her with formula b4 you leave her. She may not like it at first & might need time to get used to it & a bottle.
Mine is ebf so I've no tips on how much she'll need. GL

MrsW062610

danaadell said:

I'm ebf-ing and I'd leave too much because it is stressful to watch them without enough milk. I'd leave 3 3-4 oz bottles for that time personally.

Agree with this. Before I weaned, DD would take 4-5 oz bottles of BM. I would do at least 4 oz in each bottle to be on the safe side.

My DD also wouldn't take formula straight at first...we had to mix slowly with BM.

Rebis58

Oh, should have clarified, I'll be pumping breast milk for her so no worries on whether she'll take formula or not. She has taken pumped milk from my MIL before when I was out for a couple hours. I was just wondering how much milk I need to stockpile for the day

Thanks for the responses! Very helpful.

BABYROSEJEANS17

DS is in daycare and I leave 3 5oz a bottles where he's fed every 3-4 hours. He's there for 9 hours and is fine with 15 oz on top of breakfast, lunch and a snack.

Rebis58

Thanks again ladies! I think I'll aim for stockpiling about 20oz to bring to MIL's house. Still undecided about bottle vs. sippy cup but maybe I'll bring both and MIL can decide what to use or see what DD prefers. 

Hope it goes well! I've never left her this long, but I guess it'll be good practice for me since I have to go back to work soon. She's getting her flu shot the day before, so I'm feeling pretty anxious about it. I would reschedule the course or the flu shot if I could, but the dates for both are rigid. She has been pretty good with all of her shots in the past, and she adores MIL, so fingers crossed they manage ok!

Rebis58

3peat said:

Rebis58 said:

Oh, should have clarified, I'll be pumping breast milk for her so no worries on whether she'll take formula or not. She has taken pumped milk from my MIL before when I was out for a couple hours. I was just wondering how much milk I need to stockpile for the day

Thanks for the responses! Very helpful.

My pediatrician told me the least amount of milk per day until 1yr old is 25 ounces. Hope that helps!

Stuck in box

Yes that helps! Thanks!

umma4babes

DD drinks 5 6 oz bottles a day, so that's 30 ozs. She also eats 3 small meals a day with plenty of snacks in between.

painttheair14

I know it's just anecdotal but DS did fine with his flu shot. With his other shots, he'd be fussy or get a fever. I was super nervous because we took a 9 hour road trip the day after his flu shot but it was totally fine!

Rebis58

charmingthemoon said:

I would guess a whole day out would be about 16oz, but it's hard to say if the change in routine would make her take more or less than usual. I think you are smart to try to stockpile 20oz just in case. But I always tell whoever is watching DS that if he is getting hungry right before I get home, just feed him solids so I can nurse him when I arrive!

Good advice! I'll tell MIL this. It'll be my first time not feeding throughout the day so on top of it all I'm thinking I might feel a little engorged, so I'm sure I'll want to nurse her as soon as possible.

Rebis58

painttheair14 said:

I know it's just anecdotal but DS did fine with his flu shot. With his other shots, he'd be fussy or get a fever. I was super nervous because we took a 9 hour road trip the day after his flu shot but it was totally fine!

Good to hear! DD was actually awesome after her 6 month shots. A tiny bit sleepier/cuddlier than usual but no fussiness or fever, so hopefully it's similar after the flu shot!