XP from 0-3: ? re: EBF and daycare

mobeer99

It just occurred to me that, since LO nurses all day, I really have no idea how much he eats.  I'm guessing 4-5 oz. bottles of breastmilk will be equal to a feeding, but I really have no clue.  DS goes to daycare in a few weeks.For those of you with LO's in daycare, do you think it would be helpful to EP the week before he goes, just so I have an idea of how much to send? Or should I just send 3 or 4 bottles with 4 oz. and hope for the best?  I would just hate to either not have enough, or waste any BM.  Thoughts?

Pam081206

Kellymom's site has a calculator to help give you an idea of what to send.  https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

I had a pretty good idea how much Callum was taking since I was going to a breastfeeding support group every week and I weighed him before and after a feeding.  I then used the calculator just to see what is would say and it was pretty spot on.   I've been sending him with three 4.5 ounce bottles and a fourth "emergency" bottle with 4 ounces in it just in case I'm late getting there for pick up or he is just hungrier than usual one day. 

 

almariebennett

My DD tends to eat around 10-16 oz per day at daycare.  I have freezer stash so I send in about 3 frozen bags per day (about 4-6 oz per bag) and usually an extra bag in the beginning of the week, just in case.  

mobeer99

Pam081206:

Kellymom's site has a calculator to help give you an idea of what to send.  https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Brilliant!  Thanks ladies. 

mari_gold

mobeer99:

Pam081206:

Kellymom's site has a calculator to help give you an idea of what to send.  https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Brilliant!  Thanks ladies. 

Just a warning that this calculator did not exactly work for me. Based on the number of feedings per day and average nutritional requirements for Zack's age/size, I sent four bottles of 4.5 oz to daycare the first day. He ended up drinking 3-3.5 oz from three of the bottles.

I now send three 3.5 oz bottles each day, and he doesn't always finish them, either. I assume that he's eating larger meals at home to make up the "missing" ounces.