So, uh how much milk should I send to daycare with Sam?

epphd

He is EBF and Ive never really thought much about the volume he takes in.  I mean, I do - in the sense that I worry that he's getting enough - but I don't really measure it.  Plus, I am sure that his eating patterns are going to change being in day care.  According to The Nursing Mother's Companion, I should expect him to eat about 1.5oz per hour - so for 9 hours at daycare, I should send about 15 ounces. Does that sound right for a 3 month old?

My plan is to nurse him before I leave the DCP, and when I pick him up (so around 8 and around 5:15).  If he eats every two hours, then I should send 4-5 bottles. 

SO - does that sound like four ~4 oz bottles - or should I send five ~3 oz bottles? If he doesn't finish a bottle they will dump the rest, so I'm thinking that more bottles with lower volume might be a safe start.  I will also be sending a bag of frozen BM cubes so they can add additional milk if needed.

I know I'll figure this out after a few days, but tomorrow is day #1 and it's really hard to figure out what to send with him!

Thanks ladies.  

JustaKidAtHeart

I would send 5 3 oz bottles to start.  I would rather them have to add more then to dump milk that you worked hard for.

firsttogo

I would send 4-5 bottles at first. If you can leave some frozen there too that would be great.

I know it is hard to know what he is getting when nursing, so it is probably a try an adjust thing. 

Linc is FF, but at 3 months was taking 5 Oz bottles every 3-4 hours. Now he is taking 8 Oz every 4 hours, but nothing from 8p-8a. 

jmkatz

I was so worried about how much milk to have for Lucy. She is a constant snacker, so I knew that having a set number of pre-measured bottles would not work at all. I don't know anything about daycare, but is it possible to send a large container of breastmilk and have them measure out bottles? That is what our nanny does and I think it really cuts down on how much gets dumped. (Of course, Lucy eats .5 oz, then 2.5, then 1.5, etc all day!). That might be tough for daycare. Also, Lucy only ate like two and a half ounces the first day I was gone. Now she eats between 10 and 12. I nurse her right before I leave (around 615) and then again when I get home (around 330 or 4) so I am gone a little more than 9 hours. Good luck with the transition.. I hope it is smooth for both of you!

muppet.fan

I think when E started daycare at 3 months (7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), we were sending four 4-ounce bottles. I think she usually only took three of them and I brought home the last one.

But until you see how much he's taking, it might make sense to do the 5 3-ounce ones instead so they're not dumping as much.

The first week was rough because E didn't eat as much as she normally did, so I was experimenting almost every day. But she settled into a routine within a week or so. Good luck with the first day!

kimarino13

My girls eat 4 oz at a time, every 2-3 hours during the day.  They eat more at night.

hannah&ben

I would do 5 3oz bottles as well.  Then maybe an extra (3 or 4 oz) for them to keep in the freezer (for the next month) for just in case.

ETA: LOL, I totally skipped over the frozen cubes part.  Good thinking mama!

epphd

Thanks everyone!

I totally expect that we'll have a day/night reversal for the first few days - not eating much during the day then nursing all night. I know we'll figure out it eventually but I shudder at thinking of him not eating while I'm gone.  Then again - if he went 9 hours without eating overnight - and slept - I'd throw a party!! 

JamaicaMon!

epphd:

Thanks everyone!

I totally expect that we'll have a day/night reversal for the first few days - not eating much during the day then nursing all night. I know we'll figure out it eventually but I shudder at thinking of him not eating while I'm gone.  Then again - if he went 9 hours without eating overnight - and slept - I'd throw a party!! 

You never know, you may be pleasantly surprised like I was.  My little guy started STTN for me shorly after starting daycare.  When it was just he and I at home, he was able to take 3 hour naps if he wanted.  Now that he's in daycare, it's harder for him to nap because of the noise level.  So he's awake more, interacting with adults and babies more, and eating more.  Which = sleeping more at night for us.  Before daycare, the longest he had slept was maybe 6 hours.  Now it's up to 8-9 hours, and sometimes even 10.

epphd

That's actually my concern - till now, if Sam has a crummy day of sleep he also sleeps poorly at night.  However, I would be perfectly fine if needed more sleep at night, as long as he's not a grumpster during the day, know what I mean?  AHHHHH ANXIETY!