Will be leaving my baby for a week next month...HELP!!!

[trinimommy]

My son will be 21 months old next month when I go on a trip for 1 week. Right now he nurses upon waking, randomly during the day, at naps and back to sleep at night.

I am thinking it will make life easier on my brother (who will be watching my kids for me when I am gone) if I wean my son but I am not sure how. My daughter self weaned pretty easy and early so this is very hard for me. To wean...not to wean? If to wean...then how? Help!!!!!

[HeatherB]

I left my son for 5-6 days at about that age, and I did not want to wean him. He did very well! I pumped in advance (though not as much as I wanted to; tip: take fenugreek well in advance as it takes a few days to work!), and he took one bottle of breastmilk in the evening. Otherwise he ate normally and drank water. I pumped while I was gone, especially as that fenugreek was a bit late and I got rather engorged on the flight out!

When I came home, he went back to his normal nursing pattern with NO problem. I solicited advice here before our trip and had several mamas tell me similar stories. I definitely believe it is NOT necessary to wean at this age if you are traveling for a few days.

[trinimommy]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

I left my son for 5-6 days at about that age, and I did not want to wean him. He did very well! I pumped in advance (though not as much as I wanted to; tip: take fenugreek well in advance as it takes a few days to work!), and he took one bottle of breastmilk in the evening. Otherwise he ate normally and drank water. I pumped while I was gone, especially as that fenugreek was a bit late and I got rather engorged on the flight out!

When I came home, he went back to his normal nursing pattern with NO problem. I solicited advice here before our trip and had several mamas tell me similar stories. I definitely believe it is NOT necessary to wean at this age if you are traveling for a few days.

Thank you for that! The only issue is that I have pumped before and he will not take pumped milk in a bottle. He drinks juice and water but I am not sure what milk substitute I should leave for him.

[mrsfrenchy]

Originally Posted by trinimommy

Thank you for that! The only issue is that I have pumped before and he will not take pumped milk in a bottle. He drinks juice and water but I am not sure what milk substitute I should leave for him.

Will he eat yogurt/cheese/other dairy? If he can get an adequate amount of calcium and protien from foods, I wouldn't really worry about what he's drinking while you're gone. Also, its only a week, not a really long time, so if he's a little short on calcium while you're gone, I don't think its the end of the world.

[almadianna]

I agree with HeatherB up there. I left my son a week and it was not a problem. I did not have to wean and he was nursing like a champ when I got back.

[trinimommy]

Oh boy you guys are making me feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better about this.

For those who had a similar situation, what method did your child use to go to sleep?

He eats cheese and yogurt and pretty much everything else you give him so I am hoping all shall be well...crosses fingers...

[HeatherB]

I don't know if this would work for your son, but what I did with mine was, before I left, to give him a bottle of BM (I had found an Adiri "booby shaped" bottle on sale) and tell him it was "mommy milk." He tasted it, liked it, and drank it right up. Prior to that, he hadn't taken a bottle in a LONG time, so I was rather concerned! Being old enough for some logic, and taking the approach of NOT trying to pass it off as a replacement mommy, worked well.

He took a pacifier on and off, and used that at night. Otherwise, I'd coach caregivers on rocking, perhaps swaddling, white noise, distraction, car rides, etc!

[kcstar]

I've left my son with DH or my MIL at about that age, and he's done fine. We're still nursing. I brought my pump with me. At 15 months I needed to pump at least once a day. At ~20 months I could just about go a weekend without pumping. YMMV.

[trinimommy]

Had to come back and read this...it's almost time and I am getting nervous!!

[listipton]

Thank you for this thread!! I found out a week ago that I will be heading on a business trip this summer when ds will be right around this age. I was starting to think/worry about how we'll deal with my being gone for 6 days. This gives me MUCH more confidence .

[almadianna]

I came back yesterday from my trip (I was in norway) and my son did just fine!! Just wnated to give you a little ((hugs)) because I know it is hard.

[trinimommy]

Originally Posted by almadianna

I came back yesterday from my trip (I was in norway) and my son did just fine!! Just wnated to give you a little ((hugs)) because I know it is hard.

How long were you gone? Did you leave breast milk? How did he do with naps and sleeping? My little one has been SUPER clingy lately. I am so very nervous!

[almadianna]

I was gone for a week, yes I did leave milk (this was not the first time I had done this) and he did fine. He usually naps and sleeps without me because I work outside of the home. He was clingy for a bit but it did not go bad at all! it is hard and I promise you that I cried.... but it was ok.