Can you tell me your experience with being away from nursling for 7+ days?

[Biscuits & Gravy]

DH and I have a once in a lifetime vacation opportunity and will be gone for 8 days. DS will be about 20 months when we go. I realize things can change between now and then, but I don't see him being ready to wean anytime soon so I imagine he will still be nursing. I don't recall how often DS1 was nursing at that age.

I have a pump that I will take with me. I'm imagining that I'll need to pump as many times as he still nurses each day, does that sound right? Or can I get away with morning and evening since we'll be on the go all day?

Please, please, please tell me your positive stories. I'm already getting worried about causing him to wean way too early.

[laurata]

If you decide to go, yes, you should pump as often as you can. Be sure you use a VERY good pump.

However, are you sure it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? I just know that the times I've left my little ones under 2 for more than 8-12 hrs or so, it has been traumatic for us both. Every mother-baby relationship is unique though.

ETA: I don't mean to be negative! I have separated with little ones under two, and continues to nurse. It's just been hard to *be separated,* if you know what I mean.

[lifeguard]

I'm leaving ds with dh for almost 2 weeks in July. I had posted about this same thing & got lots of good advice. I'm going to bring my pump with me & try to pump 4x a day. When I return I hope he will pick up where he left off but know there is a chance this will be his weaning.

[haydn'smommy]

I left my oldest for a week when he was 15mos old. I took a hand pump only and pumped three times/day while we were gone. I did have a dip in my supply but that was corrected when we got home. I did make sure to pack cooler bags and gel packs to keep my milk cold for travel because I didn't want to dump it all. When we got home, my boy was a a bit awkward at first. It was as if he wanted to nurse but was angry at me for being gone so he was refusing the comfort from me. I just kept offering, especially when he was sleepy in the middle of the night, and within 18 hrs, he was nursing well again. He went on to nurse for 7 more months.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Yes, once in a lifetime. DH gets this trip for being with his company for 5 years, which won't happen again.

[GinnyMama]

Well, when my oldest was 16 months, DH and I went on a trip for 5 days. I would just hand express in the shower or whatever while I was gone, and she picked right up where she left off as soon as we were reunited. She's 28 months now, and still nursing. I did have an oversupply problem, which is why I didn't try to pump too much while I was gone, and it was cured from the separation.

When my little one is 12 months, we will be separated for 5 days. Since he will be younger than my oldest was at the time of separation, I plan on pumping a lot. I really really dwelled on that first trip, leaving my oldest for the first time. I was so scared and felt so guilty. In hindsight, there was nothing to worry about, and Ginny got to know her grandparents better.

Have fun on your trip!

[blessedwithboys]

if he gets a trip for 5 yrs, what will he get for 7 or 10 yrs? arent those bigger milestones? why doesnt he ask his boss to allow him to postpone it a year or two or until your son is weaned? or maybe you could pony up out of pocket and bring your nursling along? i know how this will sound, but i have to say it: being a parent is a major investment, a life-changing experience. go with it 100%. spending that week with your dc is a once in a lifetime opportunity. you'll never get that week back. whatever you miss while youre gone is gone forever. yes its just a week, but its a major chunk of the childs life. stay with your baby and wait for the next once in lifetime chance to come along...

[JHopesMomma]

I actually just returned from a 5-day trip overseas away from my 15 month old. This was pretty monumentous for us, since I've never even spent one night away from her. Since I work, she only nurses at home in the morning and then 1-2 times in the evening before bed, and almost never during the night. On the weekends she nurses whenever she wants. I ended up just bringing a hand pump to save space in my luggage, and just pumped once in the morning and once after dinner. Once I returned, DD picked up nursing as if I hadn't been gone at all! My husband also said that she did alright at night when he put her to sleep. I had some milk saved up, so he gave her a bottle each night for comfort. I truly believe that if your little one isn't ready to wean, nursing will continue as normal when you return .

[Lula'sMamala]

easy as pie

I have recently been away from my 20 mo. old dd2 for seven days. While away, I hand expressed in the shower morning and evening to relieve the pressure and tried to get as much out as possible to keep the supply up. I was really afraid this trip would mean weaning her, but on my return, she took one look at me and said "Mommy.... num-nums!".

She did not have any trouble while I was gone (she was with DH and dd1, plus lots of extended family), and we picked right up again where we'd been.

Hope you enjoy the trip.

[Xerxella]

I've taken 3 one week trips at different time from my nurslings. DS 17 months, dd 10 months and 13 months.

Honestly, it was pretty traumatic for both of us. After about 4 days, I was getting REALLY edgy and antsy to see my babies. But, I pumped at least 3 - 4x's a day. (I generally have plenty of milk, so no under supply issues ever.) My daughter wouldn't let go of me when I got back after the 10 month trip. She really missed me.

But, both kids immediately took back to nursing without hesitation. And, they are closer to Grammi and Grappi who kept them very busy. Would I do it again? Absolutely. The time I had with my husband completely rejuevenated me, us and our relationship. We're both better parents for taking that time to ourselves. Go. Enjoy yourselves.