Nursing 20 month old will be away from me one day/week

[Caidyn]

I am still nursing my 20 month old son which I hope to continue until he turns 2 years old.  Somedays he nurses 5 times a day, somedays 8, he has no schedule.  I work from home 2 days a week and all along he has been looked after at home so I have had no problems with nursing as we nurse during my breaks.  It looks like I am going to have to have him cared for outside the home one day a week and I am so stressed!  He would miss 3 feedings on this one day a week.  I do not want to wean him yet.  He has not yet had any other milk other than breastmilk and I was hoping to avoid cow milk and start supplementing a few feeds when he turns 2 with almond milk.  This plan would be fine on the other 6 days a week but I have no idea what to do on the one day that he is away from me.  Being away from me will be a big change for him as well. 

All help/suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!   

[CheriK]

I've worked part-time with all my children, and would be away for 6-8 hours one or two days a week.  When they were little I pumped and they got my milk in bottles, but by the time they were two, I'd stopped pumping.  They were fine without.  My twins nursed for years, my 2-year old is still going strong. 

I'm guessing your DS is eating a wide variety (although maybe not quantity) of other foods by this point.  You'll probably find that he eats a lot more on the day you're away.  Since he's still nursing frequently most of the time, going 8 hours without milk isn't going to impact him nutritionally.  He'll need some liquid during the day, but that can be water! 

It will probably be hard for him and you at first, but more from the emotional aspect of being separated and the loss of routine.  You'll want to pay attention to your body as well; you might need to express a bit of milk, especially at first, to keep from getting uncomfortably engorged.  I hope you can find an empathetic caregiver who is supportive of his needs.

[sarahr]

I worked outside the house part-time when my dd was that age (and younger). She was very good at understanding that she could only nurse when she and I were together. It would be the first thing she wanted to do when I got home, but she was fine for the 8 or so hours that we were apart. She ate food, drank water, nursed in the morning and evening, got cuddles during the day from her caregiver.

[emmaegbert]

This has been my experience too, with both my kids, once they were about 15 months or so. I had an inconsistent schedule (full-time student) and neither had much interest in a bottle or anything like that. I think water and food will hold an otherwise healthy toddler for a day a week. You could leave a smoothie or something else interesting to drink. My current nursling is 22 months and is fine if I have to leave for a longer chunk. Actually in the next few weeks she'll probably start having about a 7-hour separation 2x per week, and I am just assuming she'll want to nurse when she sees me but she'll be fine.

Any reason you can't offer almond milk on that day as a drink?

Good luck with the separation. I hope its fun for your little one and very productive for you.

Originally Posted by sarahr 

I worked outside the house part-time when my dd was that age (and younger). She was very good at understanding that she could only nurse when she and I were together. It would be the first thing she wanted to do when I got home, but she was fine for the 8 or so hours that we were apart. She ate food, drank water, nursed in the morning and evening, got cuddles during the day from her caregiver.

[batsister]

My son is 19 months old.  I am student, so he is with a sitter a few hours a week (generally not more than 4 hours at once, though).  He usually doesn't want to nurse when we out and about anymore, so even if I am with him if we are out all day, he may go 7, 8, 9 hours without nursing.  On those days, he just eats regular food and drinks water (he drinks a little, but not much cow's milk, and usually only at home).  On days we are home, he nurses more often, but he seems to have no problem with different scenarios on different days/switching between them. 

Good luck!