Traveling away from night nurser

[Imagining]

I'll be going on a trip for work in June that will require being away from 13 month old DD for three nights.  I get anxiety just writing that... :)   We've always BF on demand, including night time.  We co-sleep and she probably nurses 3-4x each night.  She's not very good at taking milk from non-mom sources, and usually just plays with it, sprays it around if given a bottle/sippy/cup.  DH thinks if she really wants milk she'll take it when I'm gone.  Anyone have any advice on being away from your night nurser?  Should DH try to feed her similar amounts to what she'd usually nurse at night?  Would it be better for her if I tried to night wean her more before leaving on the trip?  Ack!!!    

[D_McG]

I left both of mine around that age. The first night was tough. Neither of them took bottles at night (I mean they took them during the day if they wanted but it proved to me once and for all that they were NOT really hungry at night b/c neither of them drank at night when I was gone!). The second night was easier for them and when I came back they nursed way less at night going forward.

It was a great thing for all involved! They adjusted so quickly and it really helped to balance out the house.

[Imagining]

That is just what I needed to hear!  Thank you, thank you.

[LynnS6]

I left dd for 5 days (4 nights) when she was 15 months (my dad had had heart surgery and bringing a nursing toddler with me to help my aging parents wasn't a good idea). Now, I WOH full time, so she was used to being with dad. But she reverse cycled and nursed all through the night (she hated bottles). She was fine at night without me, and we picked up our nursing relationship right away when I got back. She nursed until her 4th birthday.

[oregon2010]

your post is pretty much identical to what I asked a couple weeks ago! I am leaving my 14 month old in June for 4 nights and I breastfeed on demand, co sleep and we nurse at night several times! She also does not want anything to do with the almond or cows milk I have offered.  I do not have a supply of breast milk yet so I was thinking of pumping....ahhh! I get anxiety thinking about it too :)

[Imagining]

Thanks Lynn!  Reassuring to hear. DH is stay home dad so she is very comfortable with him, but it's all mommy at night.  Hopefully their relationship translates to night time for these few nights.

oregon2010 - that is ironic!  Funny, I never thought to see if there was a similar situation posted.  I don't know what to do about the milk thing either.  She'll take water in her sippy fine.  But she doesn't really eat that many solids to keep her full enough if she's only having water and a few bites of food.  I am pumping a bit and have maybe 16 oz so far.  It's a bit frustrating to pump knowing that it might just get sprayed everywhere and thrown out...  But I'd rather she has the option if she really does decide she wants to drink it after I've been gone a bit.  Here's hoping both of our departures go just fine!

[Arete]

Wow, so many moms doing the same--I too am going away from 11 month old for three nights in June.  And I have to say very honestly, I'm glad.  The babe has been a terrible sleeper since January, up every two hours or even more often, and I cannot find in it my heart to deny him when he's right beside me and trying to burrow through my shirt.  We need some kind of catalyst here or I will die of exhaustion.  So for three nights before I go I will do the thing where I feed on demand, but not to sleep.  Then the next step--7 hours with NO MILK but only comfort will fall to dad.  I can't give in and feed if I'm thousands of miles away!  And man, do I ever hope when I get back he will have reset himself.

[somegirl99]

Subbing, looks like I will have to go on a work trip in July when DS will be about a year old.  He too also wants to nurse a few times through the night.  He currently is only taking a little bit of solids and maybe a sip of water a day.

[oregon2010]

Imagining--how much pumped milk do you plan on leaving?  I am with my daughter all day and I try to pump a couple hours after she goes to sleep at night but I am only getting two ounces. I am not sure when else to pump!  If I pump every day between now and my trip, that isn't much milk for 4 days.  Ahhhh! I am anxious/sad already about leaving her...I am going to sunny Florida for a wedding! :( Good luck to you!

[Imagining]

Originally Posted by oregon2010 

Imagining--how much pumped milk do you plan on leaving?  I am with my daughter all day and I try to pump a couple hours after she goes to sleep at night but I am only getting two ounces. I am not sure when else to pump!  If I pump every day between now and my trip, that isn't much milk for 4 days.  Ahhhh! I am anxious/sad already about leaving her...I am going to sunny Florida for a wedding! :( Good luck to you!

Not much!  I have six containers so far (2.5 oz).... and leave in four weeks.  I'm glad you posted this - remind me to get pumping!  But I've tried a couple of times to get her to drink milk from various cups/bottles/sippies and she always sprays it around, so I haven't been very motivated to make sure there's exactly how much she'd drink if I were home.  

Does your DD care if you pump when she is around?  Mine always wants to play with the pump, lol, but if you're able to then maybe you'd have better luck pumping during the morning?  That's always the easiest part of the day for me to get a good amount from.  

I'm headed to sunny North Carolina beach!  Good luck w/the pumping and enjoy the wedding getaway!  I'm sure these babies will be just fine...  Right?  Right... :)