[not_telling]

DS is 8.5 months and has been eating some solids since 6 months. Only recently has he started to usually eat more that a couple spoonfuls of mushy stuff or more than a couple bites of finger food. He nurses about every 2.5-3 hours all day/night.

Which means that, so far, I've never been apart from him for longer than 3 hours. We've never tried using a bottle and I only have one little bag of expressed milk in the freezer anyway. Here's what I'm wondering:

Could he go closer to 5 hours without nursing if he has access to enough solids? For example, he's really loving yogurt with fruit mixed in right now and will eat a lot of it at one sitting. Could yogurt and a handful of cheerios tide him over so that DH and I could actually go out to dinner and a movie (and be gone for up to 5 hours)?

 

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

They really arent supposed to before a year.

 

[sapphire_chan]

Also express milk, and don't do any solids the rest of the day. At least that's how I'd try to do it. Definitely not replacing a daily milkfeed at this stage, but for an evening out, it'd be worth trying.

 

[wendypf]

I have a friend who does this because she does not like to nurse in public and does not pump enough for DD when they go out. It happens a few days a week.

If you need to get some time and its not most days, I think it is ok.

I do not try to do this, though I find DD is going longer and longer between feedings if she eats a lot.

 

[Thing1Thing2]

I can't pump because it totally ruins my supply for a week (oversupply / overactive letdown) ...

I usually try to nurse in public.. but my ds is so distractable that he will not stay on the breast if there is anything around that is unfamiliar (even the inside of a bathroom stall)...

That said - I usually bring some purees along to restaurants and places where I know he will not nurse. That is usually the only time he eats purees. Im starting baby led weaning right now, but I think as long as you nurse him the rest of the night (no solids at all) in order to make up for the lost nutrients you're fine, especially if its only one day.

 

[not_telling]

It's definitely not something I plan to do often, but DH and I have only been alone together one time (!) since DS was born...we went out to dinner nearby and were home in 1.5 hours. DH's birthday is coming up and I thought it would be nice if we could have a birthday "date"...leaving DS with my parents. Basically, I don't want DS to have a meltdown because he's hungry ('course he could have a meltdown for many other reasons...). I'm fine with nursing a little more frequently earlier in the day. I just wanted to find out if a "solids meal" would be likely to tide him over till we get back.

 

[mamarootoo]

i would say tank him up before you leave, and have whoever takes care of him offer solids early and often to avoid a too-hungry-to-deal-with-solids meltdown.

he's 8.5 months old, not 8.5 weeks! 5 hours away isn't going to do any major damage! just be prepared to ditch out if things get hairy at home!

if this was an everyday thing i wouldn't be so cavalier, but even my super-high-needs DD could handle 5 hours away every once in a while at that age

 

[limabean]

Your son will probably be fine either way for an occasional date night. My DD is 11 months, and although she eats a substantial amount of solids (like a whole container of yogurt and half a banana in one sitting), she still nurses every 3 hours during the day. But she'd probably be okay getting only solids (more frequently) if I was gone for 5 hours.

Do you not want your son having a bottle of EBM, though? I don't see what harm it would do to just pump enough so that you have a few feedings stored up in the freezer (and experiment with bottles beforehand so you know he'll take one) so that you can put your mind at ease knowing that if he needs milk while you're gone he'll be taken care of.

 

[NicaG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by not_telling It's definitely not something I plan to do often, but DH and I have only been alone together one time (!) since DS was born...we went out to dinner nearby and were home in 1.5 hours. DH's birthday is coming up and I thought it would be nice if we could have a birthday "date"...leaving DS with my parents. Basically, I don't want DS to have a meltdown because he's hungry ('course he could have a meltdown for many other reasons...). I'm fine with nursing a little more frequently earlier in the day. I just wanted to find out if a "solids meal" would be likely to tide him over till we get back.

I think it will be fine! I totally understand (I can't remember the last time dh and I had a date night). Have some fun! It's not like you're planning to do this every night. A "solids meal" is real food and calories, it should tide him over.

 

[Sunshine4004]

I think it is totally possible. My DS drinks EBM from a bottle because I work full-time so I don't know if that makes any difference. He drinks his morning bottle around 10AM, eats solids (veggie, meat, fruit) at 1ish, drinks afternoon bottle 2:30-3ish. I am not sure though if you are feeding as much solids as I am. DS has a sectioned child's plate that is pretty filled with his lunch foods. He eats every bite and would probably eat more if it was offered to him.