Expert: ruth kraft - 11/14/2009

Question
I am starting my son in daycare in January and have started to express some milk.  I am really confused as to how much milk he will need at daycare.  He is on solids -a usual day would be 1 baby yoghurt, avocado, about 10 blueberries and one other fruit, then maybe pumpkin for dinner.  If I breastfeed him at 6.00am and he is in day care from 8-4pm how many mls do I need to send with him?  I read 150 mls per kg of body weight and he is about 8kg but how much of that is he getting in the normal morning and night breastfeeds and do solids change this??? I am so confused!  

Answer
My suggestion, is not to worry about any of the numbers. Nurse him before you go.  2 weeks before you go back to work, start pumping on the schedule you will have at work. then, Send with him those feedings that you pump while you are at work.  feed him that and his regular solid meals. If he still needs more milk, he will make up for it when he is home with you in the evenings or eat a bigger meal during the day. Breastfed babies always will get what they needs. ALways. if you let them nurse :)  So, make it simple... the only thing you need to watch for, is if he is a happy baby, having wet diapers every day like normal, and thats it... then trust, he knows what hes doing when he nurses :)  I hope that helped :) We put way too much stress on ourselves... Even if he had no milk during the day, he would still make up for it at night :) Take deep breaths and know, you are doing EXCELLENT !