My son will be nearly 13months old at the end of the month. I have not been away from him overnight, ever. We coslept until he was 11months and he transitioned great into his crib. Some nights he doesn't even need me, but I do always nurse him to sleepliness. My husband and I will be celebrating our 5yr anniversary. We are going out of town, but rather than leaving him and our 2yr daughter (which I don't worry about) back home with family 2hrs away from us, we are taking them with us. We are going somewhere that we have family and my mom will go visit the family we have and keep the kids there. I'm so nervous for so many reasons. DS is one of those kids who is into EVERYTHING, in a bad kind of way too. Plus I'm nervous about him being unable to nurse. I hope to have a little bit of stash breastmilk pumped, meanwhile I'm getting him used to other milk (still nursing) so he will atleast take a sippy or two both days. We will be close enough that we can make a 3am trip to get him if needed. I'm just nervous at how hard it will be on my family that will be keeping him. I'm also nervous that 1-2 days without me and without nursing will make him give it up for good. Already half or more of the time I am the one that prompts a feeding. Sometimes he nurses and just drinks "sips" other times he seems to really need and enjoy it, most of the time its not the former. I really don't want to end our nursing until he is 2. My husband thinks its time to quit, but he isn't making me quit or anything. Please give me some input about my concerns, and help calm my mind. We may be able to pop in at times so I can nurse him, which is pro about being close.
So you will be a few hours away for two days? Thats tough, but you can get through it, it will be fine. My 17 month old is a handful (always has been) and even though it may be a challenge for my mom (who I leave him with) they always manage. I don't leave for that long, but I have left during nap times, and he has taken a nap without nursing to sleep before.
Being away for a few days, and using a sippy cup during those days I can't see that causing him to wean. When I was going to have my second child, my first child was very attached to nursing. Although he was 20 months when my second child was born, I did leave him over night....and he did fine and was SOOOOO excited to nurse again when he saw me. A few does without nursing does not mean he will wean, thats all I'm getting at. As far as the other stuff goes, being seperated is difficult, especially if its a first time. I don't know what to say about that, expect that I completely understand!
Since he is over 13 months he doesn't need to drink cow's milk even when you are gone. To meet all of his "milk" needs according to the US government he would need about 10 oz of human milk since it is more bioavailable. That is if he doesn't eat any food with milk in it. If he eats food with milk in it he would need even less than the 10 oz. However, a toddler doesn't have to meet their needs every day. If they have less a couple of days a month and more on the other days of the month then it balances out. If he starts drinking cow's milk he could get constipation, digestive problems, have problems with eating other foods, and other problems.
You never know if a toddler will nurse after time away. Most do but the stories the mothers tell of the toddlers that refuse are so sad. It can be the end of the breastfeeding relationship. Some women don't have any fun if they leave their children behind. Women may leave kids behind to please their husbands, not have fun, everything go wrong, and the relationship falls apart. Since you are nervous a nice anniversary dinner may be better for everyone. I'm sorry I'm not calming your mind.
Let me give you the flip side. When my son was born, I was a road warrior. Worked fukll time and had to travel a few times a year, with two of those trips being ten days long.
NEVER an issue. Not a single one. Kids do for others what they will never do for parents... and mine slept without nursing just fine. And when I got home, just like I'd never ever been gone. Kids also have zero time sense, you know. **grin**
Went back to work at 10 weeks. Nursed to 26 months. Usually traveling is far harder on mom than on the kiddoes... you have to pump often to maintain supply.
Thanks you guys. Yes we are going out of town, 2hrs away, but he will be in the same town as us staying with family. IF he needs it we can drive by and I can nurse or if he needs we can take him with us to sleep where we are staying. I just want to know he will be ok so I can enjoy some MUCH NEEDED time with my truck driving husband.
In ER with baby
- elliesmommy404
on Feb. 6, 2012 at 5:26 PM