What type of milk for occasional feeds

[*star*]

Hi!

DS is 9 months and we exclusively breastfeed. With my DD I used to express and have her bottle fed EBM while occasionally away from her to play sport, etc. However, DS steadfastly refused the bottle and thus he has not yet had a single feed away from me.

He is now capable of drinking from a cup and I think would happily have a feed away from me - quite often I have to remind him to have a lunchtime feed, which is generally very quick.

I'm wondering what the best option for milk would be to give him if I were to be away from him? The difficulty is that I don't think I have enough supply to pump as I did with DD. Can I go with cows milk for the odd feed? I know it's preferable to wait until 12 months, but I'm wondering if that's more for making that the "usual" type of milk. Or do I have to do formula (never used the stuff and not particularly keen to)?

[Kazzo]

Hope you don't mind me bumping this I have been wondering the same and adding does anyone have any tips for getting a 10month old to take a bottle/cup/sippy bottle of anything. DD2 wants nothing but to be BF and I have to return to work soon (2 days a week for 4 hours a day) and I am having zero luck getting her to take anything.

[megs]

I would think that a little bit of cow's milk would be fine.

With my first son I had to return to work part time when he was about 10 months old, I also didn't have the supply to express and he was in daycare for 2 days a week. My MCNH said he would be fine as he goes over 8 hours at night between feeds. (at that age he was having a morning and night feed). He didn't like straight cow's milk so he had it watered down.

I would think for the amount that he would be drinking it would be fine, if it was going to be on a regular basis you may need to look at forumula but his diet would be varied and contain other sources of dairy in it now anyway.

[onthefly]

How much is he eating otherwise? (food I mean)
Cow's milk might be ok if it's just a part of a full diet, but not if you plan to replace breastmilk with it (as it is not a complete food for infants). So a bit of milk, plus other food, to replace a feed (if that makes sense?)
Kazzo you may find that she will take it if you're not there and there's nothing else on offer. Or she might not and just wait till you get back.

[Just Me]

I have gone out a couple of times away from my 7 month DS ... he eats extremely well for a 7 month old (5 solid meals a day - as much as my toddlers) ... anyway, I found he took a bottle of water quite happily until I got home and could feed him (which was 4 hours in one case). I don't do it all the time, but he sometimes has water when he is unsettled and it is enough for him but it is really hot here and all my kids have needed to drink a lot.