Returning to work at 10 months, too early for a few Cows milk feeds a day?

I return to work when DD is 10 months, initially I will be full time while DH uses his parental and LSL leave so will be working 5 days.

I plan to continue BF morning, evening (and most likely night if DD wants it), but DD will most likely want 1-2 feeds during the day (I will be leaving at 740am, returning about 450pm) and plan to feed her just before I go, and as soon as I return, but she currently has a mid morning and mid afternoon feed, and may be down to one daytime feed by then (I think DS dropped to one just before he was one). Although I plan to pump, I can usually only get 120mls tops if a miss a feed or two, so could mix feed with formula to make up any short fall if needed.

But would 10 months be to early to just use cows milk if she wants another feed and there isn't enough EBM? From what I've read the main issue is that there isn't as much iron in cows milk as there is in BM/Formula - however, if its only one feed per day would it matter? DD already has cows milk in her weetbix so has it in her diet, and is on three meals a day - Weetbix/Porridge etc for Breakfast, then fruit, homemade custard and/or yoghurt for lunch, and vegies and meat/chicken or fish for dinner - she eats a decent serve (eg about half a toddler bowl full, she has a good appetite for solids) so I am thinking with the continued BF when I am home, the solids etc she'd be getting enough iron so 1-2 bottles of cows milk shouldn't be an issue iron wise?

Is there anything else I need to consider from a nutritional perspective - or should I just have formula as back up for the 2 months until she's one?

I believe there is an increased risk of anaemia to children introduced to cows milk at that age (not in cereal etc, in bottles). I could be wrong though. I do know that we introduced DD1 to some cows milk top ups after BF at around 10 months (I was pregnant and my milk was drying up), probably started on 2 100ml top ups a day. DD1 is now anaemic. I am also anaemic, so I guess that could be why, but honestly I'm not sure. We used donor breastmilk for about a month, but it became difficult sourcing it so I'm ashamed to say we have up with the donor milk after about 1.5 months and started using cows milk. We considered goats milk or goats milk formula, but ended up with cows milk. I honestly feel like I didn't put enough research into it. So for me, I'd say stick to ebm or formula until 12 months+, but that's just me, I could be wrong.

I pump at work twice a day and get between 120-150ml per session. That's not enough for my 9 month old (he's drinking 180mL x 2 at kindy) so I also pump before bed and get another 80-100mL. I've been doing that for the last 3 months. I'm thinking of switching him to 1.5 bottle a day at daycare, including more water during the day in his sippy cup and then nursing morning and evening (and he still wakes over night which I'm sure is helping my supply too). Can you start power pumping to boost your supply a little?

Two months of mix feeding with formula and breastfeeding is fine too, I've always given my hubs the option to use formula while I travel as long as he gives at least one full EBM bottle a day.

Hope sharing this experience helps :)

Nay, you might be surprised - she might be happy to just wait til she sees you. DS1 was 11mths when I returned to work and I pumped for the first week or so but he wasn't really interested while I was away. He'd have a bf at around 5am, then 7am before I left, then he'd have his solids and water. 5pm when I got home he'd have another bf, then also 7pm before bed. Then he'd have another couple overnight.

By 12 months, babies can be having anywhere from 6-12 feeds in 24 hours. So DS1 was having around 6-8 feeds, between the hours of 5pm and 7am! It was crazy and I was exhausted, but he eventually adjusted.

If you can start pumping a bit extra now, once or twice a day, you could build up a stash just to get you through to til she's closer to 12 months and you can see what she's going to do - wait for you or need milk during the day.

Could DH bring her into you for a feed? I understand that's not always possible - my DH would never have wanted to come all the way into the city every day for one feed. But it works for some people :)

Personally I would see how she goes "winging" it especially if she is down to one feed a day. By that I mean I would just provide whatever EBM I could and see how she goes. Lots of kids drink less when mum is not around (she will be home with DH right?) so she might be happy with what you can provide, and just make up for it when you are around. I could be wrong but don't they say that BF most bubs take the same amount in terms of mls but the way they take it differs so say she is having 740ml spread over the whole day when you are at work she might still have same amount but the majority first thing and from you coming home - so I would just go with that idea and see how she does.

I went back to work when DS3 was about 10-11 months. I left EBM but he wasn't interested. He just drank water and ate food until I got home. So he BF morning and after work, night and was fine with it.

I returned to work 1 day a week when DS1 was 11 months old and I fed before I left and when I got home, in between he ate food and drank water.

I would offer the ebm you do have and otherwise not worry re milk.

Awww thanks girls

I don't have a problem with her having formula but would rather that not have to buy it for the a couple of bottles as it seems you can only buy the sticks or the massive tins which are supposed to be used within two weeks of opening - we would never use it all - so an expensive waste

She does drink EBM happily (fresh and defrosted) and has had a couple of bottles of formula when Mums had her so isn't overly fussy about what she drinks. I might start pumping now once a day and build my freezer stash and also increase my supply so I am producing enough to pump for her

I pumped from when my son was 6 weeks old to return to work as a teacher. At 10mnths I stopped pumping - I was over it! He had water in a sippy cup while I was at work and breastfed when I wasn’t. Your little one can have cows milk in a cup if it agrees with them. It’s just like any other food. But she doesn’t have to have *bottles* while you are away - she is a big girl now! Babies breastfeed for a lot of reasons - the least of which is for food at this age! She is smart enough to know that if you are not there boob is not an option and will occupy herself in other ways.

When I couldn't pump enough EBM for all of DS's feeds when I was at work, we supplemented with some cow's milk and some formula. Went fine. We kept a close eye on them to see if there was any hint of allergy or intolerance, but there's wasn't. All good :)

And frankly, I preferred the idea of cow's milk (natural, permeate free) than formula.

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And frankly, I preferred the idea of cow's milk (natural, permeate free) than formula.

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I agree too. We went to A2 when we introduced cows milk and alternated it with almond milk, rice milk and oat milk. We still do now, we're not cows after all ;)