How many ounces of BM does your baby consume at daycare?

[Anonymous]

I am curious to know what other moms who exclusively nurse and give their baby breastmilk in bottles (no formula) do. My baby is almost 6 months old and is about 15-16 pounds and has had only breastmilk (and some cereal) so far. I typically send 12 ounces to daycare -- 4 bottles with 3 ounces each. The fourth bottle just has a cap on it in case the provider needs extra milk to add to one of the other 3 ounce bottles. The baby drinks 3 or 3.5 or 4 ounces -- but usually I get back an ounce or two at the end of the day. Lately, the provider has been asking for 4 ounces (or more) in each bottle but I am hesitant. I don't want her to feed him more just because it's in the bottle if he is satisfied with less. Also, it is my understanding that the more he eats at daycare from bottles, the less he will want to nurse at night/mornings, although so far I have not had any issues with that, but I don't want the baby to be hungry either. But as long as she is typically sending me home with leftovers at the end of the day I don't think I need to send more. She has 6 ounces in her freezer for an emergency. She had mentioned that another baby who is on formula fed and is around the same age eats 6 ounces at a time and I reminded her that breastfed babies consume less than formula fed babies because they are digested differently. My baby is growing and gaining weight just fine. I have a pediatrician appointment this week and will find out more. I have also signed up for a class at the DC Breastfeeding Center on feeding the older baby so that should answer a lot of questions. I explained that I wanted to do these two things before beefing up the food supply. Any thoughts out there? How many ounces do you send with your baby who is about the same age/weight? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on making it to the 6 mo EBF milestone! I can't remember exactly how much BM my daughter was drinking in bottles when she was 6 mo old but I am attaching a link to Kellymom that has a BM calculator to help you determine how much to send in bottles. Of course its just a guideline, but it should be helpful. I bet the class at the BFing center will also get you some good info combined with whatever your ped says. Sounds like your baby is doing great & growing well! I have heard that same thing - that the more they drink during the day, the less they will take from you at night. Good luck!!! http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

[Anonymous]

My DD who is 3.5 months old gets 3-4 4oz bottles per day of breast milk. This is what my pediatrician recommended.

[Anonymous]

From the Kellymom article mentioned above: In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months (though it likely increases short term during growth spurts). Current breastfeeding research does not indicate that breastmilk intake changes with baby's age or weight between one and six months. After six months, breastmilk intake will continue at this same level until -- sometime after six months, depending in baby's intake from other foods -- baby's milk intake begins to decrease gradually.

[Anonymous]

Mine took 3 5.5-6 oz bottles a day at that age.

I don't think at this point you should worry about the baby preferring bottles to breast feeding. So don't hold back on milk during the day just for that reason.

I also don't think your baby is just going to drink extra bottle milk because it's there, any more than he drinks extra milk during BF because it's there. At this age they stop when they don't want any more, and that's a natural way for them to regulate their calorie intake. So if your baby takes more during the day, it could be because he is growing and changing. Maybe your caregiver can explain why they want more.

[Anonymous]

Congrats! That is a huge commitment! I EBF for 13 months (and actually miss those days).

My baby would get 4 bottles of 4 ounces each and I moved up to 4.5 or 5 as she got a little older. It may be that your caregiver does not want to be pouring the extra milk and yiur baby is consistently drinking 4 ounces a feeding. Our daycare will not do pouring. They start a bottle and for health/safety reasons, the baby must finish within a certain time. This is consistent with advice in books about starting bottles and not letting them sit
for hours (even in the fridge).

I agree that your baby will not drink just to drinl (unlike formula fed), because BM has chemicals that help a baby feel done.

Ask your caregiver hoiw much baby drinks per feeding and go from there.

My baby did not seem to be affected by daycare feedings. Breastfeeding is a relationship and special bond and she seemed to want that tim with mommy.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Sorry for my crazy typing! Too early!

[Anonymous]

My son is almost one year old, and weighs about 22 pounds. He gets four three ounce bottles at daycare. He's there from 8:30 - 5:00. Despite requests from the daycare, I never increased the amount of his bottles.

I had a crisis of confidence at around the six month mark, when my provider started telling me the same thing that yours is telling you, and this advice was the best advice I got from DCUM: You are doing great, and just smile and say yes, and continue sending the bottles as you have been sending them.

12 oz of breast milk is enough. Don't let the daycare provider dictate how much you leave, or you will be sending larger and larger bottles as the baby gets older, which is unnecessary in a breastfed baby.

If you feed baby during the day, they won't feed at night. You are right to think that if your son needs more than 12 oz of BM, that he will get that at home with you.

Your baby will soon add solids to his routine (mine didn't until he was nearly 8 months old) which will take some of the pressure off.

You're doing great, and trust your gut.

[Anonymous]

I think all babies are different. This is my experience though. I always send extra breastmilk in case my DS is extra hungry that day-- the amount he takes each day varies by at least 4 oz. Before he started solids, I was sending 18 oz. Some days he would take it all, some days only 12-14 oz (at 6 mo he weighed 16.5lbs). I don't think you have to worry about him taking too much breastmilk-my DS won't drink it if he's not hungry.
Now that I've started solids, he's taking less-- anywhere from 8-16 oz at daycare (including the BM mixed with cereal, if I send cereal).

[Anonymous]

Our baby is 6 months old and EBF, too. I send her to daycare with 3 bottles with 4 oz each, plus a fourth bottle with 2-4 oz in case she gets extra hungry. (Depends on how much I've been able to pump the day before.) Maybe half the time she eats the extra. The other times we bring it home and give it to her as a snack before the last feed of the night.

I guess I'm just curious about the worry that the more your baby eats at day care the less s/he'll eat at night. That's a GOOD thing as far as I'm concerned. We get a great BF session right before bed and another one when she wakes up in the morning. I'd LOVE to skip the 3 am feeding in between, but she clearly needs the calories right now so I'm doing it. But if she ate more at daycare and we could all sleep through the night, I'd be thrilled! Is there someting I'm missing?

[Anonymous]

To PP - if you can't produce enough milk to make the extra bottles, you will end up supplementing with formula

[Anonymous]

My 4.5 month old drinks 3 5 oz. bottles of EBM at daycare.

[Anonymous]

My 7-month-old drinks 4 5-oz bottles at daycare, but he has been doing that since about 4.5 months so his appetite has been consistent. In fact, since we introduced solids a few weeks ago (I feed him breakfast and dinner at home), he sometimes leaves a half ounce or so in his bottles, so if anything, I think his demand has decreased. I think as long as you're getting leftovers back, she has emergency extras, and your baby's weight is on track, you're fine.

[Anonymous]

Babies vary each day with how much they take. During growth spurts, there were times my DS would take 6-10 ounces more each day during those weeks. His usual intake at 6 months was three 5.5-6 ounce bottles every 3 hours. He continued to take another two 6 ounce bottles at home. During his 6-month growth spurt, he would take 35 - 40 ounces daily (I know, that sounds like a lot!). At that time, we were also giving him 2 meals of solids (2.5 ounces of veggies/fruits/oatmeal). He was about 16.2 lbs (slightly more than 50%-ile for weight).

I don't think you should hold back from feeding your DC more at daycare. Babies are very good at regulating what/how much they want to eat. So just be happy that DC wants more to eat.

[Anonymous]

All babies are different but I think you should give your baby as much as he wants at this age. You don't want him to be hungry just b/c he's at daycare. My son is 6 mo also and 16.5 lbs and gets exclusively breast milk but he eats 3 or 4 bottles of 7 oz at daycare each day, plus a jar of veggies. He also gets cereal in the AM and PM as well as whatever BM he eats then. On the other hand, my other child ate much less than this at the same stage. My view has always been if they want more they should get more while they are under 1 year at least.