[Holidayromp]

i always fed to sleep, co slept etc and i was actually surprised how little the daycare interfered with things for us at home. at daycare she quickly learned to go to sleep with a pat on the back etc - she was perfectly adaptable at that age.

This was the same with DD1. I faffed around with expressed milk in a sippy cup and it really wasn't required in the end. She adapted very well and took full advantage of booby by the time I got home. In the early days despite expressing at work, I would still have over supply and she would such have a great feed that she wouldn't eat her dinner. It took a week or so of this before my supply adjusted. But she was about 13 months though.

[laridae]

At 11 months old my DD wasn't having a feed during the day anymore anyway - so I'd be inclined not to bother. Sippy cups with water or milk would be fine.

You could use it as a good opportunity to introduce him to other methods of getting to sleep. The first day my DD went to daycare (its across the road from my work) she wouldn't sleep so I went over to try and give her a feed - it didn't make her go to sleep either - but the carers worked out something that worked.

[butterflies]

Maybe just keep your options open, if he does settle with her bfing him then you know he has that option, maybe leave her with a few sachets of formula or EBM and maybe even think about using an electric pump, you might get more out of that rather than a hand pump.


In saying that at that age two of my kids were only having two of not one bf feed, one morning and one night or just the morning and there was no supply issue.

good luck

[SlinkyMalinki]

No, definitely wouldn't consider it.

But I've been an evil formula feeding mum since DD was 8 months.

[wrena]

The age gap shouldn't matter at all at this age and she would have been tested for transmissible diseases when pregnant. My SIL and I fed each others bubs when babysitting and will do so with future babies if they are close in age. It's so reassuring to know that your LO can get that kind of comfort if they need to when you're not with them. Although, by 11 months having different sleep associations with different people should be easy enough

[bottle~rocket]

I think it's lovely that your friend has offered to do this. I haven't ever had anyone else BF DS but given the opportunity would be happy with it.

When the mother and the other woman are equals it's generally referred to as cross-nursing (wet nursing has connotations of exploitation). I have read lots about women cross nursing when they were minding each others toddlers, it's more for comfort than for nutrition. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that our society isn't that comfortable with it.

This post has been edited by bottle~rocket: 30/07/2012, 10:31 PM

[Starblossom]

I think I'll just leave it on the table. If she can't settle him and wants to offer him boob then she can. If he takes it he does, if he doesn't he doesn't.

Thanks everyone

[ubermum]

As long as you are comfortable with it, I would leave it up to your son and his carer to decide what works best for them. I have breastfed my best friends dd. It worked for us. It hasn't had any lasting effects for any of us. I think it's really nice that your friend can do this and if it makes your ds a more settled baby then win win.

[CallMeProtart]

People in modern western society get a bit erky about this.

But for me, I'd have no problem with it. My SIL fed my DD, and would have been happy for me to reciprocate but I was too scared for my nipples as her son was older! DD had a sensitive tummy and I COULD see a difference in her getting 'older baby' milk, but I think 'younger baby' milk is just fine (and SIL's still beat the pants off formula, which DD reacted to terribly).

So for me, I'd play it by ear, and if it comes be necessary (at 11mo I bet it won't), then no biggy, and HOW NICE to have the option...

[ubermum]

People in modern western society get a bit erky about this.

Yep. I find it a bit odd that people are comfortable to feed milk that is produced by an animal, but not by someone who they trust to care for their child.