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Home › Articles › Breastfeeding › Get Away!

Get Away!

Hitting the Road Without Baby

By Teri Brown

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  • If possible, Baby should remain on breast milk. This requires a considerable amount of planning, as Mom will need to leave between 24 and 30 ounces of milk per 24 hours of her absence.
  • If it is not possible to leave breast milk behind, Baby should be introduced to formula prior to the trip. This will ensure that the infant can tolerate it.
  • The child should be able to take milk from a bottle or cup. The caregiver should do a "dry run" prior to the mother leaving.
Preparing the Caregiver
Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician and co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year (Windsor Peak Press, 2003), says that caregivers should be prepared for anything. "Some babies can be rather stubborn and initially refuse a bottle, but know that their hunger drive will eventually override their stubbornness," he says. "Also, be prepared for setbacks, especially with an older baby who has a mind of his own!"

Other tips for the caregiver include these:

  • Offer bottles more horizontally so Baby has to "work" to get the milk out. This keeps Baby more occupied during feeding and distracts him from the unfamiliarity of the situation.
  • Be consistent. Try to keep Baby on the same feeding and sleep schedule that Mom does.
  • Keep an article of clothing that smells strongly of the mother for the baby to cuddle with.

A short weekend without Baby doesn't have to be a nightmare experience. Babies adapt, and mothers can pump to avoid engorgement and keep their milk supply intact. After all that, just think how happy you will both be when you are together again!


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