2 quick q's: please help

[alicesmum]

hi all

i have to go away from alice for a week when she is 12 months old. I really want to keep br'feeding her but refuse to express express express before I go away as I know that will only make my boobs go haywire while i'm away from her. So, lucky for me she will drink formula if need be. So, here are my questions:

1. Should she drink toddler formula or cow's milk for that week I'm away (i reckon formula as she will only be just 12 months, but my dr said cow's milk would be fine. i agree with Veronica (cows milk is for calves) though we drink it and have no allergies. WHat have other people used at 12months?? Cow's milk or toddler formula??????????

2. I'm hoping I won't need to express much while I'm away as I will be VERY busy a this international conference. Will not expressing (or not much) significantly reduce my milk supply???? (would like to resume when i get back)

THANKS in advance for your thoughts on my questions!

rachel

[draught]

Rachel
Can't help much on the expressing question but can tell you that at 12 months I was weaning DD1 down to 2 breast feeds a day and the rest was cow's milk. She has never had formula (I have nothing against it, we just didn't need to use it) and was and still is, very happy drinking cow's milk. The advice from Robin Barker in "Baby Love" is that babies that age who have been breast fed don't need formula and that toddlers don't need formula and that it is a money-making marketing ploy by the multi-nationals who tell us that they do. Toddler formula has only been on the market for a few years and babies before that went from formula to cows milk with no dramas.

On the expressing front I don't have personal experience but my sister weaned her 15 month old by going to a conference for a week and not expressing while she was away. When she returned she had no supply which was her intention. I think you will need to express to keep a supply - it does work on the supply and demand principle, but can't help with how much you will need to do to keep it happening.

Hope the conference is somewhere glamorous with good shopping!

[alicesmum]

thanks theresa
yes, hawaii, so not sure if it's good shopping but will be good fun anyway I'm sure (though I think I'll miss her A LOT!).

thanks for that. I think I will express once a day for the week while away and resume when i get back (if she wants to) and I guess that will reinvigorate it.

thanks for your opinions of toddler formula. i agree with you. given they have only been on the market for a short time it does sound like a bit of a ploy. i think I'll just give her cow's milk while I'm away.

thanks again
rachel

[draught]

I haven't been to Hawaii for years but it had great shopping back then. And anywhere in America is good for labels like Osh Kosh and Baby Gap - really cheap compared to here, even with the exchange rate. Of course you can always shop for yourself too........and without a child attached to you!

[H&B'sMum]

To maintain you supply you will need to express at the same times as you would normally be feeding Alice. This way your body still thinks you need the milk and will keep making it.

You should, however, be prepared that Alice may not want to go back to the breast after having a week of cows milk. She may go straight back to it but just be prepared if she doesn't.

Harry has never had forumal in his life. He went straight from breast to cows milk. I agree with Draught and Robin Barker that toddler forumal is only a marketing ploy to confuse parents and to make money. Cows milk is perfectly fine for children to have.

Have fun in Hawaii and enjoy the shopping.