daycare...?

[spicysalmonroll]

My little guy started daycare last week at 12 weeks old. He doesn't seem to be eating very much while there... I give her 4 bottles of 3oz pumped each day. He's been taking 1-2 full bottles and half of a 3rd and not touching the 4th. So basically eating about 8oz all day. Then when I get home, he's so excited for me that he nurses 30 minutes until he pukes. And wants to nurse every hour for the 3 hours until bedtime. Is this normal? He doesn't do that on the weekend when I'm home all day. I hope he doesn't feel "starving" when I get home because she has more than enough to give him during the day and he just isn't taking it all. It's only been a week and a half, maybe he will adjust more over time?

[vvvvvfee]

first of all, hugs! it will get better and your LO should adjust in a couple of weeks. some kids are just very particular about taking bottles, but he'll get the hang of it.

my DS1 had no issues taking bottles, and would finish 3, 4-oz bottles from the start at DC, but DS2 was like your LO. for the first several weeks at DC, he was just taking 6ish ounces over the 9 hours he was there. slowly he upped to 8 oz, and then 12 oz. and of course he was desperate to nurse when i got home.

since your LO is gorging himself to the point of stomach upset, though, i would try to cut him off before that point. like let him go for 15-20 minutes, and then take him off, burp him, cuddle him- maybe hold or wear him while you eat dinner or prep for the next day- and then let him nurse again.

are you nursing LO immediately before DC drop-off? i would nurse DS2 in the morning and then again when i got to DC so i could try to tide him over as long as possible since he was drinking so little while there.

if you haven't already, you could try a different brand of bottle, have DC try heating up the milk so that it's very warm, or have them warm the bottle nipple under hot water before feedings. different bottles didn't make a difference for my LO, but he did seem to prefer the milk quite warm.

and p.s. it will be nice to have that extra buffer of leftover milk in your freezer stash later!

[heartofglass]

My LO was the same way. He would eat fine at home when he stayed with family (12-15oz), but would only take 6-9oz at DC. Part of it was that they wouldn't heat the milk enough, he liked it almost hot, and the bottles we used needed longer warming times than others. Also I think everything going on there was too distracting.
I normally nursed about 30 minutes before drop off, then offered as soon as I picked him up. And like your LO, he wanted to nurse multiple times in the evening and overnight.

[emmyg65]

Yep, that sounds normal. He's just getting used to things. A typical BF baby takes about an ounce an hour, so even if he's there for 10 hours, he's still eating just about enough. Try to nurse right before drop off (or even at daycare before leaving) and when you get home. I like the suggestion to limit that first session after work.

[saraml13]

Yep, totally normal. DS2 would only take 8-9oz his first month at daycare. He also started waking up more at night to nurse. He gradually started taking bottles better at daycare, but was never really a huge eater there.

[spicysalmonroll]

Thanks guys!!
We practiced giving him bottles a few weeks ago and we went through like 8 different kinds before we found the ones he liked so that shouldn't be the problem. Maybe she isn't heating it up enough though. I do feed him about 20 minutes before drop off, right before we head out the door so he is held over for a little while.

I will try to just give him one side when I get home and then make him wait a little to digest. Glad to hear this has happened to others!
He used to sleep 6-7 hours at night and lately he's only been going 3. I hope as he gets adjusted he will take more during the day and get back to his old sleep habits because it's killing me at work lol

[spicysalmonroll]

saraml13, I see your siggy has a 10/17 due date... has he/she arrived yet?!

[saraml13]

Oct 20, 2016 12:20:12 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

saraml13, I see your siggy has a 10/17 due date... has he/she arrived yet?!

I need to update! DS2 (William Andrew) was born 10/12.

[spicysalmonroll]

Oct 21, 2016 1:44:47 GMT -5 saraml13 said:

Oct 20, 2016 12:20:12 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

saraml13 , I see your siggy has a 10/17 due date... has he/she arrived yet?!

I need to update! DS2 (William Andrew) was born 10/12.

aaaaaw congrats!!!

[kensie5226]

Sorry, but that sounds about right. E did this for the first few weeks. Eventually it became her new normal and we didn't have any trouble after that. Try and enjoy the snuggles!

[WittyLittle]

I think it's called reverse cycling if you want to look it up. DS used to do this even though we EPd, he never got the hang of drinking his.milk at daycare or even when grandparents etc would give him his bottle at home. We gave him 2oz extra in his bottle before and after daycare and usually expected an extra night feed on those nights.