Leaving 5 month old nursing baby for 6 days. Advice needed!

[Jenny-momof3]

We have a trip coming up beginning of June. I'm debating what to do here.

We have the option of leaving our 5 month old little boy behind if we want to. My other kids are 15,11 and 5. I know they would love having a trip where we can all ride at the same time without doing baby swaps, swim whenever without worring about naps, etc.


He's exclusively breastfed but does take bottles of pumped milk very well...in fact he shown no preference. Will take either from me at any time. But I wonder if I leave him for 6 days if I will be able to nurse him again when I return? Anyone have any experience with this?

Still really debating what to do here. We took him on our 10 day trip that we just took 2 weeks ago and it was just fine. He's a really easy happy baby. He won't nurse covered up though so I did have to hike it to the baby centers or pump and feed him which was time consuming. And the high temps were only 75 and he was quite warm then. I'm just worried about taking him in the hot June temps.

 

[PrinceCharmingsMom]

I took my DS at that age...he actually really loved it...totally into the Haunted Mansion and Pirate Boat...he spent most of his time in the stroller looking around..but I am really glad I took him. He is now 2.5 and has been a gillion times since then but is still in love with the Haunted Mansion...

To combat the heat I got 2 of the clip on stroller fans and put one on each side of the stroller so he was kept very cooled...I actually still use them when we go starting in April thru Nov...

I got mine from Babies R Us its a pinwheel design inside and made so their fingers can't get in...but then we bought Mickey ones at DHS and clipped those on...looked like Mickey was holding the stroller...but just to let you know those don't work well upside down...pinwheel can hang in any direction and work like a charm...

 

[Maggie'sMom]

He's exclusively breastfed but does take bottles of pumped milk very well...in fact he shown no preference. Will take either from me at any time. But I wonder if I leave him for 6 days if I will be able to nurse him again when I return? Anyone have any experience with this?

The biggest problem I see is your own comfort. If you don't nurse or pump for those 6 days, you will likely be miserably engorged. Not a fun way to spend your vacation. It's likely that you could return to bfng after 6 days off and reestablish your milk supply (because it will have decreased) without too much trouble. But if you decide to leave your infant at home, it would be best to pump at least a few times a day to keep your milk supply up and to relieve your engorgement.

There are many alternatives to hiking back to the baby care center to nurse. If you aren't comfortable nursing in public without being covered up, then take advantage of dark rides and shows which would still offer a little more privacy than a bench next to a major walkway. In MK, I've always heard the Hall of Presidents is a great nursing spot, as is the TTA. In Epcot, Spaceship Earth is good, as is any of the movies in the World Showcase. AK has Nemo and FOTLK. I'm sure other moms can chip in with their preferred nursing spots.

 

[VanessainWonderland]

I would just take the baby. He will sleep in the stroller, and you will be miserable unless you take your breast pump and pump at the park to keep your milk going....

And that means going back to the room to plug it in. And then freeze it.. How would you do that? (unless you just throw the milk away)

I dried up pretty quick when I stopped breastfeeding, about 3 days. You may risk drying up as well if you do not pump.

Magic Kingdom has a baby care center, and I am pretty sure EPCOT has one too. You can rock the baby, change him, feed him, etc. at the BCC.

I think in your case it will be a hassle either way, so might as well take the baby unless you stop breastfeeding and dry up before. Your ****s will hurt really bad without any relief without him. Oh and then there is the leaking UGH! Not attractive! It happened to me!

 

[VanessainWonderland]

The biggest problem I see is your own comfort. If you don't nurse or pump for those 6 days, you will likely be miserably engorged. Not a fun way to spend your vacation. It's likely that you could return to bfng after 6 days off and reestablish your milk supply (because it will have decreased) without too much trouble. But if you decide to leave your infant at home, it would be best to pump at least a few times a day to keep your milk supply up and to relieve your engorgement.

There are many alternatives to hiking back to the baby care center to nurse. If you aren't comfortable nursing in public without being covered up, then take advantage of dark rides and shows which would still offer a little more privacy than a bench next to a major walkway. In MK, I've always heard the Hall of Presidents is a great nursing spot, as is the TTA. In Epcot, Spaceship Earth is good, as is any of the movies in the World Showcase. AK has Nemo and FOTLK. I'm sure other moms can chip in with their preferred nursing spots.

This is some great advice! I have not been in this situation at the parks, but will keep this in mind for next time.

 

[GingerJay]

I think that as long as you are able to pump frequently while you are gone, you and the baby will probably be fine. You may want to try him on a little formula or something just to make sure he likes it and it agrees with him in case your frozen supply runs out while you're gone.

 

[myweegirls]

If you bring your wee one, each of the parks now has a baby supply/nursing/rest area that blew my mind last year. What I wouldn't have given for a spot like this! The little shop inside had everything you could imagine needing on the spot for your wee one. The nursing room was full of rockers and was quiet and a lovely place to nurse. The changing room had lots of big, cushioned tables. It was nursing mom heaven! I was there with DD2, who weaned herself at 13 months (DD1 weaned herself at 20 months - I didn't see the end coming with either one!). I would have loved spaces like this when DDs were still nursing!

If you don't bring your wee one, check with your hotel/resort about options for storing your pumped milk, unless you feel like your pumped supply at home is adequate (and you can pump and dump - it made me cry to think of dumping that liquid gold!). Then you can get it back home with you in a cooler with plenty of freezer packs (again, ask the resort to hold your freezer packs for you somewhere they'll actually be frozen). If you're flying, breastmilk *is* an allowed carry-on liquid in any quantity - you just have to declare it at the security checkpoint. This wasn't the case for me with DD1, and yes, I actually checked through a cooler of pumped milk. It made it. With DD2, the regulations had been changed, thank goodness.

No matter which option you choose, have a great time!

XO
Liz

 

[Jenny-momof3]

When we were there 2 weeks ago I tried and tried to nurse him in the shows and rides that were dark....but I think he and I just couldn't get comfortable enough and I just couldn't get enough of a letdown. And at AK and Epcot...those baby centers are quite a hike when you've got a baby that needs to eat now!!

I would definitely pump every 4 hours or so if he didn't go with us. I have a manual pump that I actually prefer over my electric one! And I'm not really too worried about storing the milk the whole trip. He has had some formula here and there and does just fine with it so that won't be a problem either.

I'm just worried that he won't nurse when I get back if he goes 6 days straight with bottles only. And I worry if we take him he's just going to get too hot and be miserable. We've gone in June/July the last couple years and I know how terrible hot and humid it gets. Ugh....just don't know what to do!

 

[bumbershoot]

Pumping is a bigger pain in the, well, chest, than stopping to nurse a baby. No way would I leave the baby, b/c you'll be interrupted anyway, and the chance that your supply will have changed and baby will decide to not nurse might not be high, but for me it's too scary to chance. Nursing the baby will be much more simple than having to go off and pump.

Surely the 5 year old cannot go on *everything* yet? So rider switch will have to happen anyway, for some of the rides...

I'm the oldest of 5. Me, my brother is 2 years younger, the half brothers are 13 and 15 years younger, and my half sis (full sister of the two boys)is 25 years younger. From my perspective, family is family, and the youngers aren't resented b/c they can't do everything. Soon the baby won't be a baby and then you can all stand in line together, etc. No need to leave part of the family at home, just so you can stand in some lines altogether, and miss the baby.

Why not practice with naps around the family now? We didn't take DS that young, but we had daytrips during a longer visit to CA, and when DS was tired, he just slept wherever we were. Stroller, in the ergo, wherever. Might not be a need for structured, in-room naps...

 

[mjkacmom]

My gf left her baby for a week, and pumped enough milk beforehand, and had to problem nursing the baby when she got back. I've left babies home before on vacations, and never felt sad about it. The older kids got a baby-break, and the baby and the grandparents had some very special time together.

 

[blessedby3]

I say take the baby--then you have nothing to worry about. He is the best milk extractor and I agree that after a week of not nursing, who knows if he will want to go back. My youngest quit nursing at 4 mos after I had to introduce a bottle (major reflux issues). She nursed some, but preferred the bottle after introducing it. We have traveled with our youngest at 3 mos and 17 mos (next trip is next month at 2 1/2) and for us leaving an infant is not an option. I realize others do it and I have no problem with that if they feel comfortable with it. I just think that for a nursing infant, it is much easier to take them.

 

[El&Asmom]

We took dd at 5m and she did great. I cannot fathom going on vacation with some of my kids, and leaving one behind. To me, they are all part of the family, even if it means sitting some things out to be with them.
I also wouldn't jepordize my nursing relationship with a 5m old to go to Disney. The parks will always be there, but if I had to wean at 5mo just so that I could go to the parks without baby, I would be devastated.
I don't mean to sound harsh as for some it would be a non issue and would work out fine. Just giving my perspective of what I did with my own family when my youngest was 5m and we had our trip last April. Your older kids will learn that baby is part of the family, and we all contribute to the family in one way or the other. They may love seeing their younger sibling enjoying IASM or the parades rather than seeing him as a detractor from their vacation.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[katied]

I would also worry about the heat with baby. DS has been at 6 mo, without any trouble - but that was in Oct. When we took him at 13 mo - late May/early Jun - he was fine to start, but the weather got quite warm by the end of the trip, and there was one day where 2 hrs in the park were too much. We hung out in Baby Care for a couple hrs to cool him down before heading back to the resort. DS does run warm, and is not used to very warm temps. So, with that in mind, if your baby is similiar, I would not recommend a trip where you know your son may overheat. (we had stroller fans, and very light weight clothing, and a misting fan too, but it was just too much for our DS).

As an FYI - I was also a mom who BF, and I took DS everywhere I went for the first year so as not to intrupt that. However, overheating an infant is nothing to joke about too.

 

[lizzyb5280]

I would take the baby. For starters, I agree with the PP who said that family trips are just that, no one gets left behind. That's how I was raised; my parents toted me around Williamsburg, VA when I was barely 2 months old.

As far as the heat goes, plenty of us live in the south but don't stay cooped up in the summertime. As long as you dress your baby sensibly (I'd probably go onesie and socks only, with a light blanket for A/C rides), use mister fans, and either offer extra BFing or extra fluids by bottle, most LOs should be just fine.

And as someone who struggled to exclusively pump for 5 1/2 months b/c my preemie couldn't latch, I wouldn't do anything that would potentially risk my supply.

 

[brymolmom]

I totally see your wanting to give the older ones a 'different' vacation instead of having to cater to the baby.

I haven't read thru thoroughly but not sure if anyone's mentioned it. Is is an option to start weaning him now so that you're not uncomfortable/engorged when you go to WDW? Or just wean down to twice a day - once first thing in am and once at night - that way you can pump just twice a day when there (once your body is used to that routine).

Just a thought...

 

[evedein]

As a nursery nurse, I have taught breast feeding for 17 years. I would not risk loosing a successful breast feeding relationship if at all possible. Pumping several times a day at the park would be a real hassle & would be as much or more of a disruption of family together time as nursing the baby. If you don't pump enough, you risk engorgement (painful- I've been there) &/or insufficient supply when you get home. There's also a big risk that he'll refuse the breast after so many days with only the bottle. The bottle takes so much less effort on his part.
If you do take him, be sure to keep him well hydrated & as cool as possible. Also, protect him from the Florida sun. Babies burn much more easily than older kids.
Have a great trip,
Eve, RN, Nurse Practitioner

 

[roobug]

As a nursery nurse, I have taught breast feeding for 17 years. I would not risk loosing a successful breast feeding relationship if at all possible. Pumping several times a day at the park would be a real hassle & would be as much or more of a disruption of family together time as nursing the baby. If you don't pump enough, you risk engorgement (painful- I've been there) &/or insufficient supply when you get home. There's also a big risk that he'll refuse the breast after so many days with only the bottle. The bottle takes so much less effort on his part.
If you do take him, be sure to keep him well hydrated & as cool as possible. Also, protect him from the Florida sun. Babies burn much more easily than older kids.
Have a great trip,
Eve, RN, Nurse Practitioner

I totally agree with this. And wanted to add that in my experience it can be REALLY hard to get back to BF after a short break. I am BF'd twins, and one was hospitalized so I was with him and didn't nurse his brother for 4 days when he was 6 months. When I got home he wouldn't nurse and it was hard to get him back on - the bottle was much easier and he didn't want to work for his food. And I didn't have to deal with pumping as his brother was nursing the whole time. As one who has been on the side of trying to resestablish a breastfeeding realtionship I wouldn't choose to do anythign to risk that.

 

[tabrizia]

I'd take the 5 month old as well. We took DD at 7 months last October, the weather was 90+ every day we were there and she was fine. I would much rather find the baby care center and nurse then deal with pumping every 3 hours or so, since I would have to find somewhere to do that as well. She did fine in the heat. DS did fine at 5 1/2 months as well in September 2007 when we took him, it wasn't quite as warm as our October trip but it was still in the high 80s low 90s most days.

I won't risk my nursing relationship by leaving a young nursling behind. I would leave my nursing 2 year old so I could go on a trip that wasn't for him, but I won't leave a 5 month old.

 

[nexttripdisney]

"I'm just worried that he won't nurse when I get back if he goes 6 days straight with bottles only."

Because of a medical problem my infant drank breastmilk from a bottle from age 3 months to 5 months. When I latched him on again at 5 months, he took to it like he'd never "been away". So, I had a success story. Check with your pediatrician.

IMHO-I think pumping frequently would be a bigger hassle than taking the baby. I also nursed on dark and/or slow rides. Loved TTA and Spaceship Earth for that. The TTA people will let you stay on as long as you need to if they know you're nursing.

As for keeping him cool, post another question asking for suggestions. We've never experienced WDW in the summer.

 

[sksjasams]

I would take the baby. It would be a gamble whether or not he would pick up nursing again - you would have to be willing to take that risk and be fine with it if he didn't.
When my son was a baby, I worked full-time (and pumped), but still nursed in morning and evening. That was how we reconnected everyday. There is no way he would have been able to give up nursing and me all at once. That's too much to ask for such a little one. Plus, I would've missed him too much.