How much breast milk should I send to daycare?

How Much Breast Milk Should You Send to Daycare?
As a breastfeeding parent preparing to return to work, one of the most pressing questions is how much breast milk to send to daycare. This decision can feel overwhelming, but understanding your baby’s needs and the daycare’s schedule can help you make an informed choice.
Understanding Your Baby’s Needs
The amount of breast milk your baby requires while at daycare largely depends on their age and feeding habits. For infants, especially those under six months, the general guideline is to provide about 1.5 ounces of breast milk per hour that your baby will be at daycare. For example, if your baby will be at daycare for nine hours, you would need to send approximately 13.5 ounces of milk.
As babies grow and start eating solids, their milk intake may decrease. For babies over six months, the need for breast milk can vary, and you might find that they require less as they begin to consume more solid foods.
Feeding Frequency
Most infants will need to eat every 2-3 hours, which means you should plan to send enough milk for multiple feedings throughout the day. If your baby typically consumes 3-5 ounces per feeding, you can adjust the total amount accordingly. For instance, if you send three 4-ounce bottles, that totals 12 ounces, which may be sufficient for a typical day.
Pumping and Storage Considerations
To ensure you have enough milk, many parents find it helpful to pump throughout the day. For example, one parent reported pumping five times a day and collecting around 10 ounces, which they felt was adequate for daycare. It’s essential to keep track of your pumping schedule and adjust it based on your baby’s needs and your milk supply.
When preparing milk for daycare, consider freezing extra milk in bags to avoid waste. You can defrost milk the day before and store it in the refrigerator. Labeling bottles with the date and time can help ensure that the oldest milk is used first, minimizing spoilage.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the amount of breast milk to send to daycare will depend on your baby’s specific needs and the duration they will be away from you. By calculating based on their feeding habits and adjusting for their age, you can confidently prepare enough milk for their day at daycare. Remember, communication with your daycare provider can also help ensure that your baby is fed appropriately and that any leftover milk is stored correctly for future use.

What is the minimum amount of breastmilk that is beneficial?

In fact, there is some research that indicates that even as little as 50 ml of breastmilk per day may help prevent disease in breastfed babies. Additionally, our body recognizes the importance of this protection and increases the concentration of SigA as our milk supply begins to decrease.

How many bottles should I send to daycare?

In an 8-9 hour day at childcare, most breastfed babies will take between 8 and 15 oz of milk. I know, that’s a huge range! But really, only you and your baby can figure it out. The best guideline is to pump once for each missed feeding, see how much milk you get, and then send that amount.

Is one bottle of breastmilk a day worth it?

Any amount of breast milk has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.

How much breast milk should I take to daycare?

Breastfed babies need 1-1.5 ounces of milk for every hour you are away from them. If you are sending 12 oz for an 8 hour day, that should be plenty. If you are away from your baby 9-10 hours maybe you could pump occasionally on your days off to send 15 oz max for a 10 hour day.

How do you not waste breast milk at daycare?

Keep a few extra 1oz bags of breastmilk in the freezer or fridge. That way, if your baby’s caregiver really needs to offer your baby a little bit more, it is a small amount and won’t go to waste. Use the milk calculator to figure out how much your baby will need per bottle.

What is the 120 breastfeeding rule?

The 120-minute rule is a helpful guideline for exclusive pumpers. It suggests spending at least 120 minutes (or 2 hours) each day pumping. How you divide that time depends on your baby’s age.

How much breastmilk do I need to donate?

At The Milk Bank, we ask most milk donors commit to donating 100 ounces of extra breast milk by baby’s second birthday. Some donors make a one-time donation and others donate over time. Interestingly, this time frame is regulated by states and not all milk banks are able to accept milk up until baby turns two!

How should I send breast milk to daycare?

Logistics of sending pumped milk with LO to daycare

• Send chilled breastmilk bottles portioned out per feed (I will most likely send milk pumped from day before so no need to freeze I guess?)
• Pack bottles in cooler bag with ice packs
• Ask daycare if I can store frozen milk in their freezer as a back up

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

How much breastmilk should I leave for babysitter?

Nurse here! 2-3 oz every 2-3 hours. So twelve hours anywhere from 12-18 oz depending on how your baby normally feeds.