Overwhelmed? Elated? Exhausted? Overjoyed? Bewildered? We hear you Mama! In the lead up to your big return to work, you will be experiencing all kinds of emotions! It’s only natural that you're feeling apprehensive about leaving your precious baby at Daycare, but throw in a little bottle refusal and your anxiety is taken to a whole new level!
Bottle refusal is a relatively common occurrence so you’re not alone. Surprisingly, it doesn’t just happen with breastfed babies. Bottle refusal occurs in all sorts of feeding scenarios. It’s common when babies are transitioning from breast to bottle, however, it can also rear its head for babies who have always been bottle-fed.
Minbie mum Catherine, faced this exact dilemma when returning to work after the birth of her 2nd baby. Having tried “every possible bottle you can think of” her family took a chance on Minbie.
Minbie bottles and nipples don’t just give mums like Catherine the opportunity to have a break and hand over to someone else for a while, they give mums peace of mind knowing that when they’re back in the office and unable to breastfeed, their baby is well nourished at daycare and will seamlessly return to the breast when they are reunited.
Going to daycare is a huge step for mother & baby, however Minbie is here to make this new chapter in your lives as smooth as possible.
How can I prepare my breast fed baby for Daycare?
You’ve chosen the daycare and now it’s time to really make sure your little one is ready to go. Some simple steps can make all the difference on those crazy mornings so it’s important you plan ahead.
Introducing your baby to their new carer, showing them where they will spend their days, and making sure they are comfortable with leaving you for a few hours are all important things to consider before the big day. Even the most organized among us run late some mornings, so if your baby is used to being left with grandparents and other friends and relatives, he may be easier to drop off in the mornings.
Playing with other babies and children is also a great way to get your baby ready for daycare. Socializing is so important for development and babies just love being around other babies because it helps them navigate new environments, play with new exciting toys and even learn new social cues.
What if my baby is exclusively breast fed?
If you've been exclusively breastfeeding your baby, and you want her to drink expressed breastmilk or formula while you're at work, you'll need to introduce a bottle well before she starts daycare so that you can be sure it’s working for your family. The Minbie nipple has been carefully developed to reduce any confusion when switching from breast to bottle and back to the breast so it's the ideal option when it comes to giving your breastfed baby a bottle.
Bottle Refusal
Of course in an ideal world we’d not have to offer our breastfed babies a bottle, however, with mums returning to work, babies demanding more milk than mum can physically produce, and all the other hurdles along the breastfeeding journey, sometimes, needs must!
Minbie nipples are the closest thing to the natural breast and therefore the only nipple your family should be using to protect your breastfeeding journey. Not only will Minbie help your baby transition to daycare successfully, they will also help avoid colic, spitting up and excess gas.
For those of you who are exhausted at the sheer thought of a return to work, rest assured that when you choose Minbie, you will be able to lock in more downtime and enjoy some uninterrupted sleep whilst Dad lends a helping hand.
- Purchase your Minbie bottles and sterilizer well in advance to ensure a smooth transition from breast to bottle.
- Leave your baby with grandparents or other family members for short intervals to get them used to you leaving and more importantly, understanding you’ll be returning for them.
- Introduce your little one to the person who will be looking after them whilst you’re at work, and make sure their carer has all the information about your feeding & sleeping routines and anything else they may need to know about your baby.
- Show your baby where they will be staying whilst they are not with you. Take them a few times so they can get used to their new surroundings.
- Give your little one a comfort item from home. A blanket or soft toy.
- Prepare your baby’s bag with everything they will need for their time at Daycare. Pump beforehand and fill enough bottles to feed them for the entire time they will be at daycare. If your baby takes formula, make sure that’s in the bag!
Good luck!
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