Daycare Bottle Questions

DD starts daycare on Monday and I'm a little confused about making up bottles for her. I've been BF her during my maternity leave so I'm not entirely sure how much she eats. I've started weaning her this week and it seems like some times she wants 4 oz and sometimes she wants 6. Should I just make up all 6oz bottles? The thought of wasting my pumped BM makes me so sad. Do you think the daycare will save what is left in the bottle? My other question is how do you transport the bottles? Do you put them in a cooler to bring over? I know that they have a fridge in the room when I get there, but do I have to keep it cold on the drive over? I'll probably be making up at least one bottle of formula per day if that makes a difference.

Any other daycare tips that you have would be much appreciated. I'm a FTM and the whole daycare process is making me a little nervous.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

I just send bottles with water in them and send powdered formula too. They mix the bottles for me. (I don't breastfeed though.)

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

I stopped breast feeding by the time DD started daycare, but I would mix the bottles at home the night before and leave them in the fridge. In the AM I would put them in a cooler bag to transport them to school.

At my daycare, if DD didn't finish her bottle at one sitting, they would hold on to it for a bit to see if she would finish - although I don't think they held on to it for more than an hour or so. I bet if you speak to the teachers in your room about throwing away BM, they will do whatever you want.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

I know it might seem like a waste, but can you make a couple of 4 ounce bottle and a couple of 2 ounce bottles?

This way if she's still hungry after a 4 ounce, they can give her a 2 ounce?

If the milk is fresh, it can stay in the fridge a few days (3-8 according to Medela).

Frozen on the other hand has to be used in 24 hours once thawed.

Our daycare allows us to send the breastmilk in frozen so that is really helpful. I always send an extra for them to keep in the freezer just in case.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

the first couple of days i requested that they just put the bottles when they are done in his bag without rinsign or dumping - i wanted to know exactlyhow much he drank -

i sent bm in bottles based on the size he needed - i would also send an extra 2 oz medala bottle with yello cap with a nipple just in case he needed more- and if that was not drank - i would leave it there for a few days

i send his stuff in a cooler bag -but i don't bother with an ice pack - it is only out for about half hour - i put it in the fridge when we get there - and it is 20 minutes away

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

I was told anything that is not consumed in an hour has to be dumped out b/c of bacteria.... I would def. make some 4oz and 2oz bottles and take it from there. You'll know in a week or so how much she'll actually need. I like what PP said, have them leave what is left so you can see how much she is/isn't drinking.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

my daycare wont mix powder so i do it the night before and then put it in the fridge until the am.

DS takes 3 bottles so we always send 4, just in case. Always the larger amount. What he doesnt take, they get rid of and wash out the bottles

eta - i have a vera bradley thermal lunch bag that i transport them in

Message edited 9/9/2010 5:42:20 PM.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I like the idea of sending a little extra milk in a medela bottle. I'll also make sure to ask them to leave the bottles as is so I know how much she drinks.

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

Re: Daycare Bottle Questions

DS is FF, so i make his bottles the nite before at home and send him with 3 bottles. they have to be already made, they wont make them. they have bins marked in the fridge for each kid and his bottles go in there. they are heated in a crock pot for feeding.

I keep a spare can of RTF in his drawer just in case something should happen, or if he needed an extra feeding for whatever reason.

with BM..if you're not sure of 4 or 6, then maybe do 5 oz for now? Maybe just keep an extra thing of RTF formula in her drawer if you are worried she will be hungry.

If you're not travelling far to the daycare then pack the bottles with maybe an icepack in a ziplock baggie. We're 10 min from daycare so they're still cold by the time we get there even w/o an icepack.