Leaving your baby, even for a short time, can feel daunting at first. Many mothers wonder how to balance time apart while maintaining the close connection they’ve built through breastfeeding. Practicing short separations before returning to work or daycare helps ease the transition, giving you confidence that your baby is well cared for and that your breastfeeding relationship continues successfully.

Short Separations and Breastfeeding Support

If your separation is less than 3 hours, your baby may not need to eat at all during that time. This depends on your baby's age, feeding frequency, and how easily they can be distracted by their caregiver. You can plan to reconnect through breastfeeding when you pick your little one up, or as soon as you get home.

Longer, Consistent Separations

Starting child care is an adjustment for both parents and infants, but it doesn’t mean the end of breastfeeding. Pumping regularly when you are apart and continuing to breastfeed "on cue" when you are together, will ensure that your milk supply stays in sync with your baby's needs as they grow. Here are some tips for a smooth transition:

Continue Feeding On Demand

Babies typically feed every 2–3 hours, though not at exact intervals. Encourage your childcare provider to watch for hunger cues—rooting, sucking on fists, smacking lips, or restlessness—and to feed your baby when they are showing early cues. Remind them that crying is a late sign of hunger and may make latching difficult.

Safe Breast Milk Handling

Ensuring that your caregiver follows your baby’s routine and handles your breast milk safely will keep your baby happy and healthy. Save or share this handy infographic with anyone caring for your baby or handling your milk.

Warming Milk

  • Place the bottle or bag in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. Lukewarm running water can speed the process.
  • Bottle warmers can be used, but gently swirl milk to mix the fat evenly.
  • Always test a small amount on your wrist before feeding.
  • Some babies are fine with cold milk straight from the fridge.
  • If your baby doesn’t finish a bottle, any leftover milk should be used within 2 hours or discarded.

Thawing Frozen Milk: 

  • Use the oldest milk first.
  • Thaw in the back of the fridge overnight or under cool running water.
  • Use within 24 hours once thawed.
  • If ice crystals remain, it can be safely refrozen.
  • Never microwave frozen milk.

What Not to Do with Breast Milk

  • Do not refreeze thawed milk.
  • Do not leave milk at room temperature for more than 4 hours or in the refrigerator longer than 4 days.
  • Never use a microwave to warm your baby's feeding.

Breast Milk Volume

Babies 1–6 months old typically consume about 25 ounces per day, or roughly 3–4 ounces per feeding. Plan to leave 1-1.5 ounces of expressed breastmilk per hour that you plan to be apart.

For a 9-hour separation (including commute and work), leaving 9–13.5 ounces is a good target. Always communicate daily intake and feeding times with the caregiver to ensure your baby’s needs are met. An emergency stash of frozen milk can be reserved for times when your little one needs more.

Introducing Solids

  • Beginning at around 6 months, introducing solid foods in small amounts will give your baby the opportunity to explore new tastes and textures.
  • Breast milk or formula should remain their primary source of nutrition for the first year.
  • Fruit juice is unnecessary, can contribute to tooth decay, and provides no nutritional value to infants under a year.
  • A small amount of water can be offered in a sippy or straw cup, along with meals.

Bottle Feeding Tips

Pay Attention to Feeding Time

  • Feedings generally take 15–30 minutes; about 20 minutes is average.
  • Finishing too quickly may indicate the nipple flow is too fast—adjust as needed.

Use Positions that Help Baby Feel Secure

  • Feeding unswaddled allows for interaction during feedings and demonstration of cues for hunger and fullness.
  • Experiment with different feeding positions to find what makes your baby comfortable. Some babies prefer being cradled, while others like a more upright or forward-facing position.
  • Movement—like rocking, walking, or gently bouncing on an exercise ball—may help.

Let Baby Lead the Latch

  • Stroke baby’s lips to elicit a wide open mouth and a deep latch. Avoid forcing the nipple between closed lips.
  • With a deep latch, the baby’s lips will look flanged out around the base of the nipple.

Paced Feeding

  • The flow of the bottle should never overwhelm your baby.
  • Holding your baby more upright and the bottle horizontally can help slow the flow, making feedings more comfortable and less messy.

Try Burping

  • A baby learning to bottle feed may need more frequent breaks and opportunities for burping than a breastfed baby.

Emotional Support

Transitions to childcare can be challenging for babies, even when their basic needs are met. Before warming more milk or offering the pacifier, consider that the baby may just need to be held. It’s a big adjustment from being home with mom, breastfeeding frequently, to a new environment with new caregivers.

If the baby has been fed and is still a bit fussy, encourage your childcare provider to hold them more frequently, if possible. They might enjoy a walk or change of scenery. Movement is often just as effective as soothing from a pacifier, while also preventing overfeeding. With patience and practice, these separations become easier, and you’ll find that breastfeeding and your bond remain strong even as routines shift.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.