Pumping milk - how many oz should I freeze in one bag?

[Joy-filled]

I wasn't sure if I should post this under bottle feeding or here but since it's breast milk I figured I'd post here.  Feel free to move this over to the other board if it's more suitable there.

I am currently pumping milk in preparation for my return to work this fall.  My DS will be about 15-18 months when he'll be drinking the milk. I have donated breast milk in the freezer that will be used first and will last us until he's about 15-18 months.  I struggled with low milk supply for the first 9 months of my DS' life but now that he's on solids I have enough for him.

I was just wondering how many oz I should freeze in one freezer bag.  I plan to BF him in the am before I go to work and before BT but would like him to drink breast milk during the day when he is in daycare.  How many oz does an 18+ month old drink during the day, on average?  Would it make sense to freeze it in 3-4 oz portions or is that too much or too little?

[clazzat]

Not entirely sure exactly how much an 18mo would drink at one go as mine never took bottles, but you are better freezing in smaller quantities and then combining if necessary - I would say 3-4oz would be about right.

[*happy*]

i used to freeze 1-2oz per bag.that way,if it wasnt usf,
i didnt feel like i had wasted *too* much-although even a drop
wasted was too much imho!!!

[Joy-filled]

I know....I'm still a breast milk crazy nut who hates wasting even a drop, even though I finally have enough milk for my DS .  Perhaps I'll stick with 2-3 oz and then combine as needed.  Anyone out there have experience bottle feeding a toddler breast milk during the day?

[Shiv52]

You'd probably be best giving milk in a cup at that age Char because I know for people who are bottle feeding the advice is to get them off bottles from a year old.  Cups with straws go down well x

[*happy*]

DD transitioned to a nuby straw cup v easily.hth.x

[*Ali*]

Have you considered using a cup instead? Bottles are really not necessary for an 18mo. He'll be able to drink from a cup just fine by then, especially if he is practising already.

I would definitely freeze in small quantities like 3oz as he will only be taking it as a drink alongside solids by then, not a meal like he does now.

I never bottle fed but when I went away from my 15mo I pumped just over 15ozs in 24hrs so I would guess he took about 5oz per feed as he was on 3-4 BFs by then.

Have you seen our support thread for feeding babies 12mo+? You may get more relevant eyes if you ask on there or even post a link to this thread.  Extended Nursing Support Thread Part 5

Posted with last 2 pps...

[Joy-filled]

Right, silly me, of course he'd be drinking out of a cup !  Thanks!

[Joy-filled]

Oh, and thanks for the suggestion to the other threads!  I'll post there to see if any one else has any recommendations on # of oz of breast milk a toddler drinks at a time during the day.

[*Ali*]

I just checked Kellymom and they go on 15oz a day so maybe just divide that between the number of feeds you plan on doing if you don't have any other answers. http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/

[Joy-filled]

Perfect, thanks!