How to pack breast milk for daycare
Show your support
Send pre prepared bottles or I promise you they will mess it up and waste milk. Label each with baby’s name, the date to be given, and the expiration date. You can also number them so they use them in the right order (milk that expires sooner should be used sooner). Normal feeding is 1-1.5oz per hour. So for example if baby is at daycare 10 hours, I personally would send 15oz - my baby takes 4oz bottles, so I would separate the milk into 3 4oz bottles and tell them to start with those, and also I’d include one 3oz bottle for just in case baby is hungry to total 15 oz (1.5oz per hour). You can adjust based on what baby takes once you get a routine established. Never send more than you are okay with them using, and never send more than you pump in a day. If baby eats more than you pump in a day, this will significantly lower your supply.
My kids’ moms always brought frozen bags and we measured them out to the proper amount for each bottle. Definitely find out if they have a way to keep extras frozen there because we did have one bag bust and lost 3oz of milk once and had another little one who would randomly need extra. Unfortunately we didn’t have a place to keep extras but some do
Ask your center. Every center I've worked at has required bottles to come filled and ready to drink. If you're concerned about baby being more hungry there than at home, pack an extra bottle and/or add an ounce per feeding. If you're concerned baby won't take a bottle at daycare, send smaller bottles and more of them