Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months of age and continued breastfeeding for two years or longer. While there are many physical and emotional benefits to breastfeeding for both mother and baby, it can be difficult to establish a long-term breastfeeding relationship if you are separated from your child by returning to work or school. Modern pumping equipment and refrigeration makes things a bit easier, but you should still watch out for these five signs of possible problems if you are sending your breastfed baby to a nursery school from a young age. 

Inadequate Milk Supply 

If you are sending a very young baby to nursery school, it is possible that you will not have developed an adequate milk supply to provide enough milk for your baby through pumping every few hours. This is because breast pumps are less efficient than babies, meaning you may have to pump more often or for a longer period than your baby feeds.

To help increase your milk supply you should do the following: 

• Offer your baby your breast often when you are together. The extra stimulation will cause your body to produce more milk. 
• Consider herbal supplements to help boost your milk supply. 
• Create a pumping schedule and stick to it. Going too long between without pumping can cause your body to produce less milk. 

Clogged Milk Ducts

In the first few months after birth, you may find that your body has a difficult time regulating how much milk it produces. While you may not produce enough, you may also find that some weeks you will produce too much milk. This can lead to leaking, clogged milk ducts, and mastitis. 

If you get a clogged milk duct, you should: 

• Encourage your baby to feed at the breast as much as possible. This will help clear the duct and prevent infection. 
• Use heat before feeding to reduce pain. 
• Make sure your baby completely drains both breasts at each feeding. If they do not, you may need to express the rest of the milk by hand or with a pump. 

Improper or Weak Latch 

Despite the concerns of many mothers, it is possible for your baby to learn to feed from both a bottle and your breast. However, if you introduce a bottle at a young age, you may need to help encourage your baby to practice their latch on your breast. This is because human nipples usually have a slower flow than bottles. 

To help your baby develop their latch: 

• Breastfeed whenever you are together. Reserve bottles for when your child is at nursery school or apart from you. 
• Learn the basics of suck training, which is teaching your child to latch properly by stimulating their mouth with your finger. You may need to use suck training for the first few months to help your baby switch back and forth from the bottle to your nipple. 

Increased Nighttime Feedings 

If your baby is away from you for a large part of the day, you may find that they want to feed constantly when they are with you. Unfortunately for most parents, this means that your baby may demand more nighttime feedings from the breast. 

If your baby demands more nighttime feedings you should: 

• Consider co-sleeping with your baby to offer more social comfort throughout the night. 
• Make sure your child is getting all of their feedings at school to ensure they get enough day-time nutrition. If they are regularly not finishing their bottles, send more bottles with less milk for more frequent feedings. 

Your Baby Becomes Uninterested in Feedings

If your child is less than a year old, it is highly unlikely that they will wean themselves. If they become uninterested in breastfeeding, it may mean that they are consuming too many solids or too much water while at nursery school or the taste of your milk has changed. 

If your child is refusing feedings: 

• Check with their nursery school teacher to make sure they are following your feeding schedule. You should make sure all of your child's caregivers are aware that they are still breastfeeding and should not be coaxed to eat more solids than they are naturally interested in. 
• See if you have introduced and new foods or medicines into your diet that may affect the taste of your milk. 

Keeping your baby breastfeeding after they have started nursery school can be a challenge. However, with proper support it is a healthy possibility for you and your child. 

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