Hi, M.! It sounds like you've gotten some great advice on bottle feeding, so I want to respond to a different issue. As moms, we all want to be able to stay home with our children. It broke my heart both times I had to leave my babies at daycare for the first time (first with my daughter, then with my son); I sobbed the whole day. But, even though we would like to be able to stay home, in reality, we can't. My husband is self-employed, and though he makes good money when he is working, his income isn't always reliable. I have a realiable, good-paying job that carries our benefits and a stable paycheck. Sometimes it isn't a matter of giving up dinners out, etc. so that you can be a stay-at-home mom; sometimes it's a matter of giving up stable pay and health insurance. So, I guess I really just want to say that I know some people say that you should stay home even if it seems impossible; I say that it is VERY POSSIBLE to be a great mom and work, too. I have a lot of respect for stay-at-home moms, and I wish I could give my children that, too; but whether we work or stay home, we all do our best in the ways that we are able to give our kids EVERYTHING WE CAN! And, most importantly, I know that we all give our kids just as much love no matter what we do with our days.
So if you are having to go back to work, know that there are others who know what you are going through when you drop your child off at daycare, and we support you and know that you are a good mom. And just think, your child is meeting new people, making friends, learning about social interaction and values, growing intellectually, and boosting their immune system while at daycare! And once your little one starts talking, hearing about their day at daycare makes for great dinner conversation. We always ask each other at dinner, "What was your favorite thing today?" and it is fun to hear about my daughter's day that way. Good luck going back to work. I'll be thinking of you!