My sister offered to breastfeed both my boys (6 months and 4 years old) while I’m away on a 1-month work trip — is this safe?
Hi everyone,I’m currently breastfeeding my 6-month-old baby exclusively, and I’m still breastfeeding my older son who is 4 years old. Next week, I have to go on a work trip for a whole month and won’t be able to take them with me. My sister kindly agreed to look after both boys during that time.She is still breastfeeding her own two children (a 6-year-old boy and a 24-month-old girl) and immediately offered to breastfeed both of my sons with her milk. I’m really touched by her generosity, but I have a lot of questions.Is cross-nursing (or wet nursing) nutritionally appropriate for a 6-month-old and a 4-year-old? Is her milk still beneficial for both of them? What are the potential health risks I should consider (viruses, medications, etc.)?Since she’s my sister, I feel we have very similar lifestyles and diets, which probably lowers some risks. Still, I want to be cautious.Have any of you ever done cross-nursing or had a close family member breastfeed your child? How did it go for you and your children?Thank you so much in advance for your experiences, advice, and opinions. I’m feeling a bit lost and really want to make the best decision for my boys.