Breastfeeding an infant with an active toddler?

[CoffeeMom]

I was wondering if anyone here has any tips on nursing a newborn while watching/chasing after an active toddler? I'm starting to panic since DS just started walking (and he's already quick!) and DS2 is due next month. I remember when DS was new he nursed every hour or so for at least 20-30 minutes at a time.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep DS1 occupied and happy while I nurse his brother? And has anyone been able to nurse well walking around while the baby was in a sling? I'll be forever grateful!

ETA: DS will be almost 13 months old when the baby is born. Thanks for responses already, I'm loving all the ideas!

[Mitchell]

Big box of treats (bribes) and some new DVDs - begged, borrowed, or bought (with rebates, of course). Also some new books to read to him while nursing baby - your local library might be a lifesaver if he enjoys books.

I had no interest in walking around nursing, personally, so I can't help you there.

And easy food - if there was ever a time and a place for easy to fix kiddie meals, this is it! And I promise - no child ever died of watching too much tv for a few months. After Baby is a few months old, you will have a routine and the toddler won't remember a time before Baby was here, so it won't be a big deal for him to have to share Mommy time with the newbie.

My DS1 was 19mos when DS2 was born. You can do it, I promise!

[talk2ham.1]

I have been breastfeeding for over two months now with two active toddlers running around.

Let me say, it isn't always easy! Sometimes you just have to put the baby down, grab a towel to hold back the spray, and run down a mischievious toddler. But those situations do not necessarily have to be the rule, either. It is really good that you are thinking of this BEFORE baby is born. There are some things you can do to prepare him for these times. Here are some tips I got from some other moms that really help.

Teach your son to sit beside you, not in your lap, for reading time. Teach him to sit still while you read to him for increments of about 20-30 minutes: the amount of time it takes to feed a baby. When baby comes, nursing time becomes reading time too. Hopefully, he will learn to look forward to this special time for the three of you.

Blanket time. Start working with your son now to teach him to stay put on a blanket for puzzles, books, perhaps a time to play with his toy train set for example, or other quiet activities for about 20-30 minute stretches. He will probably not stay for that long at first. Start with 10 minutes and try to work him up to 20 minute stretches.

Activity boxes. Create a set of quiet activity boxes. Each box can have a separate, special activity that your DS is only allowed to play with when you o.k. it. Have a separate box each for: lacing cards, wooden bead toys, refrigerator magnets, sticker books, play dough, matching cards, pop up books, dry beans or rice and measuring cups/bowls, coloring books and crayons, toddler scissors and scrap paper, glue stick and scrap paper, bubbles, water toys and a bucket of bubble water, sand and dump truck box (play on the front porch or in the bathtub with these last two activity boxes). Allow your child to help decorate each activity box and to stack them in a special place. Then tell him that he can't play with them except at special times. When you are nursing, let him choose one box to play with. Do not let him play with these things at other times! It will not keep him occupied if he is used to doing these things all the time!

Have him help you! Let him know that as a big brother, he needs to help with his little brother now. Let him bring you the baby's diaper and wipes when he needs a change. Let him bring you your breastfeeding pillow and help you get comfortable. Make it a time that he really feels he is a part of and has responsibility for. He may actually take interest and settle down for you most of the time.

It's a challenge, but so worth it. Hope it works out for you! God bless!

[talk2ham.1]

As a side note: My DS#2 (15 mos. when DS#3 was born) isn't so thrilled with DS#3. These tricks haven't worked with him as much as they have been helping with DS#1, but that is more an issue of sibling rivalry and feeling displaced by this new little guy. He is getting used to the idea. What was tough at first was that as soon as I started nursing, he would go do something naughty just to protest. I've had to get creative and really make sure I give him special attention before and after nursing so he realizes that Mommy really can be shared and still have enough love to go around. He is settling down and getting better about it now.

My DS#1, on the other hand, has really enjoyed it. At 2 and 1/2 years old, he loves to burp the baby when I have to switch sides, or to bring the burp cloth to me and helping wipe up when the baby spits up a little. When I am done nursing, he loves to hold the baby in his lap. Again, it really helps to give him responsibilities that make him feel needed and important through the whole baby transition time.

Each child is different and you will need to watch him to see how he is handling it all. Sometimes an activity blanket works great. Sometimes, he will need something else. I am sure you are a good mama, so you'll be know what your little one needs if you just watch closely.

And, BTW, I have successfully nursed while walking around. A sling works for a while, but eventually, it is just easier to hold him and nurse while walking around IMHO. The sling is nice for some activities, but gets in the way for others. I like to just hold him and keep him near me in his baby carrier, on a Boppy, in a bouncer, or just on a blanket on the floor while he has tummy time.

[MrsPinecone]

Read with #1 while you nurse. Tv or DVDs. Small toys that come out when you are nursing.

DS is 2, so I kind of just let him do his thing. DD is pretty efficient these days (4 months), so I am not sitting around for ages. She's done in about 10 min, tops.

[enginerd]

When my DS was a toddler, I made sure everything was kid-safe in the living room. Then we arranged the furniture so there was only one means of escape and then blocked the exit with a toy box. It worked great - like a giant playpen.

[redemption_song]

I often nursed #2 in a sling while #1 was running around like a wildman, I plan to do the same thing with #3 due here in a couple of weeks. I am happy to answer any sling/nursing questions you have- what type of sling do you have?

[greenrays]

Some good ideas!!! I will be in the same boat in August, ds will have just turned 2 when his little brother is born.

He loves books and movies now, hopefully he won't change!

[mommasbabydaddysmaybe]

I've been nursing for seven months with the same situation but my daughter is 2 so its a lot easier. I usually give here a snack and put on PBS(she's addicted). If that doesn't work I give her a book or a tow that I know will hold here attention for the time period I need. If all else fails I sit her in the high chair and let her cry it out till I'm finished.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I tried nursing my twins with an active 18 month old...yeah that was hard. I only lasted about 3 months. To each their own, but I think it might have been do-able with just one baby and a toddler. For me, it was so hard to get two babies latched on and just as they got latched on that is when the toddler acted up. And yeah you can put the baby down, but the cacophony of two screaming babies was too much.