What Do You Do with Your Toddler with the Baby Is Breastfeeding?

Reading was always my favorite. We got library books to use at feeding times. Also, preschool board games, videos, telling stories, playing pretend games or teaching games (can you find something that's blue? can you find something that's a triangle?), making an audio tape for a relative or just for fun, and getting in those cuddles.

When the baby's asleep, try to do something special with the older one even it it's something that needs to be done like making a meal or dishes or dusting.

my toddler had a basket of toys/books that he could play with while the baby breastfed, but these toys were ones that I could also play with him while i breastfed. then i also remembered what he had to put on hold and tried to play with those toys with him while the baby napped or someone else was with the baby.

I always was very open with breastfeeding in my home. So it was very natural for my toddler to be right there while I was nursing. She would come and sit by me and the baby and sometimes she would rub his cheek while he nursed or she'd sing to him. Sometimes she'd just play independently. It seemed to work best for me to explain ahead of time with a book how mommy would feed the baby. That bottles came later and early on Mama would be feeding baby this way. In my home it was all just natural and I think that's very important for the child to see that experience and know that it's a natural bond in life and to explain to them that you also did that with them. They can see that closeness you have with the baby and know that you did that with them too and not have any jealously issues as you explain it to them over and over that you did this with them too... and then when you are done nursing and baby falls asleep offer the toddler time to come and have lovely cuddle time with mama (as you'll have that sleepy feeling from nursing) and that'll offer YOU some extra relax time as well.

my kids are 18 month apart.

It is hard.

We did a lot of videos while the baby was nursing.

Luckily he only ate every 3 hours. After a while- I was able to work the schedule a bit so the baby ate before the toddler got up and most feedings were not a problem.

Sometimes I had to put the toddler in her bed (she loves her bed adn was happy to go) so I could nurse the baby to sleep. after she was abit older I would leave her downstairs while I nursed the baby upstairs> He got to distractable and I just couldnt keep him focued on eating in the living room with bright lights and tv..

One thing that I learned very quickly is that sometimes,most of the time, the toddlers needs are more immediate than the infants. Sometimes the baby would just need to fuss for a couple of min while I got a video, snack, puzzle, whatever for the toddler.
We watched alot of videos, and read a lot of books!
Blessings, K.

N.,
I have two children. They are 21 months apart. My two year old has always been pretty good at playing independently...I work from home, so she is used to me not being available all the time.
But, I found that with work...and with feeding baby...or any other baby activity, I would make sure my tone of voice was ..high pitched and not "sympathetic". My daughter picks up on all of that quickly. If I made it sound like a good thing that she should be excited about, she took it better then if it sounded like something she should be sad about.
Good luck and congratulations!!
K.

I have three boys, the first two 18 months apart and the last 3 years after the middle. When I nursed them, I would always let my other two snuggle in with me on the couch and I would either read to them or watch a video with them. It really depended on what they wanted to do... A lot of times, they would just play on the floor in front of me.

My son was about 3.5 when my daughter was born. If I was the only one home (which fortunately was not the case much for 3 mos) he would play quietly, watch a video or we would read a book together. I would have my husband hold the baby and put Brendan to bed each night and cuddle.

Hi N., Mine were 22 mos apart and the older child was very jealous of the new baby. I often would end up with her sitting in the chair with me when I nursed, she would rub the baby's head sometimes. I found that reading to her when baby nursed was a great family time. If I was thinking clearly, then I would make sure and spend a lot of time with her in between nursing sessions and she was less demanding on those days, but when you have work to do (dinner, dishes, laundry, etc) it's not always possible. Sometimes you just have to let the housework go a little and spend the time with the kids. It's only a short period of time when they are this young, enjoy it.

I had a baby in June and my daughter had just turned 2 in April. It took awhile to teach Lucy about Mommy nursing, but to help the process along we talked about how Mommy had to sit and nurse but we could read books together while I fed the baby. I put together a special basket with 5 or 5 books (some I bought new, some we got from the library). She would get the basket and sit next to me and read books. It didn't work perfect, but it usually helped. Now she just understands and is a pro at occupying herself while I'm nursing (of course I'm doing it less now!).

Good luck!

My kids would play on their own. I strongly believe that kids should NOT have to be "entertained" by someone all the time. Toddlers understand alot more then we give them credit for, just explain what is going on and they will learn to adjust. The first few times might be stressful for you but they will get the hang of the new schedule with a new baby. Make sure you are giving them all alone time with mom and they will all me happy, that might take a few days or weeks but it will happen. Good luck!

N.,
I have 5 boys and always when the new baby came I would always nurse him in a big chair or on the couch and the next youngest child would snuggle right in with us. Sometimes they would fall asleep and sometimes I would put a video or cartoon on for them to watch while he was snuggling us. I always felt like it made them feel less "left out".

Just keep trying things until you find something that works for you, it won't take you long.

Call me a bad mom if you want, but i started sitting on the couch instead of the rocker to breastfeed, and let my little ones sit next to me, and watch a bit of tv. once in awhile we read like this, but it is most of the time too difficult to juggle book, baby, breast, and two others. This seemed to aleviate the acting up that i know was comming from feeling left out. be sure to be honest with them about what you are doing. you prob. won't have to explain more than once or twice, and then they will just know, and stop asking a million questions. good luck to you!

The older two can play together or sit with you and read a book when you feed the infant. I have to ask though, why is it any different that sitting down with a bottle? I remember the days...one nursing, a 4 year old on one side and a 2 year old on the other, infant in my arms , all of us in a chair. It was great!

I usually sit on the couch to breastfeed and tell my two-year-old to go get some books to read. We can read together while I'm nursing and both boys are getting some time with me. Good luck!

Baby Einstein videos worked great, but massage time is the best. Have your older child lay on the couch or bed next to you while you breastfeed and use your free hand to give the older child a massage. The benifits of massage are amazing. I still do it with my children to relax them (9 and 11 years old). Sometimes they just come up to me and ask me to rub their back or their arms/hands or legs/feet. We have a very strong bond, and it is great for their circulation and muscle stimulation. When I do my exercises/stretchs, my children like to sit next to me on the floor and exercise/stretch too.

This is a great question!
I'm expecting my second child in April and I strictly breastfeed. I was wondering the same thing and I look forward to reading your responses.

THis situation is why children with sibling are different than "only" children. The toddler will learn that they are part of a family. When I was busy with one child, they needed to respect that and the earlier they learn that (in my opinion) the better. Each child need individual attention but I was 1 and there were three of them. Keep in mind that waiting a few minutes for an 18 month old will not hurt them and actually helps them in the long run. Keep up the good work.