Second time round tips?

[marley2580]

Well it's just occurred to me that 3 months from now I'll have a new sprog (slow? me? ). Having remembered the weeks of being tied to the sofa with Kaya, I'm just looking for tips for BFing a LO while a toddler runs round causing chaos. How do you balance the feeding with ensuring that your toddler still gets out and about etc?

 

[ryder]

hmm well, when we have our second baby my OH is planning to take at least a months parental leave and im going to attempt bfing again... Hopefully that will help with keeping Jasmine occupied... I may also keep her in daycare 1 or 2 days a week just to make sure she still has alot of interaction.

Other then that once you have bfing going easily, I would just put the new babe in a sling and do things with the toddler. I doubt the second baby you will have the time to sit on the couch and admire them like the first one.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I cant help as my eldest was almost 14 when Hebe was born so she was helping ME!

I'm sure someone who's done it will be along soon with some helpful tips.

BTW 3 months...times starting to speed up!!

 

[ajarvis]

I was worried about it too, but so far so good. I've taken Julian out like normal to the park and what not, and he just is getting use to waiting a few minutes for things when I'm feeding the baby. Definitely can't just sit on the couch like with the first one! I've put alot of emphasis on how helpful he is and what a big boy etc. and it helps cause when I ask him to do something while I'm feeding the baby he will. Other things that work are reading a book - or watching a little bit of a movie. Right now my LO eats for about 15 minutes and after that it's comfort sucking for the most part so I just don't let him do the comfort suck like I did for Julian.

 

[marley2580]

hmm well, when we have our second baby my OH is planning to take at least a months parental leave.

My OH is only able to take 2 weeks as it has to be holiday - we can't survive on statutory paternity pay. I'm really hoping that this one sleeps better than Kaya did - I used to be up until 3am with Kaya, I can't do that this time as Kaya gets up at 6am!

 

[Sarahkka]

I don't have personal experience, but I remember reading a great suggestion from a woman whose toddler was acting up right at feeding times. She made a special box of things that only came out while baby fed, so the toddler saw it as a special time, too. I think it had some stories and a special set of toys and she would switch it up to keep it very interesting. It solved her problem.

 

[lillysmum]

lilly was 20months old when lucas came along. It's actually really easy around the home breastfeeding, as you can have safety precautions in place for her safety as well as the special toybox so it is a special time for lilly too. Out & about is slightly more tricky, obv its good that the milk is there perfect temp ready for whenever the baby is ready to feed, and most places are quite good and don't mind you nursing in public - things that i find help with outings are; having friends to keep a close eye on your toddler whilst you feed, or planning it so you are nursing whilst your toddler is eating too and therefore requiring minimal help from you, or planning outings around nursing so the baby is sleeping and doesn't need a feed. Regardless of how you cope, preparation is key!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Hevz should be able to help on this one Marley

 

[marley2580]

I've started putting together a BF bag with various boxes and cartons, I'm going to start looking for special toys as well. Any ideas what kind of toys would be good? She'll be 20/21 months.

 

[mommyof3co]

My boys all have 2-2 1/2yrs between so fairly close, still young toddlers. What I would do was try and keep some books next to me and have them sit with me and I'd read to them. Or I would get them a snack before sitting down to nurse. Even turning on a kids show and having them watch that. Bring in some toys and have them sit there and play and talk to them about it still. They actually did really well with it, it wasn't too much of an issue, they learned quickly they just had to be a bit more patient but when I was done I could do what they needed.

 

[Hevz]

Hevz should be able to help on this one Marley

yeah, I guess I have a bit of experience on this one


There was 20months between Lauren and Abi and I found the jump from 1 to 2 kids quite a bit harder than expected but.....with a little forward planning you'll be fine. At feeding times I used to cuddle up with baby Abi and toddler Lauren on the couch. Lauren and I would read books while I was breastfeeding Abi or watch her favourite Teletubbies video. Lauren always though it was "our" special time and I don't think she even noticed I was feeding Abi


When out and about I always had lots of snacks etc in my bag as a just in case measure, spare jar of dinner and pudding, raisins, rice cakes and a banana etc as well as a couple of small toys.

I never used to tie myself to the house and would get out and about as much as possible. I never had strict routines but "loose" and easily adapable routines like....lunch was somewhere between 12 and 1.30pm etc (my friend had very, very strict routines and her kids would freak if it was interrupted....tied her down loads).




I now have 4 children and there is a 14month gap between the youngest two, I pretty much followed what I'd done previously with Lauren and Abi but admit I don't go out as much as I used to as I'm also tied with school run times. I still cuddle up on the couch with Toby when feeding Erin etc but as he's a bit younger than Lauren was when I had Abi....he tends to want to climb down and do his own thing so I make sure the safety gates are shut and put a dvd on for him usually.

Finger food for the toddler at lunchtime is a great help too....you can just sit them down on a messy mat to eat rather than be strict with a bowl, spoon and highchair (well at least that's what I do at lunchtime) and teatime though we sit togeather in the kitchen and Toby goes in the highchair pulled up to the table.




I hope that's helped, and don't hesitate to pm me if I can help you further or if you just wanna chat xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[marley2580]

See I don't think Kaya's going to want to cuddle up on the sofa that much as she is a little livewire, I did think that she might just entertain herself but then I thought that she might want more attention because of the baby? Did you find that your eldest adjusted well to having a younger sibling?

Oh and here's a question to anyone with two or more, how do you go to the toilet? I wouldn't trust Kaya alone with the baby for a second, as she'd either poke it's eyes out or decide to help and pick it up! So do you take the older child with you or the younger child?

 

[Hevz]

See I don't think Kaya's going to want to cuddle up on the sofa that much as she is a little livewire, I did think that she might just entertain herself but then I thought that she might want more attention because of the baby? Did you find that your eldest adjusted well to having a younger sibling?

Oh and here's a question to anyone with two or more, how do you go to the toilet? I wouldn't trust Kaya alone with the baby for a second, as she'd either poke it's eyes out or decide to help and pick it up! So do you take the older child with you or the younger child?

Well just do what's best for her. Get her a special toy if you need to distract her or a dvd like I said earlier.


I have a babyden playpen that Toby goes in and I leave Erin in the bouncy chair well away from the pen (in case he throws toys out). Although Toby is a monkey and takes his socks off to climb the bars now....you would have to see my pics on facebook to understand. I have an old carseat that I strap him in when I need to go out of the room now and he also has his nap in there too. You could always put the baby in the pen instead.

I have a swing too, usually set up in the kitchen and Erin can sit in there while I'm preparing tea without Toby kissing her to death. He's never ever tried to hurt her but often leans on her as he's trying to kiss and cuddle her