any tandem feeders out there? how did bf affect dc1's acceptance of dc2?
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(9 Posts)
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I worried about that alt but DS2 is thriving and I haven't really restricted DS1, in fact he reverted to almost entirely milk from me for a while when we were all ill recently.
DS1 didn't feed at all for the first 10 days because he had a cold and I'd had a caesarean but he seemed ok about that - he wanted to wait until my 'cut' was better and I was glad to get DS2 off to a good start without picking up a cold straight away. I think I hoped DS1 would just stay off (I'd been so sore during pregnancy and I was worried I would be even more so feeding two of them) but once DS1 went back on he went back on with a vengeance.
All ok though after it initially setting my teeth on edge to have them both on at the same time. I've settled down for the long haul again.

that's interesting. so far any anger from dd is aimed at me not ds. I think i've probably been wrong to try and ration her but i've just been worried about her drinking all ds's and he needs it more! but emotionally it would probably be better to let her have it...
Three months in and I think it has had a positive effect, definitely. It's lovely when DS1 (3.6) holds DS2's hand when they're both feeding.
There have been aggressive outbursts from DS1 since DS2 came alone but they haven't really been aimed at DS2 and they have passed now.
I guess at the moment I'd say that although it hasn't led to an outright joy and happiness with having DS2 around (although that is developing), the tandem feeding has at least helped ease any problems with anger or rejection.
DS1 is certainly being very sweet about ensuring DS2 gets fed and so on, but he still makes sure he gets to choose who goes on which side.

I was tandem feeding DD who was ummm 20 months old when DS was born. She wanted to feed constantly the first few weeks, but quite honestly, she didn't have a cross word with him for
months.

Shame it didn't last - he's 15 months now and while they mostly get on, they really do wind each other up

thanks all. not pg btw - have had the baby! I was rationing dd at first (five seconds etc) but have now given in to her and will start to rein it back a bit when the dust has settled from having a new sibling. She's showing signs of being a bit angry at the moment so probably a good time to keep going for now. Worried a bit though because I'm also trying to express so dp can do cluster feed while i do dd bedtime...
My dd (2.8 when I had ds) also went mad for bf and wanted to feed all the time. I let her for the first few weeks, whilst she got used to her new brother, and then I gradually cut her back, until she was just having morning and night. She now just has morning (ds is nearly 13 months), which means that dh can put her to bed whilst I sort ds, and then I just pop up for a quick cuddle with her before she goes to sleep.
I told dd that all the milk had come because of her brother arriving, so I think she probably liked him for that!
She was jealous of him having more than her for a while, but mostly is ok about it now, and he usually only feeds 2 or 3 times in the day now, so it's not like she's missing out on a lot.
Congratulations on prgnancy

well I have nothing to compare it with but...
DS has always been milk obsessed, although for a while he's only fed mornig and night, which I've had to gently encourage him into. He's 2 1/2. He does seem a lot more boob obsessed now, but that might be linked into general clinginess. Have gone all out to assure him he;s a big boy and they have mi mi morning and night (DD has milk to make the distinction)
He has been surprisingly mature - has gone from HAVING to be fed to sleep (if I was there) to reluctantly letting go and settling for a story if I have to see to DD. Also, while he asks for mi mi and I refuse, he doesn't tantrum that DD gets it all the time - seems to understand, in fact he tells me when he thinks she needs feeding

He's lovely, always kissing her, holding her hand when nappy changing. Feeding both together is a bit fraught as he is (non-maliciously) a bit rough, lying on her, touching her face etc but that will get easier as they both get older. He does hold her hand or stroke her while they feed, which is lovely

Ds used to stroke dd's head whilst she fed

. He liked sharing his milk with her. We had no probs at all. But, dh had 4 weeks off work too which def helped, so he got plenty of attention from dh and then later grandparents.
Dd is now looking forward to sharing her milk with the new baby. We've talked lots about what new babies are like and how it will want milk all the time. We did this last time too. Age gaps are both 2.3 by the way.
dd (2) had almost stopped bfing during my pg, partly because my milk had pretty much dried up. Now the milk's in she's gone bf mad again, which, to be honest, I could do without. But if it helps to ease the upheaval of a new sibling I'll go with the flow so to speak. Anyone else with this experience? How do you think tandem bfing affects the transition to siblinghood?