Baby too distracted to feed

[ElfCakes]

DD is 5months old and EBF. She is, and has always been, a fairly fussy feeder but I currently feel at the end of my tether with trying to get her to feed. If there is any noise or interesting movement she turns away to watch and won't latch on at all. If we're feeding and she gets distracted she won't come back to the breast. I have a toddler at home and his playing is the biggest distraction for her. I felt like I was constantly asking him to be quiet so I've been sticking the telly on for him and taking DD to another room whenever she needs feeding.
She won't feed if we go out, I end up sitting in the car to feed her before we come home (whilst my toddler has tv on my phone to keep him quiet)
I have tried feeding her under a muslin and it didn't make much difference.
I know this phase is normal but it seems to be going on a long time and I'm feeling like a rubbish mum to both kids, not able to feed one properly and DS just being occupied by the TV for far longer than I'd like (I know there are worse things but I feel rubbish about it)
Does anyone have any tips or strategies I can try to get through this phase?

[June628]

Hi OP, no tips but I wanted to say my DD is exactly the same & I don’t even have an older one to worry about so hat off to you! I have to always feed in the bedroom with the lights off now but the slightest noise distracts her. She even manages to get distracted in the dark 🤦🏼‍♀️
I hope someone with some knowledge and advice will come along soon!

[mylittleavalon]

Oh this was so frustrating but it does pass as I'm sure you know! I found having a breastfeeding poncho helped. It was black and white and she really recognised it and seemed to know that when under the poncho it was time to feed and also blocked her view from anything else xx

[mylittleavalon]

Just reread and seen the muslin didn't work... Maybe the poncho different because bit bigger and same all the time? Other than that not sure what to suggest but waiting it out

[fortheloveofcrisps]

Maybe stop feeding her when she's distracted.

I mean take her off the breast and let her look about etc. Try again when she gives you hungry signs.

It may seem very bitty for a while but she'll get the message. Try using baby sign or a specific phase or word when you start feeding her.

It will pass

[Mangomumma]

I feel for you! I've just been through this. Poor DD1 did get the iPad shoved in front of her for a while when it came to feeding time for DD2, it's short lived in the grand scheme of things, don't worry & just do what you need to do.

Eventually I just gave up trying to keep DD2 interested in the breast & tried again later, I thought if she was truly hungry she would feed. It's also about then that she got a lot more efficient so feeds would take less time & she stopped sucking for comfort so much.

[ElfCakes]

Thanks, I've got some ideas to try out from these replies.
Also good to just feel like I'm not on my own with it and be reminded it won't last forever!

[KatieKat88]

Mine started off like that at 5 months and I still take her off somewhere quiet to feed as she's much less distracted that way (now 8 months) - I think it's pretty normal. If I try to cover with a muslin she just plays with it Hats off to you for surviving with two because my one is hard enough! Do whatever you need to in order to get through the day is my motto!