How to occupy toddler while bfing?

[Blumke]

I'm expecting our second child in three months and am worried how to keep my extremely active 2 year old DS occupied during bfeeding.

DS was breastfed exclusively until 18 months and all went well but I remember sitting for hours feeding every day. Sometimes especially when he was very young it would take up to 40 minutes for a feed and he fed 8 times a day.
What do other mums do to keep toddlers occupied ?
Any ideas greatly appreciated. This is already worrying me!

[theyoungvisiter]

DVDs. Sorry, not a very pc answer but it worked for us! And it's only for the first few weeks while it takes ages.

I had some DVDs that were only for bfing so he really looked forward to them. They were also handy for getting DS2 down for naps when he got a bit older - I could leave DS1 safely engrossed for 10 mins.

Get the older child a drink and snack and shut the living room door (or put a child gate across) so they can't run amok in the house while you're pinned.

[fruitstick]

cbeebies. Sad but true.

It's always best to set them up with something if you can (toys, drink, snack) or try to organise their mealtimes so you can sit at the table with them and feed

For a while, I found that DS reacted quite badly to me breastfeeding the new baby. It was a really short phase but prepare yourself for it.

Don't worry about it too much though.

[theyoungvisiter]

fruitstick, I think we're working from the same parenting manual

[dinkystinky]

DVD or Cbeebies (DS1 only got it as an occasional treat pre his brother - he LOVED the baby for letting him watch tv so much) plus snack while you feed on the sofa.

[Meglet]

yes, cbeebies . I ended up putting the subtitles on so I could learn all the words to the theme tunes.

[3cutedarlings]

I had a special bag of toys for DD1 what she could only have when i was BFing DD2, she loved it!! i would change the toys around alot so the she would find little surprises in there two and sometimes little treats too (dried fruit ect) .

Now both DD1 and DD2 are older (4&6) DS is 5mths and still feeds lots, we tend to choose a book if the girls cant entertain themselves i will read them a story while i feed.

[diddl]

Used to read to mine, or just cuddle & talk!

[Blumke]

Many thanks for all your advice. I will take note and try to put them into action

[feetheart]

Best advice I got was before the baby turned up get DD used to sitting beside me whilst reading a book and to help turn the pages. I then spent a lot of time talking to her about settling the baby to feed then it would be our time to read, chat, etc.

Within a few weeks of DS turning up DD (then 2.9) would go and get a book every time I got my boobs out