The logistics of tandem feeding - the early days

[Montifer]

Am 32 weeks pg with DC2 and intending to bf when it arrives.

DS1 (2.4yrs) still has bf at bedtime (and also got an extra few in recent days due to tummy bug).

I intend to keep going with DS1 as he wishes and am feeling a bit confused about how I'll manage establishing the newborn's feeding pattern especially around DS1's bedtime.

Also wondering if there is any concern about him having more than his fair share of the colostrum in the 1st few days?

Any hints or tips would be gratefully appreciated.

TIA

hello, i have a 4month old and a 2.9yo who until recently was having a bedtime feed (but that is another thread!)

we just muddled through and made it up as we went on really. i fed ds2 at bedtime the first night ds3 was here, but then i was surprised i was really sore so dh put ds2 to bed for a few nights, although it was a struggle. at about day 5 i felt up to feeding ds2 again, and we resumed feeding to sleep. my mum, dh or recently the mother's help who comes at bathtime would hold the baby, but there have been a few nights when i had to fed both together, but i didnt particularly like that.

i was a bit concerned that ds2 wouldn't want to share bf, or that he would want to feed lots in the day when ds3 was, but he didn't, he was very accepting really.

DS1 was 2.3y when DS2 was born. In the very early days I made sure DS2 was always fed first. DS1 did increase his feeding frequency during the day (had only been morning and evening previously), but I just went with the flow and let him. Eventually he eased off and we're now back on morning/evening feeds.

Bedtime was a bit fraught at first and I did try feeding both at the same time, however like weasle I didn't like it. Can't really put my finger on it, just that it was very overwhelming and a bit like the irritating feeling I got when feeding during pregnancy.

Now we're a bit further down the line (DS2 15 weeks), bedtimes are fine. DS1 has a fairly quick feed and then I leave the room whilst he settles down to sleep.

My advice is to try to be as flexible as you can at the beginning. It was hard at the start for us. Everyone was fighting for their 'place' so to speak, leaving pretty much no space for me! However, it does even itself out and I'm happy we're tandem feeding now.

Ds1 was 15 months when ds2 arrived. For the first few days whilst it was colostrum I always fed ds2 1st, then ds1. After milk had changed I fed whenever ds1 whenever he asked. He did really feed a lot for the first few weeks but then gradually cut back down again.

Thanks all for your responses, seems like the general consensus is go with the flow and let newborn have 1st dibs during the 1st week or so.