Coping with bf and 19 month old?

[FessaEst]

I am due in a few weeks, and beginning to think about how I will cope with bfing a newborn and keeping my very energetic toddler entertained if it takes a while. Any tips?

I have bought an aquadoodle travel kit, so am looking for ideas of similar - stuff she can sit with me and do, but not need me to move around too much. She's not much into tv, tough i keep trying and have bought some dvd's etc. She quite likes books but they don't hold her attention for long. Would love to hear how others have coped.

Get a sling and learn to BF in it (I still haven't mastered this, DD1 does like TV ). Some mums find that having a box of toys or interesting things that they get out when the baby needs feeding can help. Sticker books are brilliant, have you tried them with your DD?

I never mastered bfing in a sling with DD - though used my moby loads for everything else - will have to work harder at it! I haven't tried stickers yet, as not sure she would understand limiting them to a book - can just see stickers on every surface/the dog/the new baby etc!! Am going to start stockpiling books that just come out when I'm feeding - maybe I'll have a special bag or something.

I've always found a Babasling/ring-type sling to be best for easy feeding. I never managed it in my Close carrier, which is similar to a Moby in positions you use I think.

Thanks, have got a babasling but found carrying DD in it uncomfortable, so not sure I ever tried feeding in it - will get it out and have it ready!

I never mastered feeding in a sling with ds1, but when it came to surviving it with ds2, I soon learned!!

I used an Ergo with the baby insert. I only used this because it was what I had when ds1 got older and I decided to give it a try before buying anything else, and it happened to work for us. I know that there are probably much better slings for the job.

ds2 is 16months and I still feed him in the sling if need be. If you can make it work, it's a total lifesaver for carrying on with everyday life with an older child.

Try a treasure basket - google 'heuristic play' for ideas.

You could get her a doll to look after too.