Constant feeding

[Dippy001]

My boy is now 8 weeks and is still feeding constantly. I am struggling to continue this for much longer as I have a toddler and she has been spending 2 months watching cbeebies and her behaviour is now concerning me. I have had the latch checked, he does not have tongue tie, I have plenty of milk. Why is this happening? What can I do to stop it? He is a big boy, now 7kg, but still, it is ALL day long.

He's only 8 Weeks, some babies take longer to slow down with feeding then others. So he's normal, maybe you need to think of other ways of coping with it.

Have you a sling, something like a stretchy wrap or ring sling would be good for feeding baby in. Then you have hands fee for your toddler. Also taking them for walks in a sling sometimes helps lengthen the time between feeds as they are often seeking the closeness and comfort that feeding brings.

Its easier to change your ways of dealing with it then try to change his natural feeding behaviour.

I can't use a sling, I have a very bad back. I bought a wrap style and a structured one and cannot keep them on for long without being in pain.

What are the other ways of dealing with it? It's all very well keeping things 'natural' but there is a point at which it is not possible to feed a baby constantly when you have another child, never mind anything else that needs doing.

I suggest a visit to your gp for physio for your back. I've had two back problems over the years and physio really works.

A stretchy wrap is best if you have back problems, probably better then holding your baby. I could baily get out of bed with back pain with my seconded but still could carry him in a sling for short periods and longer once I'd had I
physio.

In the mean time try other things with your toddler, reading while feeding is possible. Having a special toy box only for feeding times helps some mums. With new and different stuff in it. When you get the hang of it having cuddles with both at the same time helps to.

I do have two so know how hard it can be in those early Weeks. Can you get in any extra help. If you don't have local family some times local collages are looking for work experience place for people doing child development curse. So you could get a few hours a week extra help with your older child for free.

Of and don't forget you're local Childers centre, it can be hard getting out to star with but sometimes once out baby may feed less as distracted by being out and about. Childers centres have great play seasons for toddlers and are veer breastfeeding friendly to. You'll often find your local breastfeeding drop in group there.

Who checked the latch? as sometimes someone more trained can spot something a midwife or health visitor may have missed.

A breastfeeding advisor from the NHS at the local breastfeeding meetup there is every week checked it.

Thanks for the advice, I will give it all a try. Off to surestart this morning as its stay and play. Could cry at how my toddler has changed these last few weeks. Thanks.

There maybe other reasons for your toddlers change in behaviour. Its a big change for him to adjust to a new sibling, its not just the lack of attention but everything in his life has changed. They don't always understand at that age what has happened.

My own toddler at the time had some really bad tantrums, She absolutely loved her new brother but was quit hard work for me and my husband. Took a good six months to farm down. We also had some regression with toilet tanning to.

Just to prove me right my toddler broke my laptop screen yesterday. Same here though, loves the baby but is really hard work for us.

On a positive note, the baby stayed in the nap nanny for a whole 20 minutes before needing to feed again! Just when it gets to much... I hope he's settling down.