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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Multi tasking while breastfeeding

17 replies

Racheyg · 20/06/2015 10:55

How does anyone manage to do anything while breastfeeding?

I have a 23 month old whom requires a lot of attention. Also I have housework (the ironing hasn't been done in 3 1/2 weeks) all while breastfeeding my 3 week old.

He feeds well and would quite happily lay on me all day sleeping and eating. I have totally forgot this part with ds1.

When does it get easier, sleeping in own basket rather than on me? Feeding less frequent?

I feel sorry for my ds1 as he has taken a back seat with my attention recently :(

OP posts:
3rdbump · 20/06/2015 11:30

Watching this thread!
I feel the same I have a 2 1/2 yr old and 2 other older hidden 10 and 11 and a 10 day old baby who am bf. It's hard work isn't it I have just let things go for now. Doing the bare essentials when I get to put him down to sleep. He won't settle in moses basket so I put him in his pram and take him for a little walk round the garden which sends him to sleep. He did 2 and half hours in there yesterday!

I have started expressing and planning to give him a bottle feed during the daytime so means oh can have him for a bit or I can go food shopping and if he gets hungry will have his bottle rather than me panicking half way round the supermarket if he starts getting hungry!!

3rdbump · 20/06/2015 11:30

Children lol not hidden typo!!!

Original poster
Racheyg · 20/06/2015 11:40

Wow 3rd you sound very busy with 2 other older children.

My oh thinks I should give formula to allow him to sleep while I get on with stuff. I don't want to which is causing a few issues. While typing my ds1 is at football with dad while I'm on the bed bf a very sleep ds2

I was attempting to clean the bathroom but every time I put him down he screams the place down. I feel awful that I can't do all the stuff I normally do while feeding ds2.

OP posts:
3rdbump · 20/06/2015 12:01

Racheyg - the older ones help out so not too bad. my OH is suggesting the same, feed formula so i can get a break - hes not to bad at night time though, he slept from about 12am till 445 last night which gave me a good stretch of sleep. I know what you mean though aout not being able to put them down, my LO wont even settle with daddy he just wants to be attached to me.
I have the MW coming today so going to disuss with her.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 20/06/2015 12:04

I would suggest your husband does the ironing so you can keep bf.

I have found bf is a lot easier when you prioritise it and stop worrying about housework. This is of course easier to do if your partner steps up and acknowledges that bf a small baby is pretty much a full time job.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 20/06/2015 12:05

Oh and get a sling - a good one, not a baby bjorn - so you can do essential stuff.

ChunkyPickle · 20/06/2015 12:21

I think it all calms down a bit at about 2 months - personally I wouldn't switch to a bottle just to give me time to do the housework - doesn't seem like a good exchange to me (and it'll create more housework because now you also have to keep a queue of bottles ready)

I agree with the sling too.

And online shopping through your phone - I still do that because I can just fill in bits and pieces on the list when waiting for DS1 to come out of school or whatever.

IShallCallYouSquishy · 20/06/2015 12:24

BF in baby with them in a stretchy sling. Hands free feeding Smile

Original poster
Racheyg · 20/06/2015 15:17

Thanks all. I have a sling a ergo baby but he doesn't like it and I can't bf in it. Will look at the stretchy type as I believe u can feed in them.

My oh is good with the washing up and hoovering but I doubt he will be able to iron Grin he owns about 30 tshirts with the transfer type which are a nightmare to iron.

I forgot I spent a lot of time bf ds1 xx

OP posts:
poocatcherchampion · 20/06/2015 15:28

Let the housework go!?!?

Is that more important than looking after a very tiny baby.

Casual t shirts don't need ironing.

Original poster
Racheyg · 20/06/2015 18:16

Poo.......yes of course feeding my son is more important I was keeping it lighthearted while trying to get tips on how to juggle toddler/housework and newborn

OP posts:
zoobaby · 21/06/2015 15:12

BF time = MN time here and sometimes BF has been known to go for "really long" when DP is home to entertain 2.9yo DS Smile. When it's just us, he gets lots of verbal interaction about how well he's playing with his cars/trains/buses/castle or getting told off for running/climbing/jumping/etc.

zoobaby · 21/06/2015 15:20

Also, I've resigned myself to having to live with plastic tat being my constant companion (small flat so it's always in eyesight).

littlesupersparks · 21/06/2015 15:24

I have 8 week old twins, a 3 yo and a 5 yo. They wake at 5, I feed them
And dress them. I try and squeeze in another feed before the school run. I'm usually out with my toddler all morning - squueeze in a feed here and there then home for lunch, toddler down for nap. Feed and change babies by 2.30 and head out for the school run again. It's busy but it's not really difficult for me, I still get time to give my others attention. I can read, play Lego, do drawing etc with a baby attached if I need to. I pop one or both in the sling if they are very grumpy.

littlesupersparks · 21/06/2015 15:27

Oh - we don't do ironing here. Washing gets put on first thing and I usually manage to hang it before I go out. Otherwise it gets put on an inside drying rack at nap time. I often take a picnic out with us in the summer as that means I cut down on one lot of table cleaning!

MadgeMak · 21/06/2015 15:37

You don't have to feed in the sling. Just feed them pop baby in the sling to nap whilst you get on with things.

littlesupersparks · 21/06/2015 22:32

No I've never needed to feed in the fling either...

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