feeding newborn on demand and looking after toddler

[daluze]

That's it - how do you manage? I.e., I'm ok at home most of the time, but how do you manage longer trips with a toddler, nursery runs, etc? Do you wake up and feed newborn in advance? What if he is too sleepy for that at the time? I use sling a lot, but the lady who runs a local sling library adviced against feeding in a sling due to safety reasons (I know many mums do thay though). Any tips appreciated!

My DC2 soon got used to the routine. She'd have a feed when she first woke, then another before the school run and then fall asleep on the way back home.

How long is your school run?

About half an hour walk each way, so roughly an hour total. He can sleep that long, but for now completely unpredictable at what time. He is two weeks only, and I just weaned him of formula supplement top-ups (he needed some due to low blood sugar in hospital), so some days he feeds round the clock. I know it will get better, but feeling apprehensive about next week when DP goes to work...

Are you blessed with a fast feeder? If your baby normally feeds in 10 minutes or less, I think I'd just set out very early on the nursery run so that there's time to stop and feed if you need to. Take biscuits for the toddler to eat while you feed, and play I-spy (use .... Something the colour "blue" instead of letters) and similar. I would also try to wake to feed before you go.

It probably won't be long before feeds space out a bit, feeding speeds up a bit, and baby starts to fit in to the family routine. Will nursery be relaxed about late drop off for a while?

Good luck! It is logistically hard when the baby is very tiny, but I promise it does get easier!

When I had to go out when DD was still quite tiny I'd always feed her before I left, regardless of when she'd last fed, knowing that would keep her going long enough for me to get where I needed to go. Then I'd pop her in sling and she'd usually fall asleep until we got where we were going... However, I didn't have to deal with a toddler at the same time (looking forward to that challenge when DC2 arrives in a month or so)

Feed the baby first thing, then get yourself and both of them dressed, get the toddler some breakfast and guzzle something down yourself too and then do a top up feed before leaving.

The baby will be prob be due a nap then so will hopefully sleep there and back then be ready for a feed when you get home.

Like others have said, it will get easier and it really won't matter if toddlers face/teeth etc aren't spotless or if you're late.

My dd2 was/is a velcro baby and if I can do it, anyone can! I found it trick from week 3-8 (not trying to scare you) as they wake up a bit after those first newborn sleepy weeks. It's pretty tough going but I bet you can do it Just have very low expectations of what you can achieve!!

Good luck.

As said above, you just have to feed before you go. If I needed to, I fed at the school reception before coming back too, or in the afternoon before school pick up somewhere along the way.

It gets easier.

Thanks for all the advice! First week with DP at work survived, so it is doable. Aftenoons are trickier, as DS2, quite understandably, needs feeding marathons, but I suppose, as any second child, he'll have to adjust!