Breastfeeding with a 1.5yr old?

[xllhhx]

Sorry if the title is misleading, my son will be 1.5yrs old when my baby is born (oct).
I'd really like to breastfeed - my son was unable to establish breastfeeding due to his prematurity and bottle preference from nicu (32 weeker as he was a twin) but I was able to exclusively express for him for the first few months.
Anyway - my question is, have any mams out there been able to successfully breastfeed a new baby with a young toddler in tow?
Any tips would be great! Thank you!

I'd love to know this too!

I don't have an answer for you but I'm due DC2 any day and have a 16mo so will let you know!

My son was a bit older - he was almost 2 when his brother was born - bit breastfeeding was fine. Littlest is nearly 1 and am currently breastfeeding as I write this!

It's easier once you get going as no dragging bottles along with everything needed for the toddler when you go out. It's also convenient because you can take the toddler anywhere for however long without worrying about being able to prep milk or making a bunch beforehand.

I has a c-section with number 2 so had family around with me the first week or so (DH only had a couple of days off) which helped me get things established while DS1 was entertained. I think it was really useful to have that and would have been harder if I had them both alone in that first bit of time.

im currentlzy breastfeeding a 11 month old, but my mum breatfed me and all my sisters and my brother, theres 6 of us and 10 years and 2 weeks between the youngest and the eldest. none of us slept through the night until we were in school so around 3 and four years old. so it can definetly be done haha good luck xxx

DS was bottlefed and DD was breastfed.
There is exactly 17 months between them.

I actually found it easy because DS was able to do his own thing. He has always been independent and he was a very happy baby!

He didn't mind just playing or watching CBeebies while we established breastfeeding.

Just make things as easy as you can with snacks and drinks etc, so you can be with baby but your toddler won't feel left out.
You can still do things (colouring etc) while feeding. Routine is important!

I've got an 8 week old now and the other two are 6 and 5.. that's probably harder now because I have to get them ready for school, make sure baby is fed and then walk half hour to school and half hour back!

Good luck!

I breastfed when eldest was 13 months, much easier than bottles. You just have to ensure you have child 1 occupied. Bring them up beside you with a book. Give them their favourite snack, bring the two of them up to bed and let eldest have their nap and feed baby abs you get a sleep too. It's definitely do able.

My other recommendation is to get a good sling, sometimes baby just wants to be up and close and a sling will give you hands to manage your other child.

Thanks for all of your comments so far! It sounds do-able, and I'm feeling much more optimistic about it!

Have a 22mo and currently breastfeeding 2mo (also have a 5yo) - 20 months between the little 2. Honestly it’s been fine. It helps a lot that all mine have been good feeders - so no major pain issues beyond the first few weeks while everything settles down, no faffing for hours with latch etc.
I didn’t go too far from home in the early days/weeks and stuck to places I knew toddler would be safe if/when I needed to bf (lots of playgroups!). At home I try not to let DC3 impact DC2 time - am often to be found sat on the floor, bf with one hand and building train track with the other! DC2 also loves books, so we quite often do some reading while baby feeds too. I’ve been lucky and toddler has taken to baby without too much fuss - he thinks me bf is funny/fascinating and quite often tries to hoik her off and put her back on the breast while she’s feeding - or tells me she wants a drink & prods me in the chest. I’m generally quite relaxed and I think it rubs off on the kids, so I think it’s a combo of that and sheer dumb luck that’s got us through so far! It’s definitely doable though

And yes yes YES to the sling! Not bf related so didn’t say it, but can’t recommend it enough - DC3 will only just now be put down for short times (at nearly 9w) and the sling has absolutely saved my sanity and kept my hands free to deal with the big 2. Most important baby item I own IMO.

Thanks everyone! I used a sling for a short while with my son so will definitely be doing that again!