2nd-time BFers: how did you keep your toddler entertained while BF baby?

[whiteorchid]

DC2 is due in a few weeks, and I'm wondering how I'm going to keep DS1 entertained while I'm chained to the sofa BFing. DS1 spent hours (literally) BFing, and I'm worried it'll drive DS1 (who will be 22 months) insane with boredom.

So, MNers, please give me your top tips for entertaining a toddler from the sofa! (I'm afraid I never mastered the walking-around-while-casually-breastfeeding technique!)

Television.
Reading them a book.
Often they're just happy to be sat in the same room as you while they play with something on the floor.

I had a 2 year age gap between my first two. DS1 used to feed forever, but luckily, DS2 was a big baby and he would finish a feed in 15 minutes. Your second baby won't necessarily have the same feeding patterns as your first.

My third child (now 8 months) was also a 'chained to the sofa' feeder, but the older two are older and play together now.

Have you tried feeding in a sling? Might be worth a go, perhaps you'll find it easier 2nd time round.

It's easier to have one hand free (rather than holding a bottle) to draw or hold a book etc Once babe is latched DS1 has the luxury of your undivided attention so arm yourself with a drink for you both, books, crayons and paper etc and treat it as time for you and DS1

I'm not there yet but I'm starting to build up a special box of toys that I will bring out at BF time and put away afterwards.

Also bought a sling that I hope to use for BF so that I have my hands free to play with my toddler if necessary

cbeebies i'm afraid. DS1 was 21 months when DS2 was born, I am aware he watched far too much TV when DS2 was 1st born, but it is very hard to cope with small baby and entertain toddler, particularly 1st few weeks.
I had same situation as mungarra though, DS2 was 10lb and fed like a dream he took 10 or 15 minutes to feed, where DS1 had taken 45 minutes.

It is a nightmare -ds is nearly 3 so can play by himself but will he when I am feeding 2 week old DD? No of course not-mummy play with me, wants to jump on the sofa hang round my neck etc etc etc No solution really resort to TV far too often and my mum has been brilliant. Can you get your DP to take as long as possible off? Any grandparents /friends /other family? who can come and take older one to the park? Have breastfed round the library and soft play area with DD in sling but not great for one thing DS will not stay in one place for more than a microsecond. Have much reduced tolerance for those hours of breastfeeding this time round. Also feel guilty about not spending the time with DS-he is so much more fun than a colicky newborn. Roll on September when at least he is in nursery in the mornings

Thanks for all the ideas. DH is taking four weeks off, so hopefully I'll have feeding established by then, at least. And, yes, perhaps DC2 won't take quite as long to feed (or perhaps I simply won't have the time to indulge him/her in the same way).

Part of me feels a bit sorry for DS, really. We've had such a lot of fun together, and I feel a bit guilty that I won't be able to spend as much time with him. Mother's guilt, eh?

I spend hours feeding DS2 and like LadyG, my 3 year old who normally is very happy to play alone, demands attention the minute I whip a boob out. He says "dont give him your breast, mummy, cuddle me". Like Whiteorchid, I feel incredibly sorry for DS1 - his behaviour has deteriorated since DS2's birth and it's so obviously a cry for attention. I actually dont know how mums who have babies very close together cope. Hopefully the bad behaviour is a passing phase.

I find soft play areas quite good though and we go to the local park quite often. Good luck xx

Dd would pretend to BF her baby Annabel at the same time! Very useful . Thankfully ds was a speedy feeder, though.

cbeebies here unfortunately. My DS1 is 25 months and DS2 is 2 months old. I also am trying to schedule DS1's meals at the same time as I need to breastfeed. Also playgroups are useful as DS1 is distracted and not as annoyed that my hands are full.

I was wondering about this too. I am due dc2 in early November and dd will be 2.5. She is used to my undivided attention so I am going to have to try to include her.

On a related topic - has anyone mentioned to their toddler about breastfeeding? I breastfed dd til she was over 10 months old but she obviously has no recollection of it. In her world (dolls, books etc) babies drink bottles and I think she expects she will be able to help give the new baby a bottle. I tried telling her about breastfeeding as simply as I could and she looked at me like I was a mad woman.