come and tell me your genius suggestions for entertaining a very active 2 year old boy while I'm endlessly bf'ing his sister please!

[HeadFairy]

because ds is watching waaay too much Cebeebies. I need 2 hands to bf (giant boobs!) so I'm a bit useless with him.

actually cbeebies isn't so bad - breastfeeding will get easier/quicker - you'll have more time - its all far too busy to begin with and honestly the easy option really isn't that bad for either of you ...

that said we've just got some really good CD's of stories and songs which are good for 2 year olds to potter around to - keeps the mind off tv and him entertained for a bit ..
the gruffalo box set is good - take him to the library and get some dvd's/listening cd's - in different languages - then he's watching but really learning too - keeps the guilt at bay

DS lived on Cbeebies in the early days of breastfeeding

a suggestion i got from MN when i posted a similar thread was to create a box of special toys that come out when feeding

what i also learnt to do is to get DS settled with some snacks - raisins, cut up fruit and a drink as he ALWAYS asked for something to eat the minute DD got latched on

he also liked helping - getting a bib etc and feeling involved

thanks slightlyharried and rubyslippers... I like the idea of story cds...he usually wants me to read books with him which is usually difficult esp as dd is really windy at the moment cos I've got a super fast letdown and I have to wind her for ages. I can't therefore flick through books with ds.

I guess sometimes I have to console myself that if ds watches lots of cebeeebies for a few weeks it won't kill him, and when the weather improves a bit I'll bf in the garden and let ds potter around.

The hardest thing is sitting there watching him destroy the house around my ears as I'm feeding dd!

There is a book (which I hate BTW ) called You Choose. It has very few words, and on each page, you choose, for example, where you want to live, then what house you want to live in etc. I hate this book because I 'read' it soooooo many times with DD1 when bfeeding DD2. The child can turn the pages, it doesn't matter if they turn over 2 at a time, you still 'do' the game and make up your own story.

Also, I did lots of singing of songs with actions, so she did all the actions while I sat and sang - things like 'Wind the Bobbin Up' and 'The Grand Old Duke of York'

And she watched shedloads of CBeebies

I remember "You choose" is great, it still comes out when ds (almost 5) is feeling vulnerable.

My gap was bigger (almost 4 years between them) but things i did/do
a) cuddling ds while feeding dd, dd reaches up and strokes him its very sweet. Can't imagine it working in the early colic/windy stages but later on its lovely

b)playing things like pretend shops, (lots of trips back and forth round the house)

c) drawing round my feet and colouring shape in

d) ANDS LOTS AND LOTS OF BEN 10!

thanks poledra, I'll look out for that book.

I like the idea of drawing around feet witch... not sure whether ds will understand being so young but it's worth a go, we've got one of those big rolls of paper from Early learning so perhaps we can use that.... and pens that don't destroy furniture

CD's are good - songs were always a winner with DS1...but if I'm being honest, I relied on Cbeebies a lot!

You Choose is a good book but does get somewhat repetitive after a few hundred times

Sorry but nearly 7 months on I am still relying on Cbeebies to entertain 2 yr old (and 4 yr old when he is not at school).

DD is 19 weeks and it's only been in the last week or two that Beebies hasn't been on morning to night see my many posts on here about it as it's the only TV I watch.
This seemed to happen naturally, I think it's a lot to do with DD being able to sit up (kind of ) so much easier to entertain them both, plus of course she is feeding less. Am really trying to cut down on his TV now, but assuming I manage it I don;t feel too bad about using it to get me through her first few months.

I know this is probably a bit optimistic but can you get out to a toddler group or something? I've just started going to toddler bounce with DD 2.5 who runs around and bounces like a mad thing in the padded room while I bf DS 3mo.

It also gives me some hope that at least one of them will sleep that night.

as someone else has said, i wouldn't worry too much about the amount of tv, it's only for a short time. i found the hardest thing watching ds1 climbing and knowing he was going to fall and not being able to do anything about it!

DS is obsessed with The Snowman - good 25 mins of total wide-eyed silence when that goes on. Same with The Gruffalo

thanks for the reassurances everyone that i'm not raising a square eyed couch potato!!!

chocolaterabbit - i'm really lucky to have a soft play thing in the leisure centre 5 mins from my house and i do sit there and bf dd while ds runs around like a loon but theres only so many times a week i can bear the sight of that place

i sometimes go to the park with him too but i nearly froze my nipples off yesterday feeding dd in the park while ds charged about on his scooter