How do you amuse your 12wk old baby?

[sharond101]

I have a very clingy 12wk old baby boy who I need to amuse for 15 minutes several times each day to allow me to express my breastmilk. He gets upset when I am not holding him and although i have a bouncer chair and a few toys he begins screaming after a couple of minutes. Even setting him down to go to the toilet sets him off. How do you amuse yours?

At 12 weeks he's going to feel anxious at being separated from you (normal at this age), and he'll be able to smell the milk. Could you express on one side and feed on the other? This can help increase production too. I guess there isn't anyone who can take him while you express. Only other thing I can think of is a sling with him on your back while you do it - tricky.

But he's not clingy, this is appropriate behaviour for this age. Hope you find a way through it.

Was going to say exactly the same as Kathryn. That was the only way I could express with DD at that age.

I agree with the other posters - totally normal at this age. I fed on one side, and expressed from the other, or expressed when they slept (for 15 mins!).

I found I got much more milk when i expressed while my baby was feeding - used to use a special bra - google express yourself bras maybe

Iam expressing as my baby could not latch on due to medical reasons so I cannot feed fro the other side and since exclusively expressing am tied to my pump 8x in 24hrs for around 15minutes each time. Also essential things like goimg to the loo, brushing teeth, eating and preparing food are challenging too as he protests being sat down.

I also had this problem! Sticking her on her baby gym usually worked. Also, I never got around to doing this, as I gave up exclusively pumping at 17wks, but I would recommend getting a hands-free pump bra. I've heard good things about the PumpEase. That way you should be able to play with your baby while expressing at the same time. You may be able to sit on the floor with your baby as well as long as you keep the pump and bottles out of the way.

I also used to try and time some pump sessions for when she was asleep, then I could stick the TV on and relax... got more milk that way too then when she was fussing and stressing me out ;)

Expressing and feeding at the same time works for me too - with the added comedy bonus of my daughter breaking off from time to time to look at the pump with a scowl that clearly is meant to say "NOT YOURS" and then relatching while keeping an eye on the pump to ensure no milk-based funny business