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How to deal with young toddler and BF baby!

6 replies

UterusesBeforeDuderuses · 29/03/2020 14:07

I have a 22 mo DS and nearly 6 week old DD and do not understand how people cope with both, especially when stuck indoors due to isolation! Please give me tips oh wise women.
I'm trying to EBF DD but she wants to feed constantly, she's also very clingy and will not nap anywhere except on me. I have a wrap which helps and she'll nap in it while I can move around a bit, but if I stop moving for too long she wakes up so I still can't sit down and play with DS. I find myself a lot of the time stuck on the sofa feeding, while he either watches far too much tv, or he's just tantrumming because he's not getting enough attention, which makes me feel awful.
DH wants me to at least combi feed, the idea being if I give her a bottle of formula she might be satisfied for longer, but I really wanted to BF, plus formula is no guarantee she'll suddenly be ok with being put down.
Please give me an idea of how you have managed in similar situations! Currently DH is wfh so he can take her for a few minutes but he can't really help that much, and he'll probably go back to work before DS goes back to nursery so I need to figure out what I'm going to do when I'm all alone with them both!

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Mymomsbetterthanyomom · 29/03/2020 17:42

You are the frustrating zone and you explained it perfectly.....BUT,it will get easier!I promise.And don't feel bad about your son watching too much TV,because it's not a permanent situation.
Remind yourself that these moments won't last forever and enjoy being the only one that can nourish your baby AND read your son a story at the same time,lol.
Also,at 6 weeks your baby may be going through a growth spurt which may explain the constant feedings.🥰

TwoKidsStillStanding · 29/03/2020 17:46

One thing I would consider at the moment is that some people are really struggling to get hold of formula so if you feel overall that you can persevere with breastfeeding and would like to, you may want to stick with it for that reason alone.

I do sympathise, it’s really tough - I’m juggling a very Velcro boob-obsessed ten week old and a four year old, and it would be even harder with a toddler!

Devlesko · 29/03/2020 17:48

Your dh can do more surely, he is wfh and has no commute.
I'd be putting baby down, you're making a rod for your own back, you can't do anything if you don't put them down.
Get dh to do lunch time and straight after work.

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Caspianberg · 29/03/2020 18:01

Could your Dh take both children out each morning for 30 mins after breakfast before he starts working. Toddler walking, baby in sling. Then you get 30 mins alone time to shower and breathe, plus toddler gets to wear off a bit of energy straight away.

Then you can take them both for a walk again around block later on in the day so toddler is tired before dinner.

Talking of tiredness, do you have a garden? if so theres lots things toddler can do outside with little imput from you. small sandpit, water painting fence, collecting stuff, baby bath with water in and toys when warm. Maybe invest in small slide, etc.

Indoors small children probably are getting bored after a while. Maybe a change of rooms throughout the day with them will help change it up ie try and read or let him play in his bedroom after nap, have long play in bath (extra bubbles and toys), do crafty bits on kitchen floor, tv show in your bed on ipad. That way he isn't just in living room all day.

Let toddler take cushions off sofa to make den, or put blanket over table as den etc

daisydalrymple · 29/03/2020 18:04

Do you have colouring books / magazines / picture books in at the moment?
I used to have a little folder I kept by the sofa and would refresh every night with a different Set of each. I’d only pick it up for ds1 when dd needed a feed and we’d look through / do the activities together.
I also made a list of all the toys / games / activities we could do and kept that to hand, so that if dd was settled in her chair even just for ten mins, I could quickly play Lego, set up a wooden train track, or get bob the builder trucks out. Usually by that time ds1 would be happy to carry on playing himself.
It does get easier as the weeks go by, but I appreciate you can’t get out to the park for half an hour, or to a group to break up your day!

UterusesBeforeDuderuses · 29/03/2020 18:51

Thanks for your replies and advice, definitely some good ideas to try! Smilex

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