Following on from bathtime with toddler and newborn thread....

[claire002]

....just wondering how those of you who have been through this managed to BF the baby whilst also reading bedtime story to the toddler? My DD will be 21 months when the newbie arrives in June, and I think I can just about envisage how teatime and bathtime will go (although I'm sure the first few weeks will be a bit hit and miss to put it mildly!). But at the mo, DD sits on my lap after bath and has a bit of milk and reads stories for 20 mins or so before bed. I can't see how I can do this if I'm trying to BF a baby as well - are there any super big chairs that we can all fit on that would help? Or should I try to get DD used to not snuggling up (but that would be a shame coz its one of my fav times of day)? Its not like she even goes to bed late so I could just have a cuddle with her later, she loves her sleep and is usually asleep by 6.45.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

I READ THE STORIES IN BED, bit more space but still snuggly, i found bfing a newborn ok, it was trickier as the baby grew and was bigger and heavier

Hi. I was really worried about this before arrival of DS2. (15 month gap). Initially DH on pat leave so he could help with bathtime/bedtime routine then I was on my own. I usually do the following...5pm ish BF baby one side then prepare easy dinner for DS1. DS1 eats dinner and DS2 in bouncy chair. Prepare DS1's milk and put it on stairs. After dinner we all go up (collecting milk en route). I make sure upstairs area is safe (doorjammers on doors and stairgate closed). Sorry if this sounds all really obvious but I remember initially struggling with the logistics! DS1 runs around and plays/reads while I run bath for DS2 and I then bath him. Ideally in a couple of months I'll bath them together but DS2 only 4M and DS1 has "ferocious" tendencies. I also thought I might get DS1 a mini DVD player so he can watch In The Night Garden etc. Crappy parenting I know but desperate times... Anyway, currently he is happy to do his own thing while I dress DS2 and BF other side. At this point DS1 often wants me to read to him so I BF baby on floor and DS1 snuggles in for stories. The whole quiet night feed in darkened room is out the window!. Put DS2 to bed by about 6.30. I then bath DS1 and then stories, milk and asleep by 7.30. Then.....breathe. It's actually fine because you have no other choice and the babies get into the swing of it. Good luck.

Thanks littleducks - DD will still be in a cot, so no bed in her or the baby's room to sit on - but I guess we could do it in our room then move, hadn't thought of that.

Thanks as well hatehoovering (me too!), I like the detail, more help the better, cheers! Hopefully on the floor could work, although not to start with if I end up having a c section again this time round (fingers crossed not). Yes, I can see the nice, get the routine going, darkened feed pre bed thing might not happen! But all second babies have to deal with this, so I'm sure it'll be fine . Eventually, anyway.

I have 19 months between mine and used to cuddle DD on a special chair while she had a bottle etc....

Now we do this and it works brilliantly - by 21 months your eldest can understand things if you explain them and say in advance 'what's going to happen' - she will surprise you......

Come in from bathroom carrying baby and eldest walking and we go to our bed (the big bed) and put each in to their grobags. Then Park DD lying down on your side of the bed on 'mummy's pillow' and you sitting feeding next to her (close enough to have a hand on her leg / side or whatever) and give her her bottle of milk and make sure there are 2-3 books that she likes next to you that you can pass to her if you get caught up feeding and baby causes a stink if you stop the feeding. While she's having her milk, start feeding the baby. No talking if needs be. Then soft whispers tell DD that she can have a rest and look through books if baby starts objecting to being put down OR get yourself in to a position on the big bed where you can feed while sitting next to DD and she turns the pages while you cuddle her or point to the pages etc. Then as soon as baby will let you put it down, put it down and then I climb on to the big bed next to DD and we have a huge whispery cuddle and chat and she loves it. then I put her in to her cot and go back to the baby and continue feeding. You will be amazed too that your DD will 'let you' go to the baby if it's screaming blue murder and you will also be more tolerant to crying than you were with DD, so you will be ok to let it cry for a minute or two if that's all you need to finish tucking DD in to bed. It will all work out I promise! then when baby gets older, line all 3 of you up on the big bed for a story and then slide baby in to it's cot and then the big cuddle with DD and then her in to her cot etc.

Ive got a 14mo gap and was worried about this but it was fine. Just do it on your bed. We still do this now they are 16mo and 2.5yo, its great . Thought Id miss the chair but prefer all being on the bed, even the cat joins in now with us all tucked in under the duvet reading stories, having milk, brushing teeth and hair.

Sounds like the bed is the way forward! Thanks - I was thinking about going and buying a small sofa or bench, but this will be much cheaper. Only problem will be when the new baby decides to throw her feed back up all over my bed

That's what towels are for