[Charli73]

So baby is 3 weeks old and BF isn't going that well, had mastitis, thrush and have bubs has seen a Chiro as she isn't opening her mouth wide enough to latch..Trying to overcome this ASAP.

Anyway my problem is I have a 17 month old who every time I'm trying to breast feed he wants to jump on me and the baby for a cuddle, gives us kisses and it's making things hard.
I encourage him to get a book and sit next to me while I feed but feeding 20 mins each side is unrealistic with a toddler too..

Anyone have any tips or had this same scenario happen to them?

[ally0812]

does he know colours yet? dye some pasta (large) diff colours and give him containers to sort them into. a puzzle? crayons at the table? if all else fails a snack like sultanas takes kids a while to eat...

[~Mintie~]

I have the same age gap, and it was tough those first few months of breastfeeding. I often ended up with both kids on top of me at feed time (though only the baby was actually feeding).
Can you position yourself on the floor, and give your toddler a special seat or lounge right next to you? Or send him on missions, can he bring you his favourite toy, can he bring you a book, that sort of thing? Sometimes making it his snack time too can work also
Sometimes I could distract DS1 with TV, and you know sometimes nothing worked and you just have to tell them to wait and be patient. You will end up with hissy fits but it's inevitable.
It gets easier, I promise!

[deejie]

I broke all the rules the first couple of months with DS2.
Snack boxes (tiny little things that took ages to eat, eg finely chopped carrot, apple, sultanas etc)
I bought a whole heap of cheap ($2) sticker books, stuck all the stickers to the side of my leg and DS1 would pull them off and stick them in the books.
"Special" toy boxes with all sorts of annoying things. Cheap music packs with whistles, drums, bells etc. Other cheap crap. He only got to play when I was feeding.

And when I was desperate, TV. Too much TV. Some days, particularly in the afternoons DS1 would be pottering around with the TV on in the background for 3-4 hours.

Do whatever you need to do to get through the early weeks. As DS2 became more efficient feeding, it got so much easier. Hang in there!

[Jess1308]

18 month age gap here, use whatever works I say snacks, coluring books, iPad, iPhone, TV...

[Charli73]

Thanks for the tips will give them a try!!

[knowsnotmuch]

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This post has been edited by knowsnotmuch: 01/03/2013, 04:54 PM