How hard will it be to breastfeed my baby and take care of my 2 year old?
17/08/09
I am due in June with my third child. My middle child and the new baby will be 23 months apart in age. How hard will it be to nurse the new baby and take care of my toddler? Anyone else have any experiences they could tell me about? I am debating on bottle feeding, and yes I know breastfeeding is #1. Thanks!
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Wow, we are in identical situations. I have a 2-year-old myself and due in June with my second. Here’s what I’m doing to plan ahead for this very issue…
I bought a baby sling for the newborn so I can carry him everywhere I go and will still have two hands free to attend to my toddler. I got mine at http://www.hotslings.com and they can be used in several different carry positions to accomodate a newborn or older baby. You can even breastfeed while wearing the baby in the sling! I also like the idea of being able to wear the baby while I do things like grocery shop. Since my 2-year-old will be in the seat of the cart, I can just put the baby in the sling and we’re off!
I got a portable Moses basket for the baby so I can carry him from room to room and be wherever the toddler needs to be.
I am also planning to get my daughter a special baby doll to care for, as well as some accesories similar to things I will be using with the new baby… pretend diapers, a baby doll basket, etc. I even got her a mini "Boppy" pillow (actually a travel neck pillow bought from Walgreens, which was an idea someone here at Answers gave me) so she can "nurse" her baby alongside mommy.
I have my home set up so she can’t get into much of anything by using baby gates and closed doors. So, I don’t anticipate I’ll be chasing her around too much since she’ll be playing in the safe areas of our home all of the time anyway.
Well, I hope that helps. And from one nursing mom’s perspective, I could never see bottle feeding as being more convenient. I have babysat my sisters babies (all formula fed) many times, and really hated all the measuring, mixing and cleaning involved. Ugh! Sure, breastfeeding may take a little extra time in the beginning, but it gets so much easier (as you know) and it sure beats cleaning and sterilizing baby bottles any day! Best of luck to you! =;o)
my sister breast feeds her 1 month old and has a 2 y/o and has 5 y/o twins that dont go to school till this year. so i am sure its not to hard.
My kids are exactly 2 years apart. And I nursed each of them for more than a year.
I found that my 2-year-old would sit and "nurse" her stuffed animals while I nursed the baby. Or we would sit and read stories or color while the baby ate. And, as an absolute last resort, we sometimes watched movies.
It was something that I really worried about, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. (As easy as anything like that ever is, anyway…)
Well I can’t really help I only have one BUT if you buy a wrap style carrier it is relatively easy to nurse a baby in the carrier.
Also go to La Leche League meetings I bet the moms there have lots of helpful hints!
http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html
(Change the country in the upper right if you aren’t American).
In addition, you know bottle feeding isn’t really *less* work, it is just different work. You never have to heat up or mix breastmilk and you don’t have to sterilize bottles. Also you really should hold a babies bottle while they are drinking so either way you are tied up. At least with breasts you don’t need to make sure they are at the right angle to prevent gas etc.
Also 101 Reasons to Breastfeed:
http://www.promom.org/101/
Breast feed for a few weeks to give your baby a good start. Then you can move to the bottle and keep up with the raving ranting lovely toddler. It is very hard if you have no help. But anyone can do it. Try reading a book to your toddler while breast feeding if she/he will sit still that long.
Note: Bottle feeding leaves baby fuller longer. But start with the breast while everyone is still willing to help.
It wont be hard at all.. I have an 8 year old ~a 6 yr old ~a 4 yr old~ a 3 yr old ~a 15 month old and a 6 week old.. And I homeschool… I am nursing my youngest exclusively– no bottles… I did this with all of them.. I think its actually easier.. no having to waste time making bottles or worring about them getting cold or going bad.. plus its free..
Congrats on the new one!!!
My son turned 2 a month before my daughter was born. It was kind of difficult, and he actually started nursing again out of jealousy. I just gave in, and after a couple of months, he got used to it, and stopped nursing. I started watching movies and reading books with him while I was nursing. I was single, and going to college and managed it, so, even though it was kind of hard, it was worth it.
Oh it will be a cinch if you grow another sent of arms. Get ready for your 2 year old to want to nurse again, and not care where you are when she decides to nurse. For some reason, people accept seeing newborns nurse in public, but give weird looks with kids who are already walking. Either way, its your business, and your decision. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
I only have one, but I can tell you that I breastfed him, and wanted to breastfeed as long as he wanted me to, but I dried up b/c of a hormonal problem I have and had to switch to bottle feeding. It was A LOT harder to bottle feed than it was to breastfeed. I had to lug around water, bottle, formula, a warmer, blah blah it was a major pain getting up in the middle of the night and having to warm or make a bottle rather than just rolling over and letting him nurse himself while I rested. I would say breastfeed b/c it saves time and energy for you to deal with the other child. But be prepared for some jealousy. Also, nursing has a major benefit for your mood b/c it releases some happy hormones (can’t remember their proper term at the moment) which can only help in dealing with the 2-year-old. My son is 2 now, and if I were to give birth again soon, I’d choose to nurse as long as possible. I also think it helps shows kids what’s naturally done with babies.
Good luck
I thought the same thing when i was pregnant. But now my toddler is two and my baby is 7 months. And depending on your child everything went fine for me. I nursed my little one. And of course things arent always going to be perfect or run smoothly but will work out. If you want to breastfeed,dont let it worry you,just do it.If anything your toddler will probably be curious and want to help with the baby.You could get a basket or something filled with toddler stuff! Just for her/him to do while your nursing!Maybe keep it for just that time! Good luck and congrats!
Its seem like it was very hard for my wife at first and it was very fustrating for the 1st three week but she got and now 2 year old is the smarts 2 year old i have every seen. I think it was the breat milk. Maybe?
I am sure it will be challenging, but you will find your groove, as will your toddler. Might be a big adjustment time for a while, but it’s worth it to stick it out. You toddler will have to learn to take care of more things on her/his own, and you will have to let some things slide. I am nursing my baby and my older child is 5, which is a lot different, but I am finding that there are all kinds of things that I just have to let go during the day while my husband is a work–like laundry, cooking elaborate meals, etc. It got much easier after a month. I hope you have someone at home for the first while to help keep the toddler occupied–that would really really help. It also makes it so the change isn’t such a huge impact. I found things like board games, card games, crafts, computer games, puzzles, movies, etc. worked well while I was nursing the baby and my bigger boy needed time with me. It’s okay to rely more on tv and movies and such at this time! Whatever it takes to get you through and help everyone adjust. I am sure it will be stressful at times, but it’s also amazing to learn what you are capable of and how resourceful you are. Also let your middle child get lots of cuddles even while you’re nursing the baby! Good luck. And good for you giving your new baby the best–lucky baby!
It was impossible for me… Even with a perfect latcher… My older daughter just flipped when I breast fed… then ran away to go play in the toilet, or in the garbage can so I would have to go get her… She unfortunately won because I couldn’t do both… Too many interruptions. I couldn’t handle the stress… I am 20 by the way hope you have better luck… truly
If you succeed you must be supermom!
you don’t have to exclusively nurse. you can pump ahead of time so that you have milk on hand if you can’t find the time to sit and nurse, and that way someone like dad or grandma or even big sister (w/supervision) could help feed the baby.
you could supplement with a few formula bottles too, if your in town and have the kids (its kinda hard to find a spot to nurse one while the other two are jumping about).
OR as i said before, just keep a ready bottle of breast milk on hand to feed on the go. portable breast pumps make it a bit more easy to feed while out, and it’s really great for getting a good supply started in your freezer or fridge.
In my opinion breastfeeding is way easier than bottlefeeding. My milk is always warm and ready. Your toddler will be fine and will adjust with no problem. One website that has helped me a lot is http://www.breastfeeding.com
They have a message board full of breastfeeding mom’s and lactation consultants that are so helpful and encouraging. They gave me tons of good info.
I think about the same thing! I am due in June, and my son will be 22 months old. My mom says to have a stack of books ready to read, while I nurse the new baby. It is something I stress about! Good Luck
It will be difficult for you, but if that’s what you want to do you’ll manage. Don’t let people discourage you from bottle feeding though, your going to be busy, and probably trying to lose baby weight. I didn’t breast feed my 3rd because of those reasons. Remember, breastfeeding is only best if your eating exactly what your supposed to, and I didn’t feel like i was taking in enough vitamins, calcium, protein, water, carbs, and fat that a baby needs. Formulas are made with everything a baby needs to grow and stay healthy. Good luck, and whatever you chose will be best for you.
I am not going to tell you that it is easy, because it isn’t, but it is possible! My daughter was 3 when I had my son, and it was very difficult keeping up with her while he was (it seemed like) attached to me 24/7! My best advise is to have help as much as possible. I am due in April with my third, and my son will be turning 3 in March, so I am facing the same thing all over again. I remember how hard it was last time and keep thinking how easy it will be to have someone feed the baby bottles while I care for my other children. But then I think of all the advantages of breastfeeding and the guilt I’d feel when I let my milk dry up. But no matter what, the decision is yours….either way your child will be nourished! Do what works for you!!! Good luck and congratulations.
my 1st was 23 mo. when my son was born. She walked into the hospital with my mom when she saw me bf my son. When we got home, she started to ask for her bottle every time he was bfeeding. she got tall fast. I’m suing both bm and formula, this time around I do not have as much bm. make your child part of the experience ex: handing you the tissue for when you finish bfeeding. there’s still challenging moments, but bfeeding and having the older child leaning on you at the same time it’s an amazing feeling
I found it more difficult to bottle feed 1 never mind having another one to take care of. I breastfed my second baby and my first was 2 years and 5 months when I had her. I found it easier it was much faster then making and warming a bottle and then you have one free hand for the older one. I did notice though, my older didn’t want nothing to do w/ me when the new baby was sleeping in her bassinet but the second I latched that baby on, my 2 year old was all over me, se needed me to read to her, go potty, have a snack, whatever it was I couldn’t do while nursing she wanted lol. As long as you take care of her befor like bring her potty or read to her or whatever, toddler can wait the couple of minutes it takes to feed the baby, and another plus is you don’t have to waste time cleaning bottles.