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!
2007-02-17 15:49:14 · 21 answers · asked by MommyMe 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
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 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)
2007-02-17 16:41:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
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.
2007-02-17 17:39:33 · answer #2 · answered by cita8200 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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!
2007-02-17 16:02:26 · answer #3 · answered by kammie42001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-02-17 20:15:11 · answer #4 · answered by medleyc1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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/
2007-02-17 15:54:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
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
2007-02-17 16:00:07 · answer #6 · answered by littleangelfire81 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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
2007-02-17 17:10:05 · answer #7 · answered by maxine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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!
2007-02-17 16:00:15 · answer #8 · answered by bhlah 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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...)
2007-02-17 15:54:07 · answer #9 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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!!!
2007-02-17 15:54:47 · answer #10 · answered by TheyCallMeMom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋