For those mothers with children 1 year apart or less should I think about bottle feeding my 2nd baby???

Question

People have said that its going to be hard to divide the attention to both my boys if Im breastfeeding.My son will be 1 Sept.6th and Im due with my 2nd on Sept.27th. I did breast feed my 1st and I did want to breast feed my 2nd until recently.I feel overwhelmed and sad thinking about how Im going to divide my time equally.Just thinking back on those times breast feeding my 1st It was hard at times trying to raise him and take care of myself by myself.Now to have a very clingy mommas boy and a newborn I dont know if I'll be able to breastfeed and take care of both my boys equally. Breastfeeding takes alot of your time.My husband is also going to be leaving to Iraq between Sept.24-27 for 15 months.I'll be moving in with my family but I just wont have as much help as I would if my husband were here.So do you moms out there think I can do it?? My son is a Momma's boy.

Answer 1

you can do it!!! its going to be tough, but youre a mom... which makes you part superwoman. youll find the stregnth, time, and love for both of them.... good luck :)

Answer 2

You can do it, and to be quite honest, it will be easier to breastfeed seeing as you've done so once successfully, than it would be to bottle feed. Think of all the work you must put into washing and sterilising bottles, and warming up milk, and making sure you always have everything you need, compared to just popping bubby on the breast.

Breastfeeding does take a lot of your time, but the times you spend breastfeeding can be time spent with both your children. If your one year old is still breastfeeding, they can feed at the same time (hold bubby in the football hold, and let your older child lay in the football position). If he's already weaned, then keep a collection of his books beside your breastfeeding chair, and read to him while you are feeding. It will have the added advantages of keeping him happy, quiet and occupied, while at the same time helping him learn to read by fostering a love of reading in him.

As you know, breastfeeding helps to protect against a host of childhood illnesses. If you bottle feed your second child and he turns out to be a sickly child, you'll not only have the extra work involved with bottle feeding to deal with, but also the stress and work involved in having a sickly needy child.

Good luck with it all, and sorry to hear your husband will be leaving just as your baby will be born.

Answer 3

My first two are 13 months apart and my last 2 are 14 months apart and I breastfeed all of them. It is time consuming but whether you feed the baby a bottle or breast if all takes time. You can do it. I think that in a lot of ways my kids that were super close together were easier than the 2.5 year age gap between #2 and #3. When you are feeding hold your older son too. It can be done trust me! Or let him sit right next to you and snuggle up.

Answer 4

My now 4 year old was a mommas baby, too when my youngest daughter was born. I breast fed her and, yeah, he was jealous. Newborns sllep so often, that I was able to spend cuddle time with my son during her naps and I would read or play games with him while she nursed.
He did very well ajusting. He was a little pain for a few months, but he became a great big bro!

I would suggest you get a sling so the little one can nap and nurse as needed during the day and you can still have your hands free to play with his older bro, too.

Answer 5

YOU CAN DO IT!

Have you considered tandem nursing? This will allow you to continue giving your older son that much-needed mommy time, while breastfeeding your new baby.

And, tandem nursing is GREAT for your milk supply!! That new baby's gonna be a very healthy plump one!

And nursing while you're pregnant is 100% safe and ok, unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from doing so. Old wive's tales have it that the milk is "poisoned" or that it will cause you to miscarry, or have an unhealthy new baby. Such is not the case!

Answer 6

my mother had 5 children at age 18, 19, 20, and 21. my brother and sister were one day short of being a year apart. she breastfe us all. i think you should do it at least the first few weeks. you ar emore experienced in that field so it won't be as hard as it was the first time. i def think you could do it. pump some for those times where you need a break. will you have time to get up and mix a bottle, heat it and sit there with teh abby feeding it. holding a bottle to a babies mouth takes the same amount of time sitting there as breastfeeding does. i think you could do it

Answer 7

Absolutely don't let one little boy's behavior deny your newborn the benefit of breastfeeding. You can still turn the breastfeeding situation to your advantage especially since it sounds like your son is a cuddler. Jusy set up on a comfy couch or with lots of pillows on the bed and possibly set a movie or cartoon channel on and have your older son cuddle up with you and the baby while the baby eats. You can always tell stories and sing rhymes with him while breastfeeding too. It doesn't have to be exlusively the baby and you at feeding times.

Answer 8

Yes, you can do it! Not only will breastfeeding be a time for you to bond with your new son, it is so much better for him. The nutrients in breatsmilk are not in anything else. Yes, it will be tough. But you can do it. When its time for you to breastfeed your baby, set up and activity for your older son to do. When he gets clingy, don't lose your patience. Include him in doing things with the baby, such as handing you diapers/wipes or whatever. I know you will be tired but also make time to play with your older son, when the baby is napping. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 9

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Answer 10

i didn't breast feed but my girls are 12 months and 2 days apart and it was very hard at first but i managed. i included my oldest i everything including feeding and bath time.