Entertaining a 2yo while BF...

[Early Kids]

HELP!

Brendan is into everything and I cant sit and BF for even 10 mins without him getting into things!

He wont sit and draw or watch tv or anything longer than about 30 sec.
I'm at the point where I feel like locking him in his room, just so can feed without worry!

[Novella]

Food- the first few weeks I just fed dd1 at the same time dd2 needed a feed, yogurt, chesse, crackers anything it was the only thing she would sit down for long enough for me to bf aimee. We now try and read a book when I feed aimee and I am much better at feeding one handed now she is bigger, tv is also more popular which helps.

Good luck it gets easier (or mabye I just dont care about the destruction my 2yo causes so much)

[Olive]

i know of people who have a box of toys that only come out when mum is feeding, then goes away again! new toys keep kids occupied, well thats the theory!!

[mbear]

i have taht issue ATM - except its a 1yr ,3yr & 5yr old....
I agree with the box of toys thing - maybe buy him a special toy that 'comes out' during feeding times.
Good luck....i know how stressful it can be....

[Nelle]

Snacks, reading him books, special toys, popping him in his cot with aformentioned things while you feed in the same room, a dvd. With mine, I would get up with bub still on the breast and intervene - there went ds's security that mum was helpless to discipline during a feed!

[StrawberryMumma]

Ohh it's tricky isn't it! Our only 'solution' is to do short frequent feeds, and I also give DD snacks that are a bit fiddly and interesting to eat while I'm feeding (if that makes sense!..like biscuits and cheese, or biscuits and dip, frozen banana or strawberries bits etc...).
It will get a bit easier tho so hang in there!

[MantaRay]

Sally, it can be really hard at first. I am sure that DS1 thought me feeding was a licence for him to get into everything he shouldn't. It does get easier though - soon your DS1 will be more used to you feeding.

The suggestions from the PPs are really good ones. I used to find that some of the time DS1 would sit next to me and we could read a book together. Other times a snack helped. I could also usually get a feed in while he was sleeping. I would try a combination of ideas to find what works for you. It will get easier though hun, so don't despair!

[Early Kids]

Thanks for the replies.

I have tried the food one, which didn't work.
I have tried the toy one, he gets to go outside on the verandah while I sit inside by the window feeding... but he would just come back inside anyway lol.

I should also mention Brendan has Sensory Intergration Dysfunction... basically he's a sensory seeker. Which is hard enough when I can help him.

I have also tried getting Brendan to 'help' which only works in the first few mins, changing nappy ect.

Glad to hear it gets easier lol

[HotI]

what about a massage mat/chair?

a shell full of balls (maybe in a playpen thing)

stuff that he gets to do just whilst you feed to keep it interesting.

what sort of sensory stuff does he like?

[Inertia]

I should also mention Brendan has Sensory Intergration Dysfunction... basically he's a sensory seeker. Which is hard enough when I can help him.

OOOOOH! Thats not helpful at all. Sam has vestibular hyposensitivities - so he is a serious sensory seeker. Trying to feed Harry at times was super scary. I remember once I was sat there feeding and heard someone running on the roof! Put Haz down, run up the stairs and sure enough, sam had taken the screen out of the window and was running around on the roof! Scared the crap out of me!

I ended up getting a baby sling so that I could be mobile while I was feeding Harry. At that point in time nothing was of enough interest to Sam except doing crazy stuff for a 'thrill' or trying to find his dad who was at work. I had to keep on top of him and it was my only solution.

Sorry its not that much help.

[aussienic]

How about you go into his room with him. shut the door and sit on his bed and feed.. That way he can get into things and you can relax because it is his room..

[sneakysparkle]

I used to put DD1 in her highchair with some colouring or food!