Breastfeeding newborn with 17mth old around

Hi, not sure if anyone who has had children close in age can help me or not but I am intending to BF my baby when it arrives in late June (fingers crossed) and my son will be 17mths by then and I wanted to know how do you do it? How can I entertain and keep an eye on my son while i'm getting the hang of breastfeeding???
I was unsuccessful with my son I gave up after about 6 weeks due to an abscess and he just wouldn't latch properly so this time i'm determined to go further by setting myself goals and trying to get a good breastfeeding pillow and bras to help.
Any ideas?!
Thanks

Hi mate. Congratulations on your pregnancy :)
People suggested to me that I have a box of special toys and snacks that is reserved just for feeding times. I didn't actually do this, but Phoebe 'gave' Natalie a set of train tracks when she was born and these entertained Natty pretty well during those first couple of weeks.
I am pretty unimaginative though, so I tended to use the tv a fair bit. There were a couple of shows I only put on while I was feeding Phoebe and I made sure I still chatted to her while I was feeding to include her. Now she gets to watch the Fairies while I settle Phoebe to sleep (usually only takes 10-15 minutes these days) and doesn't really get to watch it at any other time - that way it keeps it special, KWIM? And she's more likely to stay and watch it rather than come and hassle us while we're trying to wind down and feed before sleeps. (Plus I hate the fairies, so it suits me not to watch it, LOL!)
It's hard at first, but you do find your groove and you find what works well for you. GL!

ETA: Another thing you may want to consider is investing in a sling. It may not be so great for feeding (I've never been successful in feeding bubs from a sling, and I'm pretty confident when it comes to positioning baby for feeds) however it's possible and some people do this very well, hands-free. But a sling is just perfect for those times when your newborn is unsettled and just needs cuddles. You can wear him or her and still be able to play with/attend to your toddler.

The gap between my first two was 17 months 3 weeks so I know what you are worried about! 17 month olds tend to be very skittish so alot of the advice about entertaining toddlers while BF is not entirely age-appropraite. Here's what I did:

1. I got my oldest obsessed with a TV show as much as I could. yes, I admit it - I trained my child to watch TV. But it is a godsend if you can count on your oldest sitting still for even 20 minutes or so while you feed.

2. The oldest will not grasp the concept of baby, sharing or anything like that so be prepared for a little rivalry. But equally a 17 month old doesn't understand that a baby is a threat (in the way a 3yo will!) so to some extent you may have an older child that pretty well ignores the baby and is content so long as he/she gets cuddles, food and drink.

3. Make sure before you feed that you have said food and drink for child #1. Lollies and chocolates help (only joking....a bit....). Seriously, if there is any food your child is obsessed with, save these for BF times. May it hard to eat (don't just give them a bowl of sultanas, give them in a little box so they have to work at it (like a kong for dogs - a nasty comparison I know but hey if you can distract them it gives you more time with bub)

4. I recommend getting a BF pillow that straps on to you (I used a "my breast friend") so that you find it easier to move a little while the baby is still attached. They really do make a big difference - I found I could use both hands to position breast and baby's head (you do sometimes have to gently wrench them into position LOL) rather than using one hand to support the baby's weight.

If you can, get someone at home with you while the baby is young to give you time to adjust. every baby is different so it may be that baby # 2 willnot have the same issues with latching on. Hope this helps :)

I have a nearly 19 month old and a nearly 3 week old.

Its hard work DS1 wants to touch DS2 lots and hits him if he gets frustrated with my attention being on baby.

I am tandem BF so that also gets hard as DS1 needs to wait for DS2 to finish side 1.

DS1 brings toys to couch for me to help him with or will watch tv ABC2 is my saviour!!!!!!
not that he watches it for long but music comes on and he will watch for a few mins.

I had good intentions of a bag of stuff only out when i feed but hasnt happened yet!!!!!!


Good luck

Wow that's some great tips i'll defenately keep them in mind especially the special toys or special tv shows that they can only watch while i would be BF.
I think tv will be my saviour especially in the early weeks I hate to say it but I really dont like kids shows they irritate me I dunno how the adults in high 5 act so cheerful all the time. I dont mind sesame street or play school cause I grew up on those... maybe I should tape a few footy matches like when the pies play then I can brain wash him in to supporting them and not carlton like his dad (yes this house hold is pies vs. blues so it's not a pretty sight when footy season starts lol!)

DD1 loves books so I have gotten a few out from the library and they are put up and only come out when we are feeding. She sits beside me or on my lap and reads bubby her books. Each week we will go and get some more from the library together, at the moment it is working great.

She also has a big baby doll, and sometimes I will get her to bring it in with some blankets and bottles, she makes baby a bed in the clothes basket and feeds her the bottles. Boys can have dollies to ;), it has also helped at other times like bathing.

The main thing I was told was to try and not push the older child away during these times, all it will make them to is retaliate to get the attention back. She has basically been wanting to be involved since day dot, so no matter how frustrating it has been with DD1 trying to help or get my attention I have been trying to let her be involved, whether it be helping burp bubby by patting her bottom or giving her a face washer to help bath her. She has a little stool that she carries around the house to stand on while helping. So far she has been adapting really well.

Oh and I forget, I put a small cd player in my room (where I feed) and we also bought her a couple of those books that come with the cd to read and sing a long to. She likes to get up and have a dance to while I sing.