Distracting toddler/nursing newborn

[xzaviers_mama]

My 20 month old is really having a hard time sharing his "booboos" with his new baby brother. Before my youngest was born almost 10 weeks ago, my toddler was only nursing twice a day. Now that he sees the baby nursing all day, it is a constant battle. I'm really having a hard time juggling the two, and I feel like my toddler is feeling pushed away.

Any ideas on how to distract my toddler when he wants to nurse during the day, and the timing just isn't convenient? So far we've tried offering him snacks, sippy cups, letting him watch something that he enjoys... nothing seems to distract him once he's got his mind made up.

[Huck]

We're in the same boat, but my son is 33 months and my newborn is only 3 weeks. My son wants to nurse more frequently than his little sister.

Here's what's working for us. Lots of telling stories and reading books, Dad playing with him w/ train set & cars & taking him out for hikes/outings. We do lots of really "quick nurses" of a minute or two and I count down at the end and he unlatches before "blastoff." Once he's set on it, it's really really hard and he whines and begs. He doesn't seem to be up for waiting when I'm changing the baby or nursing her and having to focus on keeping her properly latched on. I'm sure it's even harder getting your 20 month old to wait!

Hopefully someone else will have some good ideas! Good luck.

[xzaviers_mama]

Originally Posted by Huck

We're in the same boat, but my son is 33 months and my newborn is only 3 weeks. My son wants to nurse more frequently than his little sister.

Here's what's working for us. Lots of telling stories and reading books, Dad playing with him w/ train set & cars & taking him out for hikes/outings. We do lots of really "quick nurses" of a minute or two and I count down at the end and he unlatches before "blastoff." Once he's set on it, it's really really hard and he whines and begs. He doesn't seem to be up for waiting when I'm changing the baby or nursing her and having to focus on keeping her properly latched on. I'm sure it's even harder getting your 20 month old to wait!

Hopefully someone else will have some good ideas! Good luck.

Yeah, he wants nothing to do with waiting once he's decided he's ready to nurse. I feel so bad for him, because I feel like he's just a little too young to understand that he needs to wait a few minutes. I feel like the mess of my house is closing in around me because all I do all day is sit around and nurse someone...haha.

I think I'm going to try letting him nurse for the duration of a short song... like Itsy Bitsy Spider or something. I read about someone doing that on this site, so maybe after a few times, he'll learn that when the song is finished, so is he. *fingers crossed*

GL with your little one as well! It's got to be rough having to suddenly share what was always yours alone... our poor little guys!