How was nursing LO #2 different than #1?

[jecombs]

Was it harder? Easier? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?

My DD will be nearly 3 y.o. when LO #2 arrives. She nursed until she was a couple of months past her 2nd birthday. She can still be very "needy" at times and I'm concerned about finding ways to keep her busy while I nurse #2. Any ideas? I have heard of a nursing basket, with toys and books that DD would only play with while her brother nursed. Did you have one of these and did it help? What did you put in it?

Thanks for any advice that you have! #2 will be here sometime in May.

[crazylady]

My oldest,3, loves to sit with me while I nurse lil bro. He has always liked to be involved with the nursing sessions. I never did anything to be prepared. I worried that he would need more attention while I nursed lil bro. He did need more attention but liked to spend it sitting with me talking or reading. I use a sling a lot & nurse with him in it. This helps a ton. I felt that I could still spend quality time with him & nurse. When we get ready for naps I nurse lil bro while reading to big bro. It amazes me how much they love each other and enjoy the time together!

[EmilyG]

Nursing my second has been much more of a challenge than my first. DD#1 latched on and nursed without an issue from the start. DD#2 had an aweful time time in the beginning figuring things out, I expected things to go as smoothly as they did the first time around, but DD#2 just took several weeks to get the hang of nursing. Now that she's 6 months, she knows how to nurse, but doesn't want to miss a thing her big sister is doing during the day, and so she was refusing to nurse during the day and waking every hour to nurse during the night to make up for it. We've started a sticker rewards chart for DD#1. I have to take DD#2 up to the bedroom and sit in the dark where it is quiet with the door closed to nurse her, and so if DD#1 can stay out of the bedroom while her sister eats and play something quietly by herself (shes 4) for 10-15 minutes it takes me to feed DD#2, she gets a sticker. 10 stickers (thats several a day for each feeding) gets her a reward of picking out an activity that she can go do alone with mommy or daddy. Like last night DH took her to the indoor pool to swim together for a couple hours.
It works out great, DD#2 is getting to eat and nap during the day and so is able to sleep longer stretches at night, and DD#1 loves her special big girl alone time with mom and dad!

[Erinz]

Early breastfeeding is hard for me but was much harder the first time than the second time! BFing my second child has been a joyful breeze!

My son was a few weeks shy of 3 when the new baby was born and I did a LOT of nursing in a wrap or sling on the go or just standing outside while my 3 year old ran around. If we were inside, reading books really worked well. Another fun thing that I didn't use because my husband didn't figure it out in time (haha) was Roe Sham Boe (or however that is spelled). My son LOVES to do rock/paper/scissors with me and will do it while cracking up for as long as I'm willing Try it!

[jecombs]

Originally Posted by Erinz

Another fun thing that I didn't use because my husband didn't figure it out in time (haha) was Roe Sham Boe (or however that is spelled). My son LOVES to do rock/paper/scissors with me and will do it while cracking up for as long as I'm willing Try it!

That is too funny! I will have to remember that!

I'm hoping nursing #2 won't be as challenging as #1 was. DD had terrible problems with latch in the beginning and left my terribly, bruised, cracked, and bleeding. Hopefully #2 will be a bit easier. I have flat nips, so if things start to get dicey I'll probably go to the nipple sheild sooner rather than later. But my nips don't seem as terribly flat as they were with DD.

Keep the suggestions coming!

[clicksab]

Number two has been just a little bit easier...I was still crazy sore that first week though. The thing that threw me off the most is how completely DIFFERENT he has been! The way he nurses is different...DD was eager, latched quickly and somewhat fiercely, and would nurse for an hour at a time. This little guy needs help latching, is so mellow that he can go a few hours without nursing, and once he does decide to nurse is very quick and efficient. I freaked out thinking that there was no way he was getting enough to eat, but he is gaining more than enough! So just be prepared that your new kiddo might be a completely different experience, and that that isn't necessarily a bad thing.