https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:48:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2429727 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:22:45 +0000 sweetooth 2429727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DenverMom: Maybe I'll try to give him more of a heads up so he can get used to the idea. He definitely likes to have me around all the time but he can survive without me. Thank you for that idea. Today it was okay when I sat down to feed. He was sitting there nicely next to us. But then the new wrinkle was that it upset my little feeding one so much that he wouldn't feed. I can't win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2429165 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:49:30 +0000 DenverMom 2429165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any advice re your distracted baby, but for the toddler, do you give him advance notice that you will be leaving soon to feed the baby? I know my DS always needed to know in advance what would happen and then he handled transitions much better. So I would tell him that in five minutes mommy has to go to feed the baby. My DS is 3.5 years old and warning before a transition is still really important for him. Just a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2429125 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:40:03 +0000 sweetooth 2429125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Thanks for sharing what you do and making me feel like I'm not alone. It is a daily struggle. I tried to feed while in the same room yesterday and I think it affected his sleep last night. He would nurse just enough to get the energy to pop off and pay attention to his older brother. So I'd try to nurse a bit longer but my oldest was ready for his little brother not to be snuggling close to me. In the end I don't think he got enough to eat to eliminate night feeding. It's really hard sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2429101 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:34:00 +0000 sweetooth 2429101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: That's kind of what I've been doing. He's in the only space in the house that I feel safe leaving him alone in. And he surprises me daily with what he discovers while I'm away. He's also really aware of the cues that I'm about to leave him alone. So he starts to follow me and then wail as I close a gate behind me. I bet it would help if he was a tad older. I do still try to explain what I'm doing so he learns though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428447 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:54:17 +0000 Anagram 2428447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the hardest part of my day. I'm back at work now, but I have a 2.5 year old and a 5 month old, and it's sooo challenging. My 5 month old is a really bad nursling and I have to take her in a darkened silent room for her to eat. And I try to limit TV, but I also need my 2.5 year old occupied for 20 minutes while I nurse the other one in a separate room.</p> <p>Every day, I have to do something different--I try getting out art projects I can clean when I come back: stamps, play dough, chalk, washable finger paints. Then she can be messy and I just resign myself to cleaning it. Other times I get out blocks or magnatiles. TV is my last resort, but it's definitely still in the rotation.</p> <p>It's hard. I don't have any good solutions, I just keep slogging thorugh it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428373 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:00:22 +0000 MrsSRS 2428373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, my older is 2.7 so we have a leg up on understanding and following directions. If TV or a specific activity won't hold attention, what about a toddler proof room and a baby gate. Explain that mommy will be back in a few minutes and leave him with some beloved toys and go nurse in the other room knowing that he might not be thrilled, but he will be safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428366 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 20:56:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2428366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sweetooth: my older one was a horrible napper. At least this one can't be worse... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428361 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 20:55:16 +0000 sweetooth 2428361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I don't mean to scare you. Everyone is different. I think what wears me down most is when I think I've got it figured out, something changes. And with my 7 month old being such a distracted feeder and my 2 year old distracting him it's so hard to know what to do. The napping...oh man. That is the worst when he fights his naps and the older one thwarts my efforts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428227 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 19:04:49 +0000 Foodnerd81 2428227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any advice but you are scaring me! I'm in your same boat just a few months behind- baby is one month old so we are breastfeeding all the time. So far the 2.5 yo is ok- she has gotten better at independent play, will sit and watch Daniel tiger, or read stories or something that involves me but at least I can sit. It helps most that it's easy to contain her in one room- we live in a small condo so there is a gate at the entrance to the living room/ kitchen area and a knob cover on the bedroom and that's the whole space. I haven't gotten to the point of putting new the baby down for a nap in a room- right now I just rock or nurse her in the room with the toddler. I don't look forward to that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2428215 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:38:57 +0000 sweetooth 2428215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeding-a-distractable-infant-and-entertaining-a-2-year-old#post-2427987 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:00:52 +0000 sweetooth 2427987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello Hellobee! Long time no see! I've even been away so long that I lost my Gold status. I guess that's bound to happen when you become a SAHM after having your 2nd child and come to terms with just how little time is left in the day for yourself.</p> <p>That's a post for another day though...</p> <p>I have a question for you lovely bees, I'm almost 7 months in to breastfeeding my second son. I'm so proud of myself for making it this far. I only lasted about 3 months with my first son. </p> <p>As I mentioned, I now stay home with my kids. I never really felt the need to start pumping. I figured I would be with my kiddos all day, why hassle with that? Plus, I just really have no desire. But now, I'm at this point...with my oldest at 2 years 2 months, and my youngest at almost 7 months and SOOO distracted, I'm finding it hard to have the energy to continue to breastfeed.</p> <p>In the beginning, my oldest wasn't interested or crazy. He would sit there watching a little TV while I fed his baby brother. But, as he has gotten older, he's gotten a bit wilder. So it's harder to stay in the room with him while I try to feed his brother. TV isn't always doing the trick, or any unique activity each time I breastfeed. Plus, if I'm in the space with him he's either trying to climb me, or need attention which makes it hard to feed his brother. And if he doesn't feed well, he doesn't nap well. And if he doesn't nap well, we all suffer. No attention for the older one while I run around the house just trying to get him to nap. It's downward spiral.</p> <p>I found it easier to leave the room and leave a new show on for a while. I could successfully feed and then even get him down for a nap, returning to my 2 year old with my full attention. But as he gets older, he's more aware that I have to leave him alone. So he cries. And has begun exploring things. Opening doors. Climbing things. </p> <p>I guess my simple question is this, for SAHM's and those who breastfeed an infant and have another kiddo running around you while you do, HOW do you do it? Tips? Advice? I'm leaning towards formula if I can't figure this out. I'm not interested in pumping. And I figure if I don't have to hide then maybe the chaos will be limited.</p> <p>Just looking for some advice... </p>