How to keep toddler amused while BF newborn

[ToTeenyTots]

Not sure if this is the right spot for this thread but does anyone have any tips on how to keep toddler occupied/safe when feeding a newborn. Tash will be 17 months when I have her little sister and I am really concerned about how its going to go. I cant really manage to do anything when she is around as she demands my attention all the time as it is. Even making a business phone call is impossible as it is a little hard to sound professional with a screaming baby hanging off your leg:laughing:
I dont live in town and my Husband is away alot so Tash has really only got me to keep her occupied most of the time so I suppose she has learnt to expect me to play with her non-stop.
Any tips appreciated.

[cwsmum]

My DS was almost 3 when DD was born...so a little older than your DD...but I make sure he has a drink and something to eat either on his table or somewhere easy for him to get them. I also make sure I have to tv controls nearby and one of his dvd's ready to go if he gets to silly.

I also found that if I spent time playing with him after bub had a feed, then kinda left him to it for a while, then played with him a bit right before bub was due for another feed he would play pretty well while I was feed ing bub. If he was having one of his 'I'm gonna annoy the **** outta mum' days then we would read stories or watch tv while bub is feeding.

My bubs are both bottle fed, so DS likes to help make the bottles, then he sometimes gets his doll and gives his doll a bottle at the same time.

[Baby Girl]

I made sure I had...

pencils and paper or colouring books handy
a dvd ready to go
a book handy so I could read to her
a drink for her
a snack for her

Any of these things would keep her amused for a while (all of them might last a whole bf) but after about 2 weeks or so she was pretty accepting of the fact that I had to feed bub and quite often would sit and watch or sing songs to her new sister or play with her feet.

[cwsmum]

...quite often would sit and watch or sing songs to her new sister or play with her feet.

My DS did stuff like that too...schmell I just noticed my DD and your youngest DD have the same name. DS likes to kiss DD anywhere...it was her feet when she was tiny mst of the time, and he would say things like 'I wuv my Sienna' or 'Sie Sie, you so cute'...do any of your family shorten Siennas' name? My DH is the worst for it...it kinda annoys me coz I was hoping to give my bubs names that couldn't be shortened :rolleyes:

[kymmy]

My toddler always seemed to want a drink
or something to eat
just as i started to feed

[ToTeenyTots]

Cheers for the tips!

[poshBecks]

I used to read to Cj when I was feeding Ella or get him a drink aswell so we all had a drink at the same time. Worked a treat for me.