Breastfeeding a newborn and keeping a 16mth+ entertained.

[Aquillah]

As the title suggests- what keeps this age group interested (tried and proven) when breastfeeding a newborn?

My friend is due to have her bub and I wanted to get her a gift that she can use when feeding. Her 16mth is quite demanding of her and her time so I thought if she had some distractions might make feeding easier?>

I thought of a basket with a little reminder card to get water, phone/s (if she wants them) little snacks, burby cloth, tv remotes etc and then actually fill it with a few things to entertain her eldest. Any ideas that work??I thought after each feed she could quickly 'refill ' it and put it away for the next feed.

I have a 16mth old and I know how fickle they are at this age thats why I just would like some tried and true ideas or suggestions.

Also, would this be a helpful present for a mum with one on the way and a 16mth old?Can anyone else think of anything else?

TIA

[Aquillah]

Bump?

[workin'mumof2]

i think i had it easy because ds at that age didnt want me at all. ( he is on the autism spectrum though)

i like the basket idea.a few books so mum can feed bub and read.water for mum and if your feeling really nice there is lanalisho which is great for breastfeeding mums in the first few weeks

what a nice thought

[Raising Leprechauns]

I had snacks and a movie - or short DVD.... books and his special chair all set up.......

[Boobycino]

When I was looking after a 2 year old with Jasper we would sit on the floor and she would cradle her dolly and I'd feed Jasper and we'd sing lullabyes to our 'babies'. She seemed to like this.

It also worked to sit her up in her highchair with textas and paper - and I'd feed at the table - that could buy me some time.

When I was looking after a 16 month old, her mum had sent along her Hi5 Dvd, so it was pretty easy to just sit down with Jasper to feed him with Hi5 on, 16 month old girl would have a bounce around the room - which I'll admitt was pretty distracting for Jasper, but it worked!

I like the basket idea. I think anything that kind of makes it special time for her.

I think it'll get easier also, I found from about 4 months onwards Jasper can feed hands free if I sit cross legged on the floor and leaned forward - but I've got E cup boobies, so they can kind of hang into his mouth (very flattering mental imagine I'm sure!)

[Areca]

The best thing that helped me was when DD2 was getting hungry I'd pick something to do with DD1...something I could do whilst feeding - reading,drawing, watching a tv show together etc. and then that way it was never 'mummy can't cause she's feeding the baby.' I never really had any drama's whilst feeding DD2 this way. Sometimes it was as simple as 'oh I think dolly is hungry, lets feed our babies together!'