Common Concerns About Breastfeeding an Infant with a Toddler in the House

I didn't breastfeed my oldest daughter. Once I realized that I was listening to some breastfeeding myths instead of facts, I decided to try breastfeeding after I gave birth to my next daughter. One of the biggest concerns for me, however, was how my toddler would react to seeing me breastfeed. We'd had almost no exposure to breastfeeding, and I wondered how she would handle it. In addition, I was worried about time. Would it be possible to breastfeed a newborn and an infant with a toddler roaming the house and demanding my attention as well? Considering breastfeeding your second or third child, but afraid to commit? You may be surprised to read that many of my initial concerns about breastfeeding an infant with a toddler in the house were unfounded!

Concern #1: It would be too time consuming to breastfeed when I had a toddler to watch.
My toddler daughter was very understanding of the fact that mommy had to sit down to feed her newborn baby sister. It wasn't any more time consuming to breastfeed my newborn than it might have been to bottle feed her. In addition, I actually had more time to devote to my toddler by breastfeeding. I didn't have to spend time making, heating, and washing bottles like I had when she was a baby. I also found breastfeeding to be very calming and relaxing, and as a result, I think I had more patience with my daughter during those busy first weeks.