Tandem Breastfeeding
If you're breastfeeding siblings that are not twins then you're tandem breastfeeding and although it may seem strange at first, it actually has a lot of benefits.
Having a baby sister or brother can be very hard for a toddler to accept and understand. I remember my eldest being happy with our new baby for a while until he realised that his little brother was here to stay.
Despite all the including, positive praise and attention he got, he seemed to go from this lovely, caring, understanding little boy to a complete monster who would head butt me every time I tried to breastfeed our new addition. So if you are breastfeeding while pregnant and feel that you can keep going, then it may help your toddler accept and bond with your new baby.
With this in mind it might be helpful not to wean your toddler soon after the birth unless he or she chooses to wean or unless you absolutely have to. Weaning soon after birth may make it harder for your toddler to accept his or her new sibling.
Worried about your toddler drinking colostrum?
Colostrum has a natural laxative effect to help your new baby pass all the sticky gunk that's in his or her tummy. Because of this it may make your toddler's poo a little softer or more runny than usual but generally it's fine for your toddler to drink.
In fact, it will give your toddler lots of antibodies and vitamins, so think of it as a booster shot. Your body naturally goes back to making colostrum when you wean, so your toddler would have consumed it at some point even without the arrival of your new baby.
Will your body make enough colostrum for both children?
Just like your body naturally produces more milk when more is demanded from it, many mums find that they are able to make enough colostrum for their baby and toddler to share even though some people may tell you otherwise.
For your own peace of mind –and to hush those around you– in the early days you might like to feed your baby before you feed your toddler. Some mums leave one breast for baby and one breast for toddler, but just keep an eye on how your breasts are feeling and swap them over if you need to. You may find that your toddler can help relieve any engorgement you are feeling and swapping sides will help with your baby's eye development.
When you're tandem breastfeeding you may find that your toddler doesn't like the taste of colostrum and may not want to feed while the milk tastes different. If this is the case and you don't want to wean, you may be able to encourage your toddler back to the breast once your milk has come in.
On the other hand, your toddler may want to feed every time your baby does, it's perfectly fine to feed your toddler more often if it suits you. In most cases the novelty wears off in a couple of weeks.
My initial thought on tandem breastfeeding was that it would be very time consuming. But if both your children are feeding at the same time it may actually give you some much needed peace and quiet.
guess logistically if you were only breastfeeding your new baby you would still have to sort out snacks or drinks for your older child. Mine would always decide he needed me as soon as I sat down to breastfeed.
I had a special box for him with special toys and activities, it was our breastfeeding box. Even so, I found that trying to keep him busy while I was feeding became very difficult. I imagine that if they were both at the breast this wouldn't have been a problem for me.
Many mums who have tried tandem breastfeeding tell me that it helped their toddler and new baby form a special bond, that sharing that special time with mummy, rather than being left out of it empowered the older child. And breastfeeding two must be very empowering for mum too, as long as you're looking after yourself.
No matter what you decide to do and how you do it your toddler will adjust to having a new baby, and I think a sibling is the best gift any parent can give their child. So take your time and take each day as it comes, trust your instincts to guide you and help you feel what is right.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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