How to Make Good Use of Time While Feeding
Wondering how you can make good use of your time while nourishing your little one? Try a few of these easy activities that will leave you feeling like a multi-tasking boss!
Welcoming a little one into your life is truly a magical time. In those early months, spending time with your baby while feeding them can be a special moment with your child. Whether you choose to formula feed or breastfeed your new addition is a personal choice, and both options lead to healthy, nourished toddlers and children.
But, as amazing as it can be to kick your feet up and spend time bonding with your baby while they feed, it can, at times, make you feel unproductive. Having to take time out to sit down and feed your child multiple times a day might feel frustrating and limiting. After all, it’s hard to do the laundry or vacuum the living room while you are holding a baby in one arm.
It’s totally okay to use feeding as a reason to sit back and relax. You can use the time spent in your favorite rocking chair or curled up on the couch as an opportunity to bond with your little one and soak up the moments that will pass by all too quickly. However, if you are looking to use some feeding sessions as a chance to knock a few items off your daily to do list, here are a few ideas of ways you can multitask while feeding your baby.
10 Ways to Multitask While Feeding Your Baby
- Read (or listen to) a book. Check out a bestseller from your local library or download your favorite author’s newest release on your Kindle or other device. If you’d rather listen to a book, check out apps such as Audible so you can be up-to-date on current books. Not sure what to read? Check out Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club for popular, current picks. Or flip through an issue of your favorite magazine.
- Create a baby album for your little one using the BabyPage app! BabyPage has made making a photo memory book for your child super simple. Download the app, pick a plan and start creating! No more printing photos, running to the scrapbook store and promising you’ll get around to the baby book one of these days. Use your time bonding with your little one while breastfeeding to create a memory book that will last a lifetime.
- Take a few minutes to simply decompress. Maybe roll out your shoulders and take a few deep breaths. You could try putting on a meditation app or play some calming music and just take a few minutes to try and clear your mind and let go of any stress you’re feeling.
- Work on your to-do list. Grab a pen and paper or the notes app on your phone and work on your to-do lists while you breastfeed. Make a list of things that need to be done (laundry, mopping), things to buy at the grocery store, important dates to remember. Or simply go over existing to-do lists and try to knock a few things off those lists, such as making appointments that require a phone call or following up with someone via email.
- Phone a friend. Sure, we are all great at texting and emailing. But when is the last time you heard your friend’s voice? Especially if they don’t live close by. Use your time feeding to phone friends and family who you don’t get to see very often and reconnect over the phone.
- Eat and drink. Sometimes, in the hubbub of a busy day, you might forget to drink water and nourish your body. So, as you nourish your baby, nourish yourself, too! Drink a glass of water (or two or three!) and grab a healthy snack, such as celery, nuts or an apple.
- Learn a new language. If you’ve always wished you could speak another language, there is no time like the present to try and make this goal a reality. Download an app such as Duolingo that can help you learn! Whether you want to brush up on a language you attempted to learn in high school or you are starting from scratch, find an app that will let you go at your own pace and see how much you can learn.
- Get social. If you are looking to connect with other moms, either so you have someone to walk the journey that is motherhood with or so you can make friends for your little one, use your time breastfeeding to get social. Search Facebook for mom groups in your area or find an app that connects you to other moms, locally or virtually, so you have someone to talk to about questions big and small that pop up while parenting.
- Volunteer for a cause. If you are passionate about something- whether it’s a local charity, political group or anything else- see if there is anything you can do to advocate from your phone. Maybe your local school board candidate needs texts sent to possible supporters, or your favorite charity needs donation solicitations emailed out. See if you can help from your phone and make a difference while you feed!
- Break a sweat. No need to take extra time out of your day to get your sweat on when you can easily get your heart pumping as you breastfeed. Grab a light weight, can of soup, water bottle or simply use body weight to do some arm exercises while you feed your baby. You can also do some light legwork while seated feeding your baby!
Feeding Resources Trusted by BabyPage
At BabyPage, we recognize that feeding your baby can be tricky. It might be hard to know how much your baby should be eating and how frequently. If you have questions about feeding your newest addition, check out these trusted resources for more information.
Breastfeeding Resources
- womenshealth.gov has a great Breastfeeding Guide with tips and tricks to help guide you on your breastfeeding journey.
- Have questions about pumping once you return to work? WhattoExpect.com has a great, informative article filled with helpful resources.
- If you are trying to increase your milk supply, Healthline has some helpful tips.
Formula-feeding Resources
- Looking for support and information regarding formula feeding? This article from healthychildren.org may provide some great insight.
- If you’re not sure how much or how often to feed your little one, check out this article from the CDC that can help you get the hang of formula feeding.
- Trying to decide which type of formula to feed your baby? Check out this article from TheBump.com, which breaks down the different formulas available on the market for your little one.
