Things to do While Nursing Your Baby

When mom is breastfeeding, she can take it easy and spend time with her baby. Mothers can "save time" by breastfeeding in other ways as well. You've already saved time by choosing to breastfeed because you won't have to clean or prepare bottles. Once you and your baby know how to breastfeed, there are many things you can do to pass the time. These can help you bond with your baby, get things done, or just take care of yourself. Some Amazon affiliate links may be included in this post.

12/4/20234 min read

a woman with headphones and headphones on a couch
a woman with headphones and headphones on a couch

1. Sing or talk to your baby

Since they were in the womb, your baby has been hearing your voice. Whatever notes you hit, a baby thinks mommy's voice is the most beautiful sound in the world. Listen to your favorite music and sing along while you feed your baby. There's also reading out loud, talking about your day, and sharing your hopes and dreams for the future. This can also be done by your partner. Every time you talk or sing to your baby, even when they are very young, they are learning important language skills. Before they can talk, babies need to hear words. When you talk to your baby, even if they can't talk back yet, you show them love and support.

2. Eat

What's the harm in mommy eating while the baby does? There are new moms who forget to eat and moms who get really hungry. When you are breastfeeding, there aren't many strict rules about what you can and can't eat. You should only eat when you're hungry. You'll have more energy to care for your baby if you eat well, especially if you eat protein.

Easier snacks that you can eat with one hand include nuts, squishable yogurt, peanut butter or turkey sandwiches, and hard-boiled eggs. Fancy meals aren't necessary. And if you are looking for a good snack, I looooved milky mama products, especially their lactation cookies https://amzn.to/416fKWu

3.Stay hydrated

A bottle or glass of water should be right next to your snack plate. There is a hormonal change that can happen during breastfeeding that can make you thirsty when your milk stops coming out. Babies that are fed breast milk don?t need water to stay hydrated, but some babies nurse more when it's hot outside. It's also interesting that when it's hot outside, your breastmilk gets more watery to meet your baby's need for water. Everything else, though, means that mom has to keep up and make sure she and baby both drink enough water.

4. Get closer to your family

Every mom needs some time to herself. But what better way is there to keep your family involved and on board with your breastfeeding efforts than to include them themselves? The people you feel most at ease with can really help you. Aside from the social aspect, breastfeeding in public can help you feel more comfortable, and your family will enjoy the bond between mom and baby more. Additionally, your baby will hear everyone, which will strengthen the bond between your baby and your family. Just try to keep visitors from getting in the way of breastfeeding.

5. Spend time with your friends

New moms can feel alone at times. Remember not to worry if your phone doesn't ring with messages all day. Sure, your friends might just want to give you some space. Rest assured, though, that your girlfriends want to hear from you. Call someone, send a text, email, or instant message, or just talk on the phone.

Go through your list of contacts until you find someone you can connect with. This will help you start a conversation, catch up, and have some fun. Organize a time for your friends to visit and see the baby. It can help to give your friends something to do. For example, you could ask them to bring you food, get you some magazines, or come over and do your hair or nails (which they could do while you're breastfeeding!).

6. Join online groups

You likely already know how to type or text with one hand, so show off your new baby or post your latest selfie on Instagram. Share your thoughts with your friends about becoming a mother. Social media is also perfect for busy moms who are breastfeeding and want to get support and advice from other moms. See the hashtags #BFing, #breastfeeding, #blackmomsbreastfeed, and #breastfeedingmomas for more.

As a mom, you can share what you're going through on La Leche League and most parenting websites' public forums and message boards.

7. Read to yourself

Reading is a great way to catch up on what's going on or just check out something fun while breastfeeding, whether you have an e-reader, read online, or read a book.

8. Reading to your baby

Not comfortable reading books? There are a lot of audiobooks available at the library and online. You can keep your hands free, and it's a great way for your baby to learn new words.

9. Turn up the music and dance!

Fans of music, good news: it's good for your baby to hear all kinds of music. You might be shocked at what songs your baby likes. It's a little tricky to dance while breastfeeding, but you'll get the hang of it quickly and be able to get up and move around without affecting your baby's latch.

10. Catch up with a mobile game

You have to sit or lie down for long amounts of time when you're breastfeeding. This is a great chance to relax and escape into the world of video games.

Being a mother can cause worry and sleepless nights. Playing online games is a fun way to forget about the real world, even if only for a short time. The adventures and difficulties in games can be a great way to forget about your problems. Lots of games will make you think, whether they're puzzles, strategy games, or games that require you to be creative. To keep your hands from cramping up, getting a controller can benefit your game play. https://amzn.to/3NadBTG or https://amzn.to/3R9Itox

Some of the information of this article came from the Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.