Nursing a baby is a wonderful part of motherhood but can also time consuming and, let’s be honest, a little boring. If you’re hoping to be more productive while you breastfeed (and maybe experiencing a little boredom while you nurse) than these 15 tips can help!
I sat down to add up all the time I’ve been breastfeeding. I have three kids, 8-12 nursing sessions a day for ___X___ number of months per kids equals………. A LOT of time spent sitting down nursing a baby. A LOT. When I was pregnant I imagined that I would spend all of those countless hours breastfeeding and staring dreamily into my baby’s eyes. Imagining his future, rubbing his back as nursed to sleep, and just reveling in those sweet baby snuggles.
Yeah, that lasted for like a millisecond.
Then I figured out that I was actually, dare I say it, kind of bored during breastfeeding. And there’s only so much Netflix you can binge. So I started looking for ways to be more productive. And now I’m going to share with you my favorite ways to be more productive while you breastfeed.
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How to be More Productive While You Nurse
Pet Your Dogs: Let’s be honest, they have probably been feeling a little neglected since the baby was born. So why not kill two birds with one stone? Feed the baby and give the dogs some love!
Read: Why not pick up a good book that you’ve been meaning to read? Need some recommendations? These are a few of my faves (True Colors, anything by Jamie Beck, and absolutely anything by Jennifer Crusie….admittedly some of these books are a little cheesy, but man are they entertaining!) and rumor has it these books are incredible Girl Wash Your Face, Present Over Perfect (my friend has been raving about this for months!), and Grace Not Perfection …….. (they’re all on my “to read list”.
And for those night feedings, I highly recommend a Kindle. I have linked the model I use. Not only is it the least expensive but it’s easy on the eyes and not so bright that it wakes my husband. It’s light so I can hold it with one hand and there’s no glare so I can take it outside and still read. My Kindle has saved me from many hours of boredom while I breastfeed.
Catch Up on E-mails: Whether they’re work emails or personal I’ve found that a 20 minute nursing session is the perfect time to read, respond to, and even delete old emails.
Pin on Pinterest: Why not start planning that kitchen remodel? Or start pinning ideas for dinner recipes. Since I’m a blogger it’s the perfect time for me to promote my own content on Pinterest and grow my business.
Talk on phone: Call an old friend, catch up and share all those new baby stories!
Research: One of my favorite ways to be productive while I breastfeed is to research on my phone. I research anything and everything that’s ever piqued my curiosity. It’s a fun way to pass the time and learn new facts.
Talk to your Kids/Spouse: Sometimes I crawl into bed at the end of the day and I feel like all I did was pay attention to the baby. Sure, he needs the most care and attention right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to connect with my husband and my older two boys. I use my nursing sessions as a way to connect with my family. I love it, my kids love the undivided attention, and it’s kind of like a mini date with my hubby! It’s a win-win-win!!
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Pump: Yup, you read that right. You can pump while you breastfeed. Unless you have twins, you can only nurse one side at a time, so why not use a manual pump to catch milk on the other side? It’s a great way to build up your freezer stash!!
Fold Laundry: Ok, I’ll be honest, I’ve never quite mastered this one. But I once saw my good friend stuff her cloth diapers and fold baby laundry while she nurse. Pure genius. By the time the baby was done nursing baby was ready for a nap and my friend had managed to fold all of the baby laundry. Woohoo!
Plan a Vacation: Why not?! You’re sitting there, you’ve got the some time on your hands, why not plan a little family trip? Or plan your dream vacation. Go for it!!
Meal Plan/Make a Grocery List: Another favorite way to be more productive while you breastfeed is to do a task you’re going to have to do anyway. Sometimes when I nurse I sit down with my favorite cookbooks and meal plan for the next week. Or month if I’m really feeling motivated!
Make a To-Do List: Most of the time my little guy nurses and then is immediately ready for a nap. So when I’m feeding him I like to make a to do list so when baby is done nursing I can hit the ground running.
Journal: Take this time to reflect on everything that is happening in your life. Having a baby can bring up a ton of new emotions, so take advantage of this time to slow down and think your thoughts.
Organize Pictures on the Computer: This is seriously always on my to do list. Always. I am constantly taking pictures and I never do anything with them. One of these days I’m going to use all of my time sitting on the couch breastfeeding to multi-task and also organize photos.
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Order Groceries: Having your groceries delivered sounds amazing doesn’t it? Having groceries delivered has been a game changer for me. No more dragging kids through the store, I just make an order on my phone while I nurse, and voila– groceries!! My brother just called me tonight to tell me he placed his first grocery delivery order and I was all “Ummmm where have you been?!”
I’ve used a couple of services and I definitely have my favorites. Instacart for sure tops the list. It’s insanely easy, I can place an order from my phone, and it arrives at a time that makes sense for me. I can’t tell you how many times Instacart has saved me! Honestly, if there was one thing I have done in the last few years to help me be more productive, relieve a regular stressor in my life, AND spend more time with my kids it’s having my groceries delivered.
What would you add to this list? Have you come with any great ideas to help you be more productive while you breastfeed? Drop a comment below and share!
