I’ll be the first to admit that breastfeeding can get a little monotonous.
Breastfeeding books will tell you to spend every moment of breastfeeding bonding with your baby.
And some of that can be really nice. I loved gazing into my baby’s eyes and talking to her and singing to her while she nursed. It was a sweet time.
But let’s get real, you’re going to be spending hundreds of hours breastfeeding over the course of the next year, and I personally would have gone a little nuts without something else to occupy myself with every now and then. You need some other things to do while breastfeeding.
It’s also way too easy to wind up scrolling Instagram for hours a day while you breastfeeding. Social media is fine in moderation, but probably isn’t the best use of all of the time that you have while you breastfeed.
So here are some other ideas that are a better way to use your time:
Read a book for something to do while breastfeeding
If you don’t usually read much because you don’t have time, your time has arrived! You’ll probably never have so much time to sit still in one place again for a long while. So take advantage! Put your favorite books on hold at the library and ask your husband to swing by and pick up them up for you on the way home from work.Â
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Learn to Crochet
Crochet is another hobby that maybe you’ve always wanted to try but never had time for. It does require both hands, so this might be best saved for once your baby has enough head control to latch on by herself.
But just think of everything you could create during that time you spend breastfeeding! Hats, scarves, blankets, bags, and headbands…oh my! You’ll have gifts for everyone in the family by the time Christmas rolls around!
If you aren’t sure where to start, my friend Lisa at Looped and Knotted has an awesome tutorial for a granny square baby blanket!
Call a friend
Those early days of motherhood can be really lonely. Make the effort and reach out to someone in your life to combat those feelings of loneliness!
Use the time that you have while you’re breastfeeding to call a friend and connect. You might be surprised at how refreshed and encouraged you find yourself feeling after a few minutes chatting with a friend.
You can even do this totally hands free if you use speaker phone or invest in some bluetooth earphones!
Take an online course
Did you know there are inexpensive courses on just about anything you’d want to learn about on the internet? Educating yourself is a great way to spend the free time that you have while breastfeeding.
There are courses on everything from photography, home organization, budgeting, meal planning, how to get your baby to sleep, how to play the piano, and lots more!
I personally take tons of courses about blogging to hone my skills. Most of them you can access right from your phone and listen to the lectures while you breastfeed your baby.
Some of my favorite non-blogging courses are from Ultimate Bundles and Frump Fighters.
Read to your older kids
Older kids can struggle with adjusting to how much attention the baby requires of you. When I sat down to breastfeed, that was exactly when my older daughter would start acting out and suddenly get very needy. She would need a drink, and then need to go potty and then throw a fit and then want snuggles.
Reading a book can be a good way to connect with your older kids and make them feel not so left out. It’s great for the baby to be read to as well, it’s never too early to expose them to as much language as you can!
Learn something on YouTube
Youtube is full of cat videos and clips of Ellen and The Tonight Show, but there’s also lots of educational content on there as well! If you need something to do while you’re breastfeeding, find a tutorial about something you’ve always wanted to learn about!
Personally, I enjoy watching makeup tutorials and interesting TED talks!
Start a blog
This is a great time in your life to start a blog! Especially if you know you’ll be staying home with the baby long-term, you’ll probably have a few extra hours during naps where you need to find something to do. And you can totally work on it on your phone while you breastfeed!
I started my blog basically as a way to keep me from online shopping for two hours every day during nap time, haha!
It’s turned into a great creative outlet for me to use my brain in the midst of the dirty diapers and baby talk stage. It’s also possible to make money with a blog. Who knows, you might even be able to retire your husband if you work hard at it!
Do your kegels
Once you get the OK from your doctor that it’s fine to resume normal physical activity, you’ll definitely want to get back into your routine of doing kegels! Get in the habit of doing a set of kegels every time you sit down to breastfeed, and you’ll have those pelvic muscles back in shape in no time.
Listen to podcasts
I’ve loved listening to podcasts ever since I became a mom. It’s a great way to keep your mind active while doing mundane things like breastfeeding. I listen while I’m on walks, folding laundry, exercising, in the car, basically anywhere that I can get away with it!
It’s a bit harder to do now than when they were babies because both of my kids talk now and don’t stay quiet for long enough for me to listen, but I still sneak it in whenever I can.
READ: 7 Podcasts Every Mom Should Listen To
Pray while you breastfeed
If you are a person of faith, prayer is a great way to use your time while you breastfeed!
- Pray for your baby and for other people in your life.
- Pray for our nation and its leaders.
- Talk to God about the things that you’re struggling with and thank him for all of the blessings that He’s given you.
If you need help organizing your thoughts to pray effectively, Val Marie Paper has an awesome prayer journal to help with that.
Binge-watch your favorite shows
If there was ever a guilt-free time to binge-watch all of your favorite shows, this is it. You just pushed a human being out of your nether regions. You’re sleep-deprived and exhausted. And there’s probably not a lot of time that you’re able to spend not holding a baby, even if they aren’t breastfeeding.
While most of the other items on this list are productive things you can do while you breastfeed, the reality is that you probably won’t have the energy for it, at least not in those first few weeks.
My husband and I watched an inordinate amount of Netflix when our girls were babies, and I remember that time snuggling on the couch as a family quite fondly.
Don’t feel guilty about wasting a little more time than usual catching up on your favorite shows. Resting is one of the most productive things you can do right now!
There’s lots of things to do
Those are my best ideas for things to do while breastfeeding. Pick one to try out this week while you breastfeed your baby, you might be surprised at how much more you enjoy the time you spend breastfeeding when you have something to do!
What’s your favorite thing to do while breastfeeding? Let me know in the comments!
Melinda worked with children for years in a professional setting before becoming a full-time stay at home mom. She currently has three young children, and enjoys sharing tips and ideas about parenting and how to manage a home with excellence. She’s been featured on Heathline and Her View From Home.
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