Our daughter Harmony was born earlier this year. As I sat down to nurse her, I noticed that I always grabbed my phone and wasted time scrolling social media, so I started a list of screenless things to do while breastfeeding that didn’t involve any screens, like my phone, computer, or a tv!
Breastfeeding is a wonderful time to relax, and as a new mom, breastfeeding takes up a big portion of your day, especially in those early months.
That meant that my screen time was also taking up a large portion of my day and when I took a step back, I realized the negative effects it was having on me.
I was checking social media several times every day, which led to comparison and dissatisfaction. YouTube started to become a hobby, instead of an educational resource I used when needed. And all the time I spent looking at my phone was time that I wasn’t spending with my brand-new daughter.
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The research behind the negative effects of screen time is alarming. Thankfully, we don’t have a television in our tiny house or I’m sure I would be hooked on tv shows and movies while I breastfed.
Postpartum is a difficult time for most mothers as they learn how to navigate the new waters of motherhood and care for this new human under our wing. One of the best things you can do for yourself as a new mother is to limit your screen time.
While I still do check my phone at times now while I’m breastfeeding, I’ve started doing these screenless things more instead!
Let’s check them out…
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Interact With Your Baby
This may be the most obvious, but I initially got bored of it and gave up. When Harmony was a newborn, she was hard to interact with because newborns are sleepy and unalert. The only interaction I was doing was shaking her slightly to keep her awake while she nursed.
But, there are so many little things we can admire about our baby, even in the newborn stage. Take the time to look over your baby and memorize their tiny little details. They grow more and more every day and soon this moment will be gone!
Harmony is currently 5 months old, and she loves making eye contact, holding my fingers, and kicking her legs. Instead of getting annoyed with her when she kicks my phone out of my hand, I have decided to keep my phone away and instead talk to her and play with her. It has made our nursing sessions a special moment of bonding.
Each stage of nursing will offer new ways to interact with your baby!
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Pray
Praying is so easy to do while breastfeeding! I know that it is difficult for me to remember to pray for specific people or things throughout the day unless I set aside a specific time to do it.
Breastfeeding is a time where you are forced to sit down and relax. During breastfeeding, if you leave your phone in the other room, your mind will automatically start to wander.
When your mind wanders to different people, things, or events, use those as prompts to start your prayer! 1 John 5:14 ESV says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
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Read
Multitasking while breastfeeding isn’t necessarily easy considering one or both hands are usually being used to hold your baby. However, I have found that reading a book with one hand is possible if the book is light enough.
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You can also get creative and set up a book on a stand like this one so that you can read without holding the book up.
Reading has the opposite effect of screen time. You learn and more knowledgeable versus losing brain cells while staring at a screen.
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Call A Friend
Talking on the phone is a wonderful way to multitask while you breastfeed. Call someone that you miss, haven’t seen in a while, or could use some encouragement from.
Even though your phone does have a screen it is one of the screenless things to do while breastfeeding, since looking at the screen isn’t necessary.
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Look Out The Window or Go Outside
Is your nursing chair near a window? One of my favorite things to do while breastfeeding that doesn’t involve anything else and is relaxing at the same time is to gaze out the window.
In today’s culture with all the hustle and bustle, we never find ourselves just sitting and admiring the beauty around us. We always have a screen to look down at during any free moment instead.
Take the time while you are breastfeeding to look out the window, watch the birds, listen to the wind in the trees, and feel the sun shining on your face. The simple life has become my favorite.
Perhaps you will even sit outside in the shade while you nurse. It is one of my favorite screenless things to do while breastfeeding!
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Exercise
I have to admit that I have never done this one while nursing my daughter. But, I have heard of others doing it!
How does it work exactly? If you are creative enough and your baby doesn’t mind, you could walk or stroll while your baby nurses in a carrier. Or, you could squats and lungs. I’ve even heard of people lifting weights with one arm while the other arm holding the nursing babe.
Get creative and give it a try if it interests you! Just always keep the safety of your baby a top priority.
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Clip Baby’s Nails
I’ve done this several times. As I admire my daughter while she nurses, I will start to notice a few fingers or toes with long nails. I’ll either clip them or bite them off right there while she’s nursing.
It works quite well because she is happy and distracted while she nurses. She has no idea I am even doing it!
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Sleep
I love to stay in bed and nurse my baby while we are both laying down next to each other. It is actually when I feel most bonded with her. This usually happens during the first feed of the morning, when we both wake up.
As I am feeding her, sometimes I will drift slightly back to sleep. It’s a light sleep and with the sun streaming through the windows and my husband moving around, so I’m not worried about rolling on top of my daughter or accidentally pulling blankets over her face.
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However, sleeping while breastfeeding may be a safety concern for you. It’s not something that should be taken lightly. If you are considering co-sleeping for longer stretches of time, be sure to follow the recommended safety guidelines in this book.
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Massage Your Breast
Massaging your breast while you nurse your baby is one of the screenless things to do while breastfeeding that promotes relaxation, which in turn helps promote an increase in milk supply.
If you are also experiencing some tenderness or clogged milk ducts, massaging your breast helps ease the pain as the milk is suckled out. I enjoy using this massaging tool as well!
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Drink A Smoothie
A smoothie, tea, or water are wonderful drinks to help you on your breastfeeding journey.
It’s no joke that breastfeeding dehydrates you quickly. Dehydration is something I have struggled with regularly with breastfeeding.
My midwife gave me some great advice – also have a drink with you while you breastfeed. That way it will become a habit and you will stay hydrated!
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Pump For Storage
I don’t currently pump my breast milk, but I know several people that do for various reasons. Whether you are returning to work, build up an emergency stash, or simply want your baby to also take a bottle, a breast pump like this one is a great option.
Pumping your milk along with breastfeeding could mean that you are spending more time nursing than if you weren’t pumping. Instead of having separate nursing sessions between breast and pump, consider doing both at the same time.
Yes, it will be a lot to manage but you will be multitasking and saving time. While your baby nurses on one side, pump on the other. Then at the next feed, switch sides for both.
It is one of the screenless things to do while breastfeeding that is extremely productive.
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Listen To Music or Podcasts
Before you sit down to breastfeed, turn on your favorite music or podcast! That way, you can still be engaged and focused on your day while also taking some time to enjoy something you enjoy.
And, listening to relaxing music will be just as calming for the baby as it is for you!
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One-Handed Hobby
Do you have a hobby that you love to do? Is there a way to do it one-handed? I have heard of some people that have become creative in multitasking while breastfeeding.
I have yet to figure out how to nurse and blog at the same time (not that I want to). However, maybe knitting, for example, is something that you can manage to do while breastfeeding.
As long as it isn’t on your phone, computer, or television, it is one of the screenless things to do while breastfeeding that made the list!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Which of these screenless things to do while breastfeeding are you trying next?!
Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma
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I’m not a mum, but this was an interesting post! I don’t know many people who exercise while breast feeding! I’m surprised haha
Haha me too!
I’m not a mom either but in general I think it’s so good to find things to do that don’t involve screens. Actually yesterday my significant other and I were lying around talking and he fell asleep on top of my arm so I found myself in the one handed positive haha – and for about half an hour I just used the time to actually think and appreciate everything I have which is something we rarely slow down to do. It also reminds me of the story of how Walt Disney thought of creating Disneyland – he was with… Read more »
Beautifully said Becky!!