Ever notice how just as your baby gets hungry, your older child gets needy -- for help with a toy, a snack, anything that requires your attention? Try these tactics:
Put your toddler's needs first. Set out a snack and drink and say, "Pick one more thing you want before I feed the baby." If your baby can wait a minute, your older child will whine less.
Let her entertain you. Ask for a song, a dance, her best imitation of a monkey, anything she can show off while you sit still.
Play hide-and-seek. She hides a few objects around the house, and you seek them later. Or stash a few things before you get started, so she can hunt while you get your baby fed.
Change your surroundings. Set her in a dry bathtub with washable paints or shaving cream and sit nearby, or let her splash in the kitchen sink with suds, bowls, and measuring cups.
