Preparing For a New Sibling
Submitted by Citibabes on April 19, 2010 – 10:38 amNo Comment
Introducing a new member to your family is an exciting time for all! But, it requires preparing your other children for what to expect. Here are some tips on introducing a new sibling to your clan.
For young children, who have no concept of time, let them know that the baby will be in your tummy while it’s cold outside, for example, and will be born when summer begins. Include your child in your pregnancy by sharing ultrasound pictures, encouraging her to talk to the baby, and to touch your belly.
Prepare your child for the baby’s arrival by reading books about new baby additions, and enlisting your child’s help in getting ready for the baby . Be honest about what having a new baby in the family will mean. Your child won’t know what to expect so let her know that at first, new babies can’t play much, but that she can read to her new sibling, hold his hand, and help mommy put him to bed.
Tell your child stories about when she was a baby, and show her pictures of when you were pregnant with her and when she was first born. Encourage your child to talk about her feelings. Let her know that she can have mixed feelings or more than one feeling at a time. It’s OK to be excited about the new baby and also worried about sharing mommy. Young children often find it hard to talk about their feelings, so try drawing or acting things out with puppets or dolls.
Once the baby is born, expect a transition period. After the new baby arrives try to limit other major changes for a while, like introducing a new caretaker, moving to a big girl bed, or potty training. If your child regresses that’s perfectly normal. In response, be as consistent as possible. All children thrive on structure.
