Preparing for the New Baby

Follow your child’s lead. When they want to talk about the baby, take advantage of that, but as soon as their attention shifts elsewhere, let it go. Don’t force the topic.

Read books about what to expect. Look here for my Recommended Kids’ Books about Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies.

Watch a video about a new baby coming to a family. This was made by Penny Simkin, who had taught sibling preparation classes for 30+ years when she made it. Includes details about the birth process at an age-appropriate level. Available to stream (rent or buy) at https://www.pennysimkin.com/project/theres-a-baby-a-childrens-film/.

Take a sibling preparation class. Check with your local hospitals that offer childbirth preparation classes. They may offer sibling classes.

Tell stories to your older child about when they were a baby. Look at their baby pictures together.

Provide dolls and doll accessories for your toddler to “practice” baby care behaviors they’ll soon see.

If there are any behaviors or routines that just won’t work after baby comes, try to change them at least 3 – 4 months before the birth, so your child has a chance to adapt, without feeling like it’s “the baby’s fault” things had to change.

If one parent provides almost all the care for your child, try to increase the amount of time they receive care from other providers so they know they have other adults to rely on.

In the early weeks with the new baby

Try not to change day-to-day routines. Your child will need consistency and reliability.

The safety of the baby is top priority, so set clear limits to protect the baby.

Have some time of each day where the older child knows they are your top priority. Let them choose the activity for their “special time.”

Let your older child continue to be a “baby” when he needs to be. Don’t expect instant maturity and independence.

• Regression is common – listen to your older child’s feelings and validate that it’s hard for everyone to adjust to the new baby.

Make sure your older child has some space and things that belong only to them.

Expect to have good days and bad days. Don’t worry that it will “never get better.”

Don’t blame things on the baby: Instead of saying “I can’t play with you because of the baby”, try saying “I really want to play with you – in just a few minutes baby will be done nursing, and you and I will have play time. Or, you can bring your toys here right now.”

Have ‘special times’ with your older child: a quick trip to the park, a bedtime story, an outing.

Give the older child special responsibilities. Making the older child a “helper” in the care of the new baby will help the child feel involved instead of neglected. However, it is important to remember that the new baby is not your older child’s responsibility.

Encourage and reinforce the positive behaviors you want to see in your older child.

Sometimes, parents feel guilty that they can no longer give the older child the same attention that they used to. It may help to remind yourself that although this doesn’t seem fair to your older child, they are also benefitting from the experience of having a younger sibling.

As your children get older

Look here for lots more tips on sibling relationships.

Resources

• Handout: First Born Jealousy – download at https://www.nocrysolution.com/articles-and-logs/downloadable-pdf-newsletters/
• Helping children adjust to the new baby – tips and lots of recommendations for children’s books about new babies: www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/newbaby.htm
• More tips on preparing your child for a new sibling: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sibling-prep.html
• A video you can show an older child to help them learn about ways that newborns communicate their needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve7yXXRaYT8

photo credit: K. W. Sanders via photopin cc