How did you get your first child ready for a up and coming new baby?

Question

We are going to start trying and my first is 3 already. What did you do to get you first child ready?

Answer 1

Don't tell your child until you are showing. 3 is too young to understand and the wait will be too long if you tell them now.

Prepare for your child to regress a bit when the baby arrives. It is very common for a child to regress. He/she may start baby talking or have bathroom accidents.

When you are pregnant and showing, tell your child that they are going to be a big brother/sister. Get your child a "big brother/sister" shirt and give it to your child when the baby arrives.

When the baby comes home with you, make sure you take time everyday to show you're love. When baby is sleeping, read your child a story, do an art project (make a Froot Loop necklace), and things that show they are the "big boy/girl" (your child can help mommy make dinner, help with the baby...getting a diaper, let him pick out baby's outfit...) Tell your child that they are so lucky because they are a big brother/sister. They can do so much more than a baby because they are older. If your child keeps getting messages like these, they should start to feel more confident in their new world. Good luck!!!

Answer 2

Kept talking up how he was going to be a big brother and what an important job that would be and how much the baby was going to love him. I took him to the ultrasound. When the baby came we had a little gift for him at the hospital and told him it was from his little brother. We gave him a little truck and told him the card said "Congratulations on being a big brother! I know you will be the best big brother ever! We love you and are so proud of you!" Finally , if the baby didn't "Need" held we focused on him and we included him in the care of "our" baby .. he got diapers and patted the baby's back when we burped him. We basically just tried to make him feel secure and important.
I also left the baby with my husband and took him to a movie , I pointed out that the baby was way to little to do fun big boy things like movies.

Answer 3

My daughters are about the same distance apart. We tried to get Big Sister involved by taking her to doctor's appointments, but she seemed to like mom going to the doctor even less than she likes going to the doctor herself. She was especially worried with the ultrasound and was too busy being worried about what was happening to mom to pay attention to daddy telling her to look at the pictures of the baby. She loves Dora the Explorer though, so we decided to invest in the movie where Dora becomes a big sister and spent lots of time talking about how she was going to be a big sister soon too.

After Little Sister was born, Big Sister was very excited to have her baby. She wanted to hold her and hug her and kiss her and carry her around. Of course, we couldn't allow that without very close supervision. It's been 8 months and she still loves having a little sister around.

I think the key is to be excited about it. Let the child know that it is a big deal and a very cool thing to be involved with. If you are positive about the experience, then hopefully your child will be able to look at it in a positive way. Kids seem to be able to pick up on their parents' stresses and worries very easily, so if you worry too much about it your child will start to worry also.

Answer 4

Just basically keep them involved. Let them help decorate the baby's room. Tell them they have a big job when the baby is here, because they are going to be the "big brother or sister" and they need to help teach them. Help them to hold the baby and the bottle (if not breastfeeding that is). And another very important thing is to do your best to set aside special time for just the older one so they don't feel left out. I know sometimes it's very hard to do with a new baby, because when they are sleeping you want to sleep too. Just try and keep them involved as best you can. Good luck!

Answer 5

Tell them that there will be a baby in your belly, get some baby dolls and teach him/her the proper things to do with/around the baby. Most hospitals offer big siblings classes that also help prepare a child for being a big brother/sister.

Answer 6

There were 5 years between our son and 1st daughter. we made it exciting telling him how he was going to be a big brother to a baby sister and how there would be a lot of things that he would get to teach her. Mom let him feel when the baby would move and he would talk and sing to the baby in mom's tummy like dad did. Attention to him didn't diminish after his sister was born. we included him in things like feeding and putting the baby to bed. He didn't want to be included in changing the diapers. Also i made special time for just he and i to be together; we actually planted the garden together that year. i let him drop the seeds in the ground and explained how God made things grow and included the growth of his little sister in the conversation. Good Luck.

Answer 7

well we were always constantly telling him (he was 2) that there was a baby in mommy'y tummy and he would talk to it and we tried to include him by letting him feel when the baby would kick. he was very excited about the new baby but there was still some jealousy. i don't think you can ever get a young kid 100% ready.

Answer 8

get a baby book and read it child everyday. Keep him/her informed on dr. visits and everything. That way its not a big SHOCK when you bring your bundle home. That way she/he feels closer to the baby b/c they "feel" like they helped you thru your pregnancy.

Answer 9

I told my kid she was no longer going to be daddy's favorite and sent her to live with my parents in another state.

Answer 10

get a "I'm the big brother" book. point out babies whenever you see them. Get him involved.