I just found out that I am pregnant. My daughter is used to being the center of attention. I want to say that Mommy and Daddy are going to have a new baby but I don't want her to feel left out once the baby comes. I want to have her be excited but I don't want her to feel like, "Mommy and Daddy don't like me so they are going to get a new kid."
2006-12-18 09:20:41 · 9 answers · asked by bizhoneywell 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
We know the baby will be a boy and she really wants a sister.
2006-12-18 09:29:44 · update #1
Also, this won't be our last baby.
2006-12-18 09:30:33 · update #2
Don’t tell her until you are showing. She is much too young and it will be too long of a wait for her. When you are showing, say to her “Mommy’s got a surprise for you. You are going to be a big sister!” You can also get her a calendar and mark off your due date. You can check off the days so that she has a better idea when the big change will happen.
When she is aware that you are pregnant, get her a “Big Sister” t- shirt. She will feel proud to wear it and enjoy the comments she gets from others. You can also get her some books so she has a better idea on what to expect before the baby comes home. My New Baby-Annie Kubler Waiting for Baby-Annie Kubler The New Baby at Your House-Joanna Cole The New Baby-Fred Rogers are some good ones. I also suggest that you get her a baby doll so that she can learn how to help take care of it and how to be gentle.
Prepare for some regression once the baby arrives. She may feel very jealous of the baby because she was the center of your world for a long time and she will have to share you. She may start to feel powerless. Make sure, when the baby arrives, you take time everyday to show her how much you love her. When the baby is sleeping, do an art project, read her a story, play a game, and things that show he is the "big girl" (she can help mommy with things, help make a snack or dinner, help with the baby...getting a diaper, let her pick out the baby's outfit...).
Start now by finding ways to help her to feel powerful by saying things like "You did that by yourself. You can run super fast! Look how high you can climb! You used so many colors on your picture!" She will see that you “see” her. This is a great way to show your attention and love, will help her to feel powerful, and help her to gain some confidence. If she keeps gets messages like these, she should ease into this easily.
Best of luck to you and congratulations!
2006-12-18 11:33:02 · answer #1 · answered by marnonyahoo 6 · 123⤊ 5⤋
The only thing to do right now is to wait until you start showing and point to your growing belly and tell her that there is a baby inside. Once you get into your 7th month when you are REALLY showing, you should buy your 2 year old a baby doll that she can take care of. You can show her how to take care of the baby doll as if it were a real one and when the real baby comes she will know that the new baby needs to be taken care of just like the doll. Tell her that she will be a big sister and explain to her how the new baby will need more attention since the baby is new. Tell her that she is the big sister and that means that she is a big girl now and that she will need to help mommy as much as she can! I'm sure it will be hard for her to understand all of that since she IS only two, but the more and more you tell her about what is going on and what WILL be going on, it will be an smoother transition. Hopefully. Good luck!
2006-12-18 09:32:44 · answer #2 · answered by Sena M 1 · 17⤊ 3⤋
Let her know ASAP. Don't tell her she'll have a new playmate because honestly she wont get to play with the new baby for a while after the birth. Take her with you shopping, allow her to pick out some clothes, toys, etc. If you are changing her to a different room OR putting the crib in hers do it as soon as you can. This way she can get use to it before hand. Once the baby is there give her a job. Putting the new diapers away, or folding the blankets.
2006-12-18 09:29:49 · answer #3 · answered by Info 1 · 14⤊ 4⤋
say something that will make her feel very important say that the baby will look up to her and she will watch after him and that without her he would be an only child so he needs her[but dont make her think that being an only child is a bad thing] ~good luck
2006-12-18 09:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 12⤊ 3⤋
When I had my ultrasounds I would bring my 20mth old son in and he could see the baby on the monitor and we would tell him that it was his baby brother/sister in mommys belly He actually seems to understand. every day he comes over and rubs my belly and says baby
2006-12-18 09:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by mrs rubberducky 2 · 14⤊ 5⤋
Tell her there is a baby inside your belly ... And when she watches your belly grow talk about it all the time. That's what I did with my son ... The day I had her, he was in love with his "baby Gianna" instantly! Just talk about it and have her talk to your belly a lot. She will definitely get used to it.
2006-12-18 10:38:36 · answer #6 · answered by luvlily00 1 · 12⤊ 7⤋
just tell her pretty soon she will have a new little brother or sister to play with. tell her she will get to be the big sister in the family. make her feel impotant
2006-12-18 09:24:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 25⤊ 5⤋
I would just make the focus on HER by telling her "Hey (Suzie)... Guess what!?!?! YOU'RE GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!"
And then answer whatever questions she has honestly.
2006-12-18 09:31:21 · answer #8 · answered by Trishy 3 · 12⤊ 6⤋
say you are going to have a baby sister or brother
2006-12-18 09:24:10 · answer #9 · answered by can-d-cane 3 · 6⤊ 40⤋