How can I get my 2 year old daughter to understand and get her used to the idea of having abrother?

Question

I'm 6 months pregnant and everytime I try to talk to my daughter about having a baby brother she kind of dodges the subject. I'm not sure she understands. I think she just thinks that I call my stomach a baby because she always lifts her shirt up and says she has a baby too. What is a good way to help her understand?

Answer 1

Firstly little kids CAN understand pregnancy IF it is explained in terms they can understand and they are involved.
Try taking her to your Dr's appoinments and getting her to help the Dr measure your fundal height. Ask the Dr if he can let your daughter listen to the babies heartbeat.
Get her a doll and treat it like a real baby. Teach her how to hold it and bathe it. You should also hold and get her used to seeing YOU holding someone else.
Show her pictures of babies in the womb and newborn babies. Show her pictures of you pregnant and you with her after she was born.
Get books about pregnant Mums and newborns and sisters. I got my daughter a great book called The New Baby. And then talk about what you read and the little girls feelings after the baby came.
If you have any more ultrasounds get her to go with you and see the baby on the screen.
Get her excited about being a BIG sister, how cool it will be, her responsibilities.
All this worked for my daughter but I told her when she was about one and a half so she had time to get used to it (she was 2yrs old when the new baby came) she never felt jelous or angry or upset about the baby. She would lay her head on my belly at night sing the baby alullaby.
Get your daughter to feel the baby move and talk to it.
Oh and most littlwe kids (even boys) think they have babies in their bellies when Mummy is pregnant.

Answer 2

At two the definately do not understand. I told my daughter (who was 2 years and 3 months by the time the baby came) that there was a baby in mommy's tummy and that she would get to be a big sister soon. She did not understand until the baby was born, but there are things you can do to hopefully ensure less jealousy and that she will not accidentally hurt the baby. My daughter had a lot of dolls that she sometimes didn't treat so well so we got her a brand new babydoll that had a name and taught her how to correctly hold her. She didn't have to keep up the practice with the other dolls, but this doll was special. We were able to teach her about being gentle this way too which is a hard concept for a two year old also. Anytime you see a baby tell her again that mommy has a baby in her tummy like that and if the parents don't mind let her get a closer look, most parents were more than willing to share the wonder of a baby with her. If there is a big brother or sister present talk to her about how that's what she's going to be when the baby gets here. Don't stress too much though, this is a tough concept for her to grasp. One thing that really helped it click for my daughter also was to see a diagram of a baby's development inside the mother's womb. It had a picture of a progressively bigger mom and showed the inside with the baby forming. She looked at it and then got really excited and pointed to my belly saying "baby!".

Answer 3

I would try the doll thing. Get her a doll and change the doll's diapers and pretend to feed the doll bottles, and maybe even bathe the doll. Let her help you do these things(or rather the other way around, you help her), and call it her baby. Make sure that she does not treat the doll badly, always treat the doll like a real baby. And show her pictures of babies, and pictures of her when she was a baby too! This way maybe she'll understand that a baby is more than just a stomach. (and make sure to tell her that your stomach is where the baby is, not that it is the baby, say that the baby is in there.)
Here's a link to a great article that i read about having a second child:
http://www.todaysparent.com/lifeasparent/parenting/article.jsp?content=20050412_155907_5808&page=1

Answer 4

Go to a book store and get a book for kids and children about mom expecting another baby in the family and read to her in a fun and interesting way. I am very sure she will understand because i am doing this with my daughter (3yrs next mth)as im expecting my second baby. But be prepared as kids will keep on asking so many questions to know how the baby got in there in your tummy!

Answer 5

Here's how it goes... You stress how cool it's going to be to have a baby brother, and SHE gets to be a big sister... She doesn't understand what that means.. she's not GOING to... she's avoiding talking about it because she doesn't understand. You just keep it up, and when the baby comes, she'll start to figure it out and the attitude you model for her now will determine how well she takes it in stride. So don't worry about it... just let it happen as it will.

Answer 6

I will be totally honest a two year old has no idea what you are talking about the only time she will get it is when the baby comes home and doesn't leave.There will be jealousy so get ready for that but eventually they get over it.

Answer 7

How about hyping up the "big sister" gig? Tell her SHE'S going to be a big sister, rather thatn YOU'RE getting a new baby. Have her grandparents and family all ask her about being a big sister, and tell her what a special job that is. I bet after a while, she will be talking about it all the time :)

Answer 8

This question will resolve itself in 3 months...She's two...she's not capable of "dodging the subject"...let her be a baby kid too, or she will resent having a brother.

Answer 9

How about a doll?