when having a baby when you already have a toddler? What to do to make the toddler feel special?

Question

when the babys born, any special presents or any ideas how to welcome baby w/ the toddler? (3 yrs old)

Answer 1

i have a two year old and had a baby this past year, we involve her in everything that we can, like handing us a wipe or diaper, helping hold the bottle, remind them that its their baby too. i think just involving them in anything you can helps a lot. they feel special when doing those things. we never gave her presents, just made sure we gave her lots of love, hugs, and kisses. even finding a babysitter to babysit the new one for a day so you and your toddler can spend the day together helps too. i think we have done a great job in not making her feel left out or jealous, she's has suprised us both.

Answer 2

My son is two.6 years previous and awaiting in 10 weeks time :D I actual have been doing the comparable conversing related to the toddler to him, announcing he would be the massive brother and can help mummy along with his toddler brother, im additionally getting him a recent from the toddler for him. I additionally examine that the mummy and dad should not be retaining the recent toddler while the older baby sees him for first time..perhaps that's so he doesnt get jelous..you may make a huge fuss approximately seeing him while he's composed of circulate to and then say are you waiting to fulfill your new toddler brother/sister. I dont think of you will ever understand how they're going to react to a clean toddler untill their right here, on the mment my son is truly excited calls him his "abdomen brother" and keeps conversing approximately how hes going to help me yet would desire to be different while babys right here (sorry if no longer probably spoke back question)

Answer 3

You need to make sure that you carve out some special one on one time with NO BABY each and every day. My first two are two years and one week apart. When we (baby & I) came home from the hospital I made sure that Daddy carried the baby into the house. I entered first alone to greet my toddler. Then we took walks alone after Dad came home from work (he watched baby), or I took her grocery shopping, or to the library, or to the park. It worked out really well. It was a bit harder with baby #3....but we managed.

I did buy a few things and hid them for the times when people would come over with things just for the new baby....like a new coloring book, a story book, a stuffed animal, crayons, markers, play-dooh, glitter glue.... I wrapped them up and gave them to her as needed. I also bought one really nice gift for my older child from the baby that I gave to her after we got home. I called it a "big sister" gift. It doesn't take long to get through the transition if you are consistant with all your normal rules and take time for your oldest. What ever you choose to do, don't let bad behavior slide "because of the baby"....instead of seeing you being nice, it will make your oldest feel insecure and afraid and that you don't care anymore. Good luck & congrats on the new baby.

Answer 4

You keep big brother/sister involved with the baby and you as much as possible. You have them fetch you a diaper, tell them you need their help folding towels (even though it will be more of a mess for you than actual help) anything to keep them involved and feeling important is the key. You also NEED to make sure you still give big brother/sister quality time with just the two of you. Sometimes if he/she may seem to have an attitude problem and seem like nothing makes him happy, he/she may be acting out b/c he needs mommy time. In that case, hand over the new baby to daddy and spend a good 15 minutes with your toddler and I garantee after that he will be content playing on his own for a while.
Also, praise your toddler as much as you can and make sure he feels needed. Hope it works! Good luck!

Answer 5

Get the three year old a Im the big brother or sister T-shirt. Make a big deal about the big brother or sister thing. Let the child buy baby a present before the birth to give to his sister or brother. Kind of ask people in advance to not forget him when they come to see the baby. Most people will make an effort to give him some time too.

Answer 6

Went we talked to our toddler about the upcoming baby, we focussed the conversations on how she was going to become a big sister soon and that it was a big deal to become a big sister.

So, make the conversations about her becoming a big sister versus the baby itself. Kids are self centered at this age and it's a way of making the event about them and not just about the baby.

We also bought our daughter a book on becoming a big sister a couple weeks prior to the birth. It talks about the responsibilities of becoming a big sister and helps explain to the toddlers what kinds of things that the baby will be able to do and what it won't be able to do. Like that it won't be able to eat pizza for awhile. This helps manage the kids expectations as to what the baby will and will not be able to do right away.

I have a link to that book below on Amazon. I recommend it and the same author has an identical book for big brothers.

When we took our daughter to visit the baby in the hospital the first time, we had a gift for her waiting there for her to open. It was a 'Congratulations on becoming a big sister gift'. This helped include her into the event.

All went well for us. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

My daughter was 2 1/2 when I gave birth to twins. Throughout my pregnancy we let her feel my tummy, etc. We talked to her about being a big sister, anything to include the toddler. With supervision let the toddler help with feedings, etc. but be sure not to force anything on the toddler - involve the toddler as much as they want to be involved.

Answer 8

I have a 2yr old and a 5 month old. My 2yr old girl was very jealous. I just made her feel like mommy's little helper. In everything I did. When i did that she felt need by her little brother.
But guess what at a newborn age, they really don't understand much so through that time use that time to focus on your older child because it her/him that understands a little more and really needs more of the attention, meaning don't give the baby all the attention because when visitors come over its already all about the baby.....just try to keep focus on the older child to because it is so easy to get caught up into a baby........

Answer 9

When i brought my daughter home from the hospital one day I put her down for a nap and put my son on my lap and we looked at pictures from when I brought him home from the hospital, and I told him how special he was and that he was my most favorite little boy in the whole world, and whenever he acted like he needed special attention or might be getting jealous, I would pull out the baby pictures of him and we would talk about how special he was to me and his daddy. I also always tried to keep him involved in the changing and bathing of the baby, believe it or not kids that age love to help. They are 4 and 2 now and get along great. hope this helps!

Answer 10

My daughter was 4 when my son was born. I remember my mother telling me that the baby really didn't care who was holding him, but my daughter cared very much when Mommy said she didn't have time to read a story because she was taking care of the baby, so I made certain I spent time with my daughter every day. My mother brought my daughter a present when she brought the baby a present. I also got my daughter to "help" with the baby. She loved bringing diapers, baby wipes, taking dirty diapers out to the trash, helping hold the bottle, and on and on and on.