What are some ways you prepared your child for the new baby?

Question

I have a 4 yr old son and I just found out I am pregnant. What are some ways to prepare him and when to do it?

Answer 1

I am the fourth oldes out of 12 kids and I have a 8 week old daughter so when I adopted, there wasn't much to explain. But when I was 4 my younger brother was 3 and my mom was pregnat with one of my sisters. My mom and dad explained everything to him and told him they would always love him. My dad took my brother out a lot before and after the baby was born and called it "Special Daddy and Nate Time" They went out to eat, went to the park, amusement parks and a lot of other places. The day the baby was born, before my mom and dad left for the hospital my dad and mom gave Nate a special watch that would flip over and when you flipped it over it said "To the new best big brother in the world Nate" and the date his first little sister was born. And the next day my dad got the time enscripted too. Make sure you have your son put the special thing you give him in a special place. My brother still has the watch and remembers all of the good times he had with my dad and my mom and everybody else.

Answer 2

Well, first I would assume you won't tell him for a little while. I hated waiting to tell my kids about the last pregnancy, but if it is long for us it is REALLY long for a 4 year old. I waited until I was about 3 months pregnant.

You can have him feel your baby when baby starts kicking well. You could certainly take him to an ultrasound if it is a routine one and you don't expect any problems.

I had my kids say hi to the baby every day. After we found out she was a girl they would call her by name. They would kiss my belly, read the baby books while she was in my tummy, and kissed my tummy at least once a day. We just treated the baby as if she was part of the family already, just that we couldn't see her yet.

When I had my second child (a girl) my son who was 3 at the time took one look at the baby and said "Yep, that's her!" As if he knew all along who she was. Unfortunately when my 3rd was born she had problems and my older kids couldn't see her right away. Only through glass day one, then it was over 2 weeks before they saw her again! It was agony for them! They were devastated and begged every day we bring her home from the hospital. When we finally did bring her home my kids just stared at her for a half an hour. They were in such awe of her.

I think kids are just like us. When the baby comes they are amazed. Even a 4 year old. That will be a great age. Let him know he is going to be your big helper! And when you bring the baby home from the hospital put the baby somewhere so you can give your 4 year old all the love and attention he can handle. He won't feel threatened at all. I guarantee that he will pass you right up and go straight to where the baby is and you will have 2 new best friends.

Answer 3

We didn't have to prepare a young child- we had to prepare 3 pre-teens... which, I think, in some ways was worse. They were 12, 11, and 10 when we told them we were having a baby. Obviously, they aren't all mine- 2 are my step-kids who live with us all year and one is my son who I am also the only parent for- so all 3 would be affected daily until they go off to college. I can reason with them because they are older- that's one thing you don't have. A 4 year old cannot reason no matter how mature you think he is. I would make him as big a part of the decisions about the baby as possible. That's the one thing that all of my siblings and cousins have said- and their kids were young when they had babies and their kids had all out fits about it, too. But overall, the best advice for the situation is to make your son feel like he's a part of it, like he is part owner of the new baby, too. He may still hate it at first because he's no longer in demand of all the attention but if he doesn't feel out of the loop, it'll be less stressful for him in the long run.

Answer 4

Start right now!, and dont be surprised if when the baby is born he tells you to take it back to the hospital, There will be jealousy so once the baby is born give him easy jobs that he can do to help, be the babies binky carrier, or help with feeding ( if you bottle feed!) let him wind the babies mobile at nap times. Let him feel your tummy once the baby starts kicking, get a baby book that shows each stage of babies growth in your tummy. The more you make him a part of all this , the easier it might be.

Answer 5

in the journey that your dishwasher has a sanitizer/extreme temp placing you do no longer might desire to pre wash them, i do no longer particularly think of you may desire to besides. Or purchase extra bottles so which you're actually not continuously washing 5 or 6. even nonetheless that is in basic terms a form of mommy obsessions, as quickly as your infant is slightly older your spouse ought to quiet down slightly. And the newborn's physique would be extra waiting to combat off germs etc.

Answer 6

Let him be involved as much as possible. Find books to read to him about being a big brother. I know there are tons for is age at Barnes & Noble, or Amazon. When you are farther along let him touch your belly, talk to the baby, etc....