Hello! I am due with my 3rd child at the beginning of September so my daughter will be 22 months old when the last one is born. My first 2 are 28 months apart so I felt like I was able to talk my oldest son through the transition fairly well and he understood that he was getting a baby sister and was excited for the company. I don't really feel like my daughter is understanding the "baby brother" talk quite as much. Over the past week, we spent some time with their 4 month old cousin and my daughter LOST IT every time my husband or I held him. Does anyone have any adivce, reading suggestions, anything to help us all through this transition? I'd like to limit her resentment as much as possible!
I think the less you talk about it the better off you are. A baby is coming.
End of discussion. When you bring the new baby home, the older child comes first. Luckily enough newborns sleep a lot and just eat and poop.
Less is more. If you get what I mean. It can backfire if you talk and talk about this new baby. Good luck and congrats.
I like Patty K's response....stop discussing it. She's not even 2 & it's too abstract for her to grasp that in a few months, what is now in your tummy will be out & a living person. Plus she does not have the verbal skills to articulate what she's feeling. Once the baby is born, get her her own baby that she can feed while you nurse the baby. She can change its diaper & dress it while you do the same for the new baby. You can also try to get her to be your helper which many kids love at this age. Then lavish her w/praise when she's being so helpful & a good big sister. Not to be a Negative Nelly but chances are, since she's so little, she's gonna resent this new baby & act out for a bit. You're really just gonna have to wait & see how she reacts once the baby comes along. Good luck!
When we found out that we were having a boy my daughter was 3. We took her to a sibling class that the hospital had. They showed movies about babies, showed her how to help with the baby and what changes will take place. They also took them out and showed them a baby that was born that morning. I also went to the library and got books on new babies that was geared more to her age so that she understood. I also took her to my sono and drs visits. She was so excited when she heard the heartbeat and at the sono actually got to see him. Try to give her as much attention as you can. Have her help you with the baby. My daughter is like the little mother. She helps change diapers, feed him and keeps him from eating the cat food! LOL!!! When she asked to hold him I would put a pillow on her lap and she held him. Maybe when he is born have a "gift" from the baby for both siblings. We bought her a barbie doll and told her that her brother bought it for her. I do notice that if I am giving her brother alot of attention, she will put her head down, so then I jump in and tickle her or make a castle with her with her blocks. She has been doing very well. Just try to involve her as much as possible. Maybe you should ask if she can "hold" her little cousin. Put the pillow on her lap and get her involved too. Take lots of pictures of her holding the baby. Praise her as much as you can and explain to her what she needs to do. Tell her that when her brother is here she can hold him too. See if she can get some hands on experience with a little baby. Hope this helps and congrats on your little one. When is your due date? My son was born September 18th. Best of Luck!
Hi there. My first two are 18 months apart. We told her she was going to have a baby brother before he was born. But most of what we did came after. Every time we refered to our son while talking to her we said "your baby, your brother. The words yours and hers were very common in our house. She gained a sense of possession..and would tell everyone that he was "her" baby brother. Oh! And we always let her help and be involved. She would nurse her baby while i was nursing him, she would get diapers and help me change him. Two years later they are the best of friends. Good luck momma.
