Helping Almost 3 Year Old Become a Big Brother- Birthday Party Ideas?

Hi. I agree with the previous posters. His birthday should be about him, not his status as a brother.
My son is almost exactly 3 years older than his younger sister... like 18 days. So I can relate to a lot of what you are thinking about.

What I would do, is have his baby brother/sister (whichever you have) give him a birthday present. You can shop for it now, and put it away so he doesn't know about it or anything, but wrap it and have the card or tag say it is from "___ (sibling name)". That is all I would do as far as the "brother" side of things. Have the day be about him, not how he relates to his brother.

Just my 2¢

I'm due with my fifth in four days and my youngest will be turning three tomorrow. We are just doing a simple cake and ice cream family part for her and she is very excited. Each child had reacted differently to adding a new baby to the family. We talk about baby a lot, play with her baby dolls, talk about how little the baby will be, etc. It's really a fun time. One thing that I've done in the past that has helped it make a little box or basket for the other children to open after baby is born. It would have craft items, new markers, or small toys in it. Then whoever is helping out (Dad or Grandma) has something special to do with the kids while I recover and bond with baby. It makes the other kids feel like they haven't been forgotten. I also try to read "big sister/big brother books" and to give extra hugs and cuddles to the other kids. It's a really exciting time for the whole family. Good luck!

Well I like the idea of a bigbrother party, making being a big brother special is a great idea! But I also wonder if that will actually take away from his birthday being special...Im sure since you found out you were expecting you've been really making a point of him becoming a big brother and when the baby is born Im sure everyone will be making a big deal about him being a big brother..maybe his birthday should be just about him period. Did you ask him what kind of birthday he wants? At 3 Im sure he has a favorite show...make his birthday just be about him being him and not his new role. But the big brother party might be a good idea before the baby is born...congrats!

I totally agree with everyone else. THis is his day and should be about him, not about his status as a big brother. I had my second child when my first was two months from being 3. I had my third child a week after my middle son turned 2. Their birthdays are all really close, but I try to make their day special and just about them. My 3 yr old is turning 4 this Saturday and I keep saying it's almost 'Wyatt Day'. He loves the idea of having a day named after him.

You might want to reconsider. Your 3 year old's first feeling might be "now I have to share EVERYTHING with my sibling--even on MY birthday?" Just a thought....
I'd have a "Meet the Baby" party about 3-4 weeks after the birth and make him a special Big Brother T-shirt for that. Congrats on your soon-to-be-new LO!