Are you awaiting the birth of your second child? A new baby brother or sister creates mixed feelings for any toddler. Here are some practical steps you can take to ease the transition for your elder child:
Firstly is the importance of managing your expectations. There is not a toddler alive who is going to feel completely happy about life with a new baby. Mixed feelings are the order of the day: excitement meets jealousy meets babyish behavior. You can minimise jealousy, but not totally eradicate it.
Secondly, introduce the idea of the new arrival gently without making it into a huge event for your toddler. Bring the subject up in conversation - but not all the time. Before the big day, the reality of life with a newborn is meaningless to a young child.
It's a good idea to read some new baby stories together. There are some excellent ones available that allow your child to explore his or her feelings about babies. Choose stories that involve problems, for example 'Spot's Baby Sister' by Eric Hill.
Don't forget to buy a gift from the baby for your toddler, and ask your toddler if he would like to choose a gift for the newborn (if he says no, leave the subject but get one anyway) . It's a good idea to make the baby-to-toddler present something like a coloring book or puzzle that he can do during the (possibly emotionally fraught) first meeting.
Lastly, make some special time for your toddler once the baby is here. This doesn't have to be a hour - even five minutes (if it is quality, one-to-one time) is quality time to your older child. You might well find you are up to reading together while feeding the baby. Use all the help you can get from other adults to help you out here. - 29955
Firstly is the importance of managing your expectations. There is not a toddler alive who is going to feel completely happy about life with a new baby. Mixed feelings are the order of the day: excitement meets jealousy meets babyish behavior. You can minimise jealousy, but not totally eradicate it.
Secondly, introduce the idea of the new arrival gently without making it into a huge event for your toddler. Bring the subject up in conversation - but not all the time. Before the big day, the reality of life with a newborn is meaningless to a young child.
It's a good idea to read some new baby stories together. There are some excellent ones available that allow your child to explore his or her feelings about babies. Choose stories that involve problems, for example 'Spot's Baby Sister' by Eric Hill.
Don't forget to buy a gift from the baby for your toddler, and ask your toddler if he would like to choose a gift for the newborn (if he says no, leave the subject but get one anyway) . It's a good idea to make the baby-to-toddler present something like a coloring book or puzzle that he can do during the (possibly emotionally fraught) first meeting.
Lastly, make some special time for your toddler once the baby is here. This doesn't have to be a hour - even five minutes (if it is quality, one-to-one time) is quality time to your older child. You might well find you are up to reading together while feeding the baby. Use all the help you can get from other adults to help you out here. - 29955
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