Everyone is excited and cannot wait to welcome the arrival of the newest member of the family. But while you and your partner are busy with the preparations, there might be someone who’s not as cheery and cheerful — your older child. And that’s totally understandable, mama.
Depending on your child’s age, they may have a little understanding of what is happening and what is going to happen. It’s still not easy for them to process and comprehend everything. So help smoothen their transition from being the baby of the family to being the older brother or sister to a new baby with these tips:
1. Tell them the big news yourself.
After waiting for the right time to announce the big news — usually when the pregnancy is established — schedule a time to talk to your older child and sit them down for a discussion. You don’t want them to hear about it from someone else.
Keep the announcement simple and straightforward, without much fanfare. You might want to wait until you are showing a bit so it’s easier to explain to them that you are growing a baby in your tummy. Tailor-fit your explanation depending on their age.
2. Assure them you understand their feelings.
Their little world will be turned upside down with your announcement, so it’s important to help them cope with their big emotions. Encourage them to ask questions and patiently answer those questions, no matter how petty you think they are.
If they’re curious about something, let them be and give them age-appropriate explanations. You may also want to address any fears they have by reassuring them that the amount of love you have for them won’t change. Ever.
3. Get them involved.
They’ll get more excited about welcoming their new sibling if you allow them to help with the preparations. If you can, bring them to your doctor’s appointments so they can hear the baby’s heartbeat. Encourage them to have a part in decorating the nursery and shopping for items for the baby. You can even let them choose the designs for the baby’s blankets, pillows, or clothing stuff. The key is to get them involved.
4. Let books and stories help you.
Endless baby preparation talks are to be expected in the coming weeks. To help you further explain the situation to your child, do it during storytime. Make the most of this bedtime routine by giving them as much information as possible about your growing family through books, which are great tools to make children understand concepts and life changes better.
Check out these books that will expose them to the idea of having a sibling:
5. Have a walk down memory lane.
It will only be a few more weeks or days before your older child is no longer the bunso of the family. So use this time to give them undivided attention and spend special alone time with them as much as possible.
This is also a good time to teach them things about a newborn. Tell them how they looked like as a baby so they can better visualize what their new sibling will be like. Show your child photos and videos of how they cried and crawled, smiled and slept as a newborn.
As you prepare your child to welcome a new brother or sister, you can only hope and pray that your children will form the best bond there is, one that exists only among siblings. Good luck, mama!
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