How to Prepare Your Kids for a New Sibling

Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC

When I was pregnant with my son, who happens to be my first child, I was excited to do everything for the first time. I was just like any other mom trying to learn everything I can learn to make sure my son would be perfectly cared for and loved. Fast forward a year and a half later and my son was everything I could hope for, and I was entirely unprepared for parenting.
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​Then I found out I was pregnant again. My son was 10 months old at the time.
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​I was happy to do exactly what my husband and I discussed (to give our son a sibling closer in age) but I wasn’t sure about being a mom to two kids because having one alone was such a big change in my life and He was a handful!
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​So as Pregnancy two progressed, I worried about how life would change and fit this new baby in. Then month 7 hit and I realized my son was going to have a sibling.
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​Yes I know I have said that before, and I should have noticed that earlier but when I realized, I mean I stopped and looked at him and realized truly, that he was not going to be my only little baby anymore. He was about to be a big brother.
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So all hands on deck because I had to make sure this kid was ready!
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​Now at this point, he was only a year old so, it wasn’t going to be easy to teach him what was going on, but I started to do as I always do and research.

Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC

Here is what I found and what seemed to work!
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1. Read books about being pregnant and a new baby to the other child

2. Buy a baby doll and carry it around the way you would a newborn

3. Let the sibling play with the baby doll but tell them to Treat it the way they would a baby brother or sister (don’t let them throw it. Hit it, etc.)

4. Point to your belly and say, Baby

5. Talk about how they will be a Big Brother or Sister and how fun it will be

6. If you see a baby out in public, tell them that’s a baby, point to your tummy again, and say, baby

7. Older kids, have them create something as a gift for their new sibling

8. Older kids? Have them pick out an outfit, toys, ect. For a new sibling

9. Older kids? Tell them to go with you to the doctor checkups when baby can be seen ( the ultrasound appointments)

10. Make sure to remind all kids how much their lives will change but also stay the same. Like the love will never change and they can still play or have friends over but they may have a baby following them around sometimes.

Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC

Bonus:

1. Don’t force interactions at first, if they need to adjust, let them adjust.

2. Don’t accept them being mean, ignoring, or having bad behavior overall. It’s ok to be jealous but that needs to be handled immediately. This is a sibling, not a replacement.

3. Don’t forget to take have one on one time with the older child. Make the time

4. Buy a gift from the new baby for the older sibling and give it to them the day they meet their baby brother or sister.

5. Don't make punishments about the new baby because that causes resentment. For example: If they are being loud and the baby is trying to sleep, well then it's not about interrupting the baby, it's about learning how to use their inside voices.

6. Don't stop the interaction, promote the interaction. My son was so young and I didn't want him to hold his sister but I let him think he was holding her by helping him hold her, no matter how inconvenient it was for me.

​My son and daughter aren’t perfect because no siblings are but there aren’t any major issues between the two. My son has accepted his baby sister and they play all the time. They wake up and look for each other and it's been a crazy ride that I have loved watching every minute of.

​Can't wait to see them continue to turn into best friends.
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Are you about to have another child? What was your experience with this?