What You Can Do to Help Your Young Child Adjust to You Having Another Baby

How to Prepare Your Young Child for a Baby Emotionally

By BuntingResources.com, published May 18, 2007
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When a new baby enters the picture there is a chance that your toddler or young child may feel a little insecure about the situation. There are some things that you can do to make the transition a little bit easier for your child.

What You Can Do Before the Baby is Born.

When you have a child, especially if you only have one child, and then you are going to have another one it can be a big adjustment for your child. During the pregnancy you can do some things to prepare you child for the arrival of the new baby.

Make It Exciting

Tell your child that the baby is excited to meet them, this will encourage them to be more excited about meeting the new baby.

Give Them Responsibility

Let your child know the role of being a big sister or big brother is very important. You can tell them the different things that they can help with.

At a Baby Shower Make Sure That There are Gifts for Them

If you have a baby shower before the baby is born get your child a few gifts so they won't feel like the baby is getting all this attention before that are even out of the belly.

Have a Gift Set Aside for Them When the Baby is Born

When the baby is born have a special gift for your child and say that the gift is from the baby. They will be happy that the new baby gave them a gift and be happy that they got a new gift. Sometimes a baby doll can be a good gift because then your child will have a new baby just like mom and dad.

What You Can Do After the Baby is Born

Once the baby is born the reality for your child will become more real and they will likely become very insecure about the situation. There are a couple things that you can do to help your child adjust to the new baby.

Take Pictures of Them Too

When you are taking pictures of the newborn make sure to take pictures of your child as well or offer to let them take a picture of the baby if they are capable of handling the camera.

Family Time

By doing things as a family including the baby will help the child adjust to the concept that the baby is part of the family, since all of the family time was just the child and mom and dad, and make that child feel that they are equally included in the family.

Spend One on One Time Together

What You Can Do to Help Your Young Child Adjust to You Having Another Baby

Your child may feel very insecure during the pregnancy and after their sibling is born.

Credit: SXC

Copyright: SXC

Takeaways
  • Make It Exciting
  • Have a Gift Set Aside for Them When the Baby is Born
  • Take Pictures of Them Too
Did You Know?
By doing things as a family including the baby will help the child adjust to the concept that the baby is part of the family.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
 
 
This article is very informative but I personally don't agree with some of your tips. It is important that the older child doen't feel upset but I don't think giving them gifts all the time is the right approach.

Posted on 06/05/2007 at 6:06:00 PM

 
Hopefully some of these will work for my son. I think it is harder to prepare a toddler than a preschooler, because they don't really understand yet.

Posted on 05/28/2007 at 2:05:00 PM

 
I so agree with your articles. Whenever a new child came into my family, and on their christening day, the other children would get gifts too.

Posted on 05/23/2007 at 4:05:00 AM

 
Excellent advice. I'll keep this in mind when we have our next child.

Posted on 05/19/2007 at 7:05:00 AM

 
Good advice, all my kids are 2 years apart and luckily adding a new sibling has been pretty easy on them but we have done many of your suggestions.

Posted on 05/18/2007 at 10:05:00 AM

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