The fact of the matter is that having a new infant in the family creates the need for some adjustments. Whether we are talking about rearranging furniture, or whether we are talking about the adjusted sleep schedule of parents during midnight feedings, having a new infant changes things. As parents, we are often excited and happy to make these adjustments. If you have a toddler in the house, however, it may be more of a challenge to get your toddler to adjust to your new infant. Fortunately, there are things you can do to get your toddler to adjust to the new infant.

One way to help your toddler adjust is to make sure that he has the same sort of expectation that you do. Tell your toddler about the new infant throughout the pregnancy. Talk about how the baby will look, about how it will cry a lot, and how the new infant will be totally dependant on mommy and daddy, unlike your “big boy” or “big girl” toddler. There are even big sister and big brother classes that many hospitals or birthing centers offer that may also help your toddler to adjust to your new infant.

If your new infant and your toddler will be sharing a room, you might try to make the physical changes to the room well before the birth, as well. This will allow your toddler to adjust to the new infant’s things being in the same room so that these physical changes won’t bother your toddler once the new infant is born.

Finally, one of the best ways to get your toddler to adjust to your new infant is to bring your toddler on as a helper. By giving your toddler new privileges, and by showing your toddler that you trust him or her to do some important tasks that the new infant cannot do, such as bringing you a bottle or looking for a pacifier under the crib, you help your toddler feel important and invested in your new infant’s well being.

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