It can sometimes be something of a challenge trying to prepare siblings for a new baby. How (and when, for that matter) you prepare your older children for a new baby will depend on a variety of factors. These factors include the age of the older siblings, the maturity level of the older siblings, and how far along in your pregnancy you are.

It is important, right off the bat, to realize that you are going to have to speak with your older child about the new baby in terms that the older child can understand. In other words, you need to communicate at their level. If your older child is in preschool, for example, it is likely that she doesn’t quite get the concept of “nine months from now.” However, you might use temporal landmarks, such as “just after Christmas” or “Once you’re done with preschool” to help her grasp the idea of when she should expect a new baby sibling. You should also listen to your child when telling her about the new baby. Answer her questions plainly and simply as possible. If she asks where babies come from, for example, just tell her: “they come from a place inside of mommy’s belly, called the uterus.”

Another important part of preparing siblings for a new baby is to actively encourage your older child or children to be interested in his younger sibling, even before the new baby has arrived. To accomplish this, you might spend some time with him going through his baby book. Or, you may decide to read some books together that talk about childbirth with your older child. You might ask your older child to help you think of a name for the baby, or to pack your birthing bag. If you have friends or relatives with infants, you might take your older child to visit them, to get a good idea of what his new little sibling will be like.

Another great way to prepare siblings for a new baby is through “new brother” and “new sister” classes. Many hospitals or birthing centers may offer these sorts of classes that are specifically designed to help prepare siblings for a new baby.

Finally, you need to keep some things in mind when it comes to your older child as you get closer to having the new baby. You will want to try to keep your older child’s routine as regular as possible. At the same time, you will want to include your older child however you can in the activities that have to do with the new baby so that he feels included.

Related Posts: