Parenting: Preparing your Child for a New Sibling

Your eldest child is growing up and there is a clamor for a new little one. Parents are thinking it would be nice to have another little bundle in the house crying for milk at wee hours of the night. And three months after, the pregnancy test proves positive and mum and dad are going to be parents again for the second time.

This is definitely good news to share with everyone. Grandparents would be so happy as well as the aunts and uncles and friends. Breaking the news to them will prove to be easy. But will it be as easy to tell this to the soon-to-be older sibling?

Parenting blog believes that it is not going to be very easy. The older sibling has been used to the pampering and caring during her entire existence. He has been used to having all the attention to himself all the time. And when the time comes when another baby gets a share of all of that, it may not be easy for him to understand the new situation. Very young child can tend to become jealous and that can drive him to move away from his parents.

Practical parenting dictates that it is always best to explain to a child what is going to happen in the next nine months. Considering his very young mind, accepting this news will not be easy on him. So parenting blog has come up with some parenting advice and parenting tips on how to break such news to children of different ages.

For Children Aged 1:

Children this age may not be so particular about the new baby just as yet. However, parents should still be prepared. Though questions may not be much, parents must answer every question that is raised. If a baby may notice that mum’s belly is bulging and may point at it, the mum can invite the child closer and let him touch the belly. They may also listen to childrens music together while playing up the coming of the newborn.

For Children Aged 2:

"The baby won't be able to play with you at first, but we will be able to kiss his toes or hold his hand. He'll spend most of his time sleeping, crying, and feeding. Sometimes babies cry because that's the only way they can tell us what they need." These are the lines that would be helpful to make the older sibling understand why there is someone new in the house.

To make him better understand what is happening, it would help to take the child along when the mother looks at some of his baby pictures. During such moments, the mother may tell the child that once, he was also a baby who needed all the care and attention.

For Children Aged 3:

A baby at this age may already be able to clearly see that he or she is no longer the baby. It would help for the family to visit friends who have babies. And to make the child be used to the fact that his mum will be holding another baby, the mother should take the friend’s child and carry it in her arms to show her baby that it is going to be okay.

For Children Aged 4-5:

A practical parenting advice is to always make the child feel that it is okay to have a new baby in the house. Never make him feel neglected especially that the coming of the new one will make every excited and get all the attention.

It would also help to explain to him his very important role of protecting his baby sister or brother. As an older sibling, he has the responsibility of looking after his safety and welfare. Parenting blog suggests the older sibling should be involved in taking care of the new baby.

From the pregnancy stage up to the time the baby is born and beyond, the older sibling should always be considered and explained that he or she should love the newborn just like he is being loved, and will always be loved, by his parents.