5 Ways You Can Help Prepare Your First-Born Child For A New Sibling

Isn’t it nice when your first-born can’t get enough of her new baby sister / brother?

Guest post by Heather Smith

Making the decision to expand your family of three to a family of four is huge in its own right.

However preparing your first-born for the arrival of a second child can be even more challenging.

First-born children, especially when they’re still very young, can have a difficult time adapting to not being the only child anymore, so it’s important to do all that you can to adequately prepare them ahead of time.

Use these five tips to make the transition easier on your oldest child:

1. Talk to them about the new baby – Don’t shy away from discussing the new baby with your first-born child because you’re afraid it might upset them. Talk to them regularly about the new baby being on the way so that they can get comfortable with the idea of another small human being present in their lives.

2. Keep them involved throughout the pregnancy – When the baby kicks, let your little one feel it. Ask them for name suggestions, and let them help pick out clothes and accessories.

After the baby is born ask your oldest child to get clothes or burp rags for you, and tell them what a great helper they are. Basically, do everything in your power to make them feel involved and important the entire time so that they aren’t concerned that they’re being replaced by the new child.

3. Always play up the importance of being a big brother or sister – Explain to them how important their role as the older sibling is to help squash any feelings of resentment that may arise. Tell them that their sibling is going to look up to them and that it’s up to them to show them how to act.

Let them know that they’re getting a brand new friend. Keeping everything surrounding the new baby positive will help downplay any negativity your first-born may feel.

4. Be patient if they digress in behavior – It’s not unusual for younger first-born children to revert back to habits they had previously outgrown with the arrival of a new sibling.

Try not to be overly reprimanding for any bed-wetting or temper-tantrums that they may throw after your second-born arrives. They will adjust after a while, but it’s going to take some getting used to and they will probably be a little stressed for a while.

5. Make one-on-one time for them after the baby arrives – Your first-born is still going to need one-on-one time with both parents after their sibling arrives, so be sure to schedule special ‘mommy and me’ time or dates with dad so that they don’t feel as though they’re unimportant. The time spent with your oldest will be good for both you and them, and strengthen your relationship.

While the transition may be bumpy at first, your oldest child will quickly learn what a blessing it is to have a sibling. The relationship between siblings is a very special one, and one that they will both treasure for years to come.

Author bio

Heather Smith is an ex-nanny. Passionate about thought leadership and writing, Heather regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting blogs/websites. She also provides value to nanny by giving advice on site design as well as the features and functionality to provide more and more value to nannies and families across the U.S. and Canada. She can be available at H.smith7295 [at] gmail.com.

Photo supplied by Heather Smith: source