How to Help Your Child Prepare for a New Sibling
A new baby is on the way. This time of the year may be stirring for you, but it can also be an uphill climb for your older child. It’s essential to prepare them ahead of time to feel safe, supported, and excited about welcoming their new sibling into the family. Here are some instrumental ways that you can help your child get ready:
Bring up the idea of a new baby to your child
To get your child ready for a new sibling, start by introducing the idea of a baby. This can be done in various ways- through new baby storybooks, casual conversations, or even asking them to join you during hospital visits. Let your child know that a new baby is coming and explain what that means.
Be sure to use positive language and talk about all the good things when the baby arrives. A great example is to say something like, “The baby is going to be a great playmate for you and will love spending time with you.” or “You’ll get to share all of your toys with the new baby.”
Give lots of cuddles and kisses to show how much you care
Your child can feel a wide range of emotions when their family experiences the addition of a new baby, from excitement about becoming an older sibling to fear or insecurity. Showing them that you love and care for them will help alleviate some of these feelings in your child. Give the child lots of cuddles and tell them that they will always be your special little one.
Remind them that even though a new baby is coming into the family, you’ll still have plenty of love for both children. You can remark something along these lines, “I love you so much, and I’m going to love the new baby too. You’re going to be such a great big brother or sister.” or “I’ll always love you, and I’m so excited to have the new baby join our family.” or “I’m so glad you’re my child. You’re going to be such a great helper when the new baby comes.”
Have your child help you pick out the best clothes for the new visitor
One way to get your child into the swing of things & thrilled about the new baby is to get them to help pick out some clothes for their arrival. Go shopping together and have your child choose a few outfits that they think the new baby will look cute in. This can be a fabulous task for your child, and it will make them feel important and engaged in the process of welcoming the new baby.
Before going out, you can say something like, “The new baby is coming soon, and I wonder if they will prefer to wear blue or pink? Can we go shopping so you can pick out some clothes for the baby?” These kinds of comments will help your child feel excited about the new baby and get them involved in preparing for their arrival.
Bottom line:
Getting your child ready for a new sibling can be rather tricky, but it’s essential to do so to make the transition as breezy as possible. By introducing the idea of a baby, giving lots of hugs and kisses, and letting them help pick out clothes, you can get a lot of mileage to show your child that you care about them and are excited for the new baby.