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Related Reading
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•
Arthur's
New Baby Book: A Lift-The-Flap Guide to Being a Great Big
Brother or Sister (Great Big Flap Book)
• What
to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home (What to Expect Kids)
• I'm
a Big Sister
• McDuff
and the Baby
• Siblings
Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So
You Can Live Too
• From
One Child to Two: What to Expect, How to Cope, and How to
Enjoy Your Growing Family
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Once Baby Is Home
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During the first five months, continue to help eliminate
sibling rivalry with these tips.
• Ask your child to be your parenting helper. Let
him assist with baths, diaper changing, and feeding. Offer
encouraging words, so he knows how much his baby sibling
needs his help and likes him.
• Don't forget to spend special private time every
day with your older child. Make sure to show affection
and talk about how life has changed with the arrival of
the baby.
• Allow your older child to play with, touch, and
hold the baby in your presence. Show her you trust her
to be gentle and reward her when she is especially careful
or helpful with the baby.
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Whoa, Baby! Introduce the New Arrival
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It's supposed to be a happy time —
a time for celebration. And while most relatives are basking
in the glow of a new bundle of joy, some immediate members
of the family aren't too keen on the idea just yet.
To them, this small crying person isn't much fun at all. Plus,
for some odd reason everyone makes a big fuss over it just
because it's helpless. What gives?
Babies obviously require a lot of attention, but quite frequently,
older children don't understand why they're suddenly getting
the "back-burner" treatment.
Envious siblings often turn to rivalry. But don't panic if
you're already a parent who's expecting. There are ways to
ease the new-baby transition, and they can start well before
the child is born.
While the Bun is in the Oven
• Begin by including your older children as much as possible.
Refer to the soon-to-be-born as "our baby." Let
them know this a family event and that just because you're
having a baby, it doesn't mean it's only yours.
• Continue talking about the pregnancy. Reminisce with
the other kids about similar experiences you had when you
were carrying them. Look through family photo albums and talk
about their newborn days. Also, let them feel your tummy and
their new sibling's movements.
• Give older children the chance to be around babies
before their sibling is born, so they're familiar with an
infant's behavior and special needs.
• Invite your older children to help prepare the nursery
by painting, picking out a theme, and choosing furniture and
linens.
• Read bedtime stories about pregnancy, babies, and the
role of big brothers and sisters.
• Find a hospital or day care center that provides classes
for older siblings so they can learn about sharing their mom
and dad with a new baby.
Time for the Hospital
• Call your youngsters every day, and let them know
your progress.
• Give your children the opportunity to visit you in
the hospital as much as possible.
• Encourage your mate to spend one-on-one bonding time
with each of your other children while you're away from home.
Homecoming Day
• Prepare your older children to bond with the baby
by having a gift exchange. Buy toys for them as a gift from
the new baby. Don't forget to have them choose suitable infant
gifts as well to welcome their new sibling.
• When entering your home, ask someone else to carry
the baby, so you can spend the first few moments with your
older children.
• Make sure visitors pay some attention to the older
children too. Brag on their recent achievements, or commend
their good behavior while you were away. Invite them to unwrap
their sibling's gifts and present them to the baby to welcome
the new family addition.
Written by Anna Marie Neri
Questions or comments about this story? E-mail
us!
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On the Web
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Introducing Your Pet to a New Baby
Introducing a New Baby to Toddler Siblings
Sibling Rivalry: Are You Preventing or Provoking It?
Pets and New Babies
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Pets and the New Baby
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Cats: Felines don't seem to pay
much attention to a new arrival. However, as children get
older, they may not know how to play nice with the kitty.
Make sure to advise toddlers to pet cats "gently."
Dogs: Man's best friend often sees a new baby as
an addition to the dog pack. But beware, dogs often have
a hierarchical pack structure and new members are lowest
on the list. Before bringing home the baby, let your dog
get used to the smell of the nursery and the child's toys.
Bring home the baby's blanket for the dog to smell while
the child is still in the hospital. However, once the baby
moves home, don't allow pets into the nursery.
All Pets: Pets may feel neglected when less time
is spent with them in order to care for a new baby. If you
have a close bond with your pets, make sure to allot time
to spend with them daily.
Information adapted from http://www.doctordog.com/
drdognewsletter/baby.html.
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