Adding a new little sibling to your fold
There is nothing quite like the excitement of adding a precious new addition to your family! Whether you are welcoming your very first baby, or a little sibling, each new arrival brings an immense amount of joy and transitions to your fold. If you are expecting your very first baby, these tips right here offer great ways to prepare yourself.
If you already have a child(ren) at home, we suggest spending a little time preparing them for their new little brother or sister. Depending on their age, each child may require different types of preparation. Young toddlers for example may not quite understand what is happening until the baby is in the home! Older children however may have lots of questions beforehand and may even look forward to helping with the care! Lastly, whether you are a first time parent or a seasoned pro, there is always a learning curve when adding in a new little one. Here are some tips to help make this adventure as smooth as possible for everyone:
- If you have a toddler or preschooler, offering them a doll or small stuffed animal is a great start. Allowing them to experiment with diapering, pretending to feed and burp is a great way for them to act out different scenarios pertaining to a new baby.
- Show your older children pictures from when they were a baby. Tell them all about their likes and dislikes, your favorite memories of them in their first year. This is a great way to get them interested in the topic if they are a little apprehensive or unsure!
- Books for big siblings are very helpful! Checkout your local library or bookstore to find everything from simple social stories to picture books on life as a Big Brother or Big Sister. Reading together is such a great way to address feelings surrounding welcoming a new little bundle into the home.
- Perhaps you could prepare a special gift for older children to give to a new sibling and vice versa upon meeting! This is a great way for them to initiate a sibling bond.
- Support systems are key for keeping parents happy! If you have help available to you from nearby friends, family or a sitter, let them know how they can be helpful. Are you eager to have help with actually caring for your baby, or are you more interested in having support in the sense of having meals delivered? There is no one size fits all and each family unit will have their own preference! Try to divvy up your responsibilities according to what you feel would be most helpful!
- When family and friends come to visit the newborn, gently remind them to acknowledge the big sibling(s), too! Well meaning visitors are most likely so eager to see the sweet new baby, they may unintentionally neglect to recognize the sweet big brother or sister. Let big siblings tell visitors about their new baby and share their experiences in their new role.
- Be intentional about one-on-one time with your older kiddos. The first few weeks after a new baby is born can require a bit of an adjustment for the entire family. Have grace with yourself and if your older child(ren) begins to show jealous behavior or sadness, perhaps a little uninterrupted time together will reassure them of just how special they are to you!
- This last tip is for the parents! Many parents worry about how a new baby will affect the dynamic of their family and many parents worry about how they will possibly divide their attention up among their little ones evenly. Take a deep breath and remember that it is ok to feel this way! It may feel as if you are being pulled in so many directions that you don’t know where to head first. Just remember that getting into a routine takes some time and if all you can accomplish is being sure everyone is fed and changed regularly, recognize that as a total win! Being a parent to multiple children is challenging in the very best way. Build in some time to allow yourself to recharge regularly and offer yourself a whole lot of grace.
We hope these tips help ease the transition as your family grows! Have any tips you would like to offer!? Feel free to leave them in a comment below! Enjoy this special time as a growing family, it is sure to be a beautiful experience all around!
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