Advice History

Most children are really not all that worried about the new baby in the house, they are worried about losing mom and dad's attention! Some ideas for reinfocing your relationship with the elder child:

 

* in the hospital, have dad take the baby out of the room while you and the older child relax, snuggle, and read a couple of books.

 

* start a journal with your child to record their sepcial year, just like baby is getting a new baby book to be all about him.

 

* give the child a new responsibility. It is a big deal to be entrusted with gathering the mail, setting the table each night, emptying the dishwasher. And best of all, it helps them to feel that they have an important role in the family.

 

Have a big brother or big sister celebration when the baby is born.  Take the focus away from the new baby and focus more on your older child who is now a big brother or sister....Have a cake saying "congrats on being a big brother", presents for the "big brother".   Also, to help your older child understand when the new baby is coming, make a chain necklace using colored construction paper....2 weeks before you are due, have your child cut or tear one circle off the chain.  As the chain gets smaller, they will understand the baby will be coming sooner.