Parenting Forum

Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:23pm | IP Logged

Any tips on how to prepare Rachel for the arrival home of her Brother or Sister ? And once the baby does come home how do I make the transition as easy as possible as possible on all of us.

We have her involved as much as we can, she is not 3 till september. I have brought her to my scans, she knows she is having a brother or sister, well she knows what the baby is and we have a name for the baby, so it's not just her brother or sister, it's a real person to her. (if you know what i mean), She calls the baby by name.

We are going to get her a pressie from the baby and let her get a pressie for the baby too.

When I ask her does she want to be a big sister she says NO and when I ask her if she will help mum with the nappy changing and the bottles she says No too so getting her involved that way may not be an option.

Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:27pm | IP Logged

We got Sophie her own dolly and gave her it as a present from Adam when he was born. I never made Sophie help me with him but she would go and fetch nappies for him and pass me his bottles.

Try not to worry about it, I'm sure she'll be fine.

Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:34pm | IP Logged

She'll be fine, Martha. It may take her a little while to get used to having a new wee person in the family, but she'll settle down quite quickly once the baby is here. Rebecca was only 23 months when Ruthie was born, and she just wanted to copy whatever I did to Ruthie with her own 'baby' - I've got photos of her changing her doll's nappy on the floor beside me, while I changed Ruthie, and bathing her doll in a basin while Ruthie was in her baby bath.

I think it's probably best not to ask her again about wanting to be a big sister etc. at the moment. I think the presents are a great idea - we're doing the same with Cameron when Adam arrives - and I'm getting him a t-shirt with 'I'm the big brother Cameron' embroidered on it too.

xxx