When we found out we were going to have our second baby, we were over the moon excited!! We knew mostly what to expect from having our oldest daughter and prepared accordingly with all the essential baby items.
However, a crucial aspect we needed to address was helping our daughter transition into her new role as a big sister. The transition from being an only child to becoming a big sister is a big role and one that needed to be prepared for beforehand. She was going to be going from getting all our attention to sharing the attention with our new baby. Keep reading to find out how we prepared our daughter to be a big sister and fostered a loving sibling relationship.
Key Steps to Prepare Your Child for a New Baby
Show Excitement About the New Baby
When we told our daughter, we excitedly said, “a baby is growing in Mama’s belly!”. Kids will mimic what their parents feel a lot of times. When we are excited and looking forward to something, they will be, too. As time went on and my belly grew, her excitement grew as well.
Discuss the New Baby Frequently
Everything we would do; we would talk about the baby in my belly. If we were eating, we were talking about what the baby liked or didn’t like (food aversions). She began talking about her new sibling more and more, especially as my belly began to grow. We also talked about how the new baby would need more attention when he or she came and how we would need to show love and be gentle.
Read Books to Prepare for Big Sister Role
We discussed all the fun things she could do with the new baby and how she could help. We read, “I am a Big Sister” and it was perfect at giving descriptions with pictures of how she would be able to help. As time grew near for the new baby, we read the story more frequently. It was fun to watch our oldest do these tasks from the story when her sister came.
Use Toys to Teach Gentle Baby Care
We used her dolls to show how to take care of a baby and how to be gentle. She mimicked everything we did, which prepared her to be gentle with her new sister once she arrived.
Involve Your Child in Baby Preparations
Being a stay-at-home mama, it was easier for me to take our oldest to my doctor appointments. There were times others went with us as well to help but including my daughter and having her “see” her new sister was so special! She loved it when we were at home and pretending to “listen” to her baby sister in my belly. When it was time to clean the baby items our daughter was right there with us. She loved looking at the baby items we had saved and helping was the clothes as well.
Keep Routines Consistent
We kept everything the same before the baby and after the baby came. There were times before the baby came that my husband stepped in to do more for our daughter to help once the transition came. Our daughter thrives off of routine so this was a major help in preparing her for her new sister.
Ensure One-on-One Time with Your Older Child
Becoming a big sister is a huge role so once the baby came, we maintained in keeping some one-on-one time with our oldest. She needed to know she was still loved and would have that special time with Mama and Daddy.
Once our new baby arrived, there were still times we needed to reiterate being gentle or remind our daughter her new sister needed some extra attention but overall, it was a smooth transition. Watching our oldest become a big sister has been a joy and made us so proud! She is kind, loving and helpful to her sister and their bond is growing stronger and deeper as her sister grows.
Have these tips helped you in growing your family? What other ways have you helped your child become a big sibling?
