We have just found out we’re finally expecting our little rainbow baby! It’s taken years of heartache and quite a few breakdowns to get here, and now our current child will be a few months shy of six when their little brother or sister is born. While she is very very excited to be a big sister (she’s only been begging for years) we’re a bit nervous of how we can help her and us adjust to our new normal after years of being an only child.
Any advice, tips, tricks, things to avoid to help out little family get the smoothest possible start?
New baby after almost six years
New baby after almost six years
Posted in:
Pregnancy, Baby & Toddler, Kids
2 Replies
Congratulations! If she's already excited it should be a breeze. Include her in shopping trips and when the baby comes include her in the general care. Don't be scared to give others a bit of a nudge if all their attention is going on the new baby. Explain to her how much attention babies need and sometimes you will be very tired and might not be able to do everything you usually do but when baby gets bigger you won't be tired and will have more time to spend with her. That is probably a complete lie but hey she will be well and truly used to it by then.
Make sure both you and your husband spend special time with her still.
Husband can be with baby and attend to it’s needs while you go play outside with her. You attend to baby and husband plays with her. The idea that older children should just understand that baby needs more attention is horrible. Make time for her still, make her feel important. Don’t force her to help with baby, if she doesn’t want to feed, dress, bathe baby, then ask of she would like to chat while you feed or bathe baby. Let her do her own thing still, make sure you make yourself available to her as much as possible. A new baby doesn’t mean she has to play behind a closed door.