Introducing Older Sibling

mamakculb

I know we've talked about big sibling gifts and prepping them for baby, but when and how are you planning to (or have already) introduce big brother or sister to the new baby? In the hospital? At home? After a day? Alone time with older kid first? Also, if you gave a sibling gift did you give it right away or at another time? Did "the baby" give it to them?

Chelsey092

My DS is 5 and he will meet our LO in the hospital sometime. It depends on what time of day LO is born to whether it's the same day or not. We are planning on getting a gift for him from the baby to open at the hospital.

jeanbug12

My kids will come to the hospital to meet their new brother. My sister is watching them so she will bring them when she comes to visit. They are not getting any gifts, just a brother!

JanMommy2under2

My son will be 2 in march and I"m having a schedule c-section.  Our plan is for my husband to bring our son to the hospital daily until I go home which will be after 2-3 days.  I've been freaked out about 2 things, having a healthy baby, and how much I'm going to miss my other baby  I don't think we are going to do a gift, but we are definitely going to have some alone time as a new family of 4 the first day before any other family comes to visit.  

**Also check with your hospital, since  its flu season sometimes if there is a bad outbreak in your area they will limit all visitors under a certain age regardless if they are siblings or not.  Other times it may be only siblings that are allowed.  Our hospital had that happen the year my son was born.

mommap2

We are going to have our son come as soon as possible to meet his brother or sister.  The baby will be giving him a little treat, just something I had originally picked up for his stocking for Christmas and decided to just hold on to it for when the baby comes.  @JanMommy2under2 I am nervous about missing my little guy too!  2-3 days is a long time to not be home to give him snuggles!

GAgirlinSDakota

SO will be bringing the toddler in as soon as I am in a room. There won't be any other visitors to interrupt our family time and the toddler will be with us all day, every day. No gifts. And I plan to have the baby in the bassinet or nursery when the toddler comes in, so I can great him first.

zg49

We will have someone bring our DD to visit at the hospital before we leave. All depends on the time of day I go in. Also planning to have the baby in the bassinet or nursery when our DD comes in so I can greet her first and get her comfortable with mommy being in the hospital. Will have someone bring the baby back out of the room too before DD leaves so she doesn't think she has to leave but baby gets to stay. 

BarrettJ89

My parents are watching our 12 month old at our home. Depending on the time of day, they will bring him up to the hospital to meet the baby. We are hoping to get my SO's 8 year old to the hospital as well, but her mother is less than cooperative and they live about 2 hours from the hospital... I really want her to be involved in the special family moments because this has been a really hard adjustment for her. If I go into labor on a weekend, she will be here... but we shall see.

I'm also terrified to leave my son home. I've never been away from him other than for work. The hospital overnight stay is making me so anxious!

kmo8986

My son will also be 2 in March, I am going to miss him so much while we are in the hospital!!! My mom will be watching him so she will bring him to visit in the hospital (as long as there isn't a flu or rsv outbreak between now and when baby is born that would keep him from being allowed to visit). Depending on what time of day baby is born he will come as soon as we have a room. I absolutely do not want it to mess with nap/bed time for him because then he will be super cranky. I have a gift for "baby to give" him, and am also planning on hubby taking him to the gift shop to get a balloon or small stuffed animal for baby girl after he meets her.

BarrettJ89

kmo8986 said:

I absolutely do not want it to mess with nap/bed time for him because then he will be super cranky.

Amen.

SaguaroBlossmom

When having DD2 , DD1 was at the hospital with us, being watched over by MIL and SIL. She was taken out of the room when it was time to push. That was all DHs idea .. he wanted her to be one of the first to meet DD2. I didn't want her to be at the hospital at all. You never know what is going to happen.
This time around I'm hoping to convince DH to have someone take the girls while I have DD3.. I just think having 2 (5&2 years old) of them there is going to be too distracting, maybe selfishly, but I want to be the focus of DHs attention this time.
We never gave DD1 a gift from DD2, but, we did get her some small things. A shirt and hat that said big sister and let her pick out a small toy from.the gift shop.

mg137

My twins are almost 21 months. They'll be brought to visit as soon after the baby is born that it's convenient for their schedule. Baby got them each a present (I just wrapped two Christmas presents that will be good for the hospital-a toy tractor and a puzzle-and saved them). They're really into babies and hug and kiss my tummy and share snacks and toys with it, and, as twins they've always had to share our attention, so I'm not too worried about jealousy. Of course, were still making sure everyone know to always praise them for helping with baby, even if they're doing something wrong, and for months we've been talking about me making them a new baby. The last couple weeks we've been telling them how excited she is to come out and meet them soon.

ariasbabyblog

DS1 is 2.75 yrs old and stayed with my parents for 4 nights, the night before my c-section and the 3 nights I was in the hospital. They brought him to meet his new brother on the first day but after we had some quiet time with the newborn. We did have a gift from the baby, a toy rocketship (DS1 is obsessed with rockets) and when we got home he had his own "baby" waiting for him. He came to visit at least once a day and we made sure to praise him for being gentle with DS2 and made sure we spent some one on one time with him at the hospital, walking around, going to the cafe, sitting on the bed and talking, that sort of thing. I think whatever you do, as long as you try to make it all a positive experience, it will all help them adjust.