Older child and hospital, new baby

BellieRue

DS will be about 2 years, 4 months when little brother is born, and he really has no concept that his world is about to be rocked or that a baby is even on the way. I'm not sure that he will get it before he arrives either, but I was thinking of taking him on the hospital tour so that at least he's been to the place and so it's not so overwhelming when it's time to visit me. DH doesn't think that it will really make much of a difference, and I'm sure he is probably right but would you try the tour and see how it goes? He's too young for any sibling classes. Any experiences with that kind of age gap? TIA!

SeasideBride06

DD#1 was almost 2 years and 2 months when DD#2 was born.  We did not do a hospital tour or anything before delivery...it was actually her first trip to a hospital.  We read a lot of big sister books while I was pregnant and kept telling her that I had to go to the doctor so he could take the baby out of my stomach.  My mom and her were the first people allowed in the room afterwards and she did fine.

SouthFloridaMommy

My DD1 had no idea that her sister was on her way.  She didn't understand that I was pregnant or how her life was going to change, but she actually did really well at the hospital.  I never thought to take her on a tour, but I don't think it would have made much difference in our case.  DD1 was 23 months when DD2 was born.

June2007

SeasideBride06:

DD#1 was almost 2 years and 2 months when DD#2 was born.  We did not do a hospital tour or anything before delivery...it was actually her first trip to a hospital.  We read a lot of big sister books while I was pregnant and kept telling her that I had to go to the doctor so he could take the baby out of my stomach.  My mom and her were the first people allowed in the room afterwards and she did fine.

Exactly this. Right down to being 2 years 2 months apart... And both DDs have 'A' names too! Lol!
OP- your DS will be a little older and more aware of things by that time so I think taking a tour would hemp him get it and be excited.

MHalka41

When my DD was born, I had a c-section.  When my son came to visit, I could not get out of the hospital bed and still had an IV hooked up.  That scared him a little that I wasn't able to be up and about.  He only stayed for about 30 minutes.  The next few days when I was able to be up and out of bed, he did much better!  Taking you child on the hospital tour may be a good idea.  That may help ease some anxiety!

 

rubride

I just had my second and my DD is about the same age. Like pp, I talked to her a lot about the baby coming. She knew there was a baby in my belly, we read big sis books, I just got her really excited. She did great coming to the hospital. She smiled at her little sister, then asked for a snack. We gave her gifts from the baby and she started to warm up quickly (post snack) to her little sister at the hospital. We're going on a week now and she's still doing pretty well. I thought it was going to be a much harder adjustment, but I've been involving her a lot with the baby (letting her hold her, help w/ diaper changes, etc)