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Two Under 2
Lisa9926
member
Introducing my 14 month old to the new baby...suggestions?
Lisa9926
member
in Two Under 2
I posted this earlier today on the 3rd trimester board and it was suggested I try here too. I never noticed this board before :-)
My kids are going to be 14 months apart and I'm not sure if there is anything I can do to prepare my first child. I asked my pediatrician and they said she isn't going to get it until the new baby is here and there is not much I can do. Some of my friends suggested maybe having my first pick out stuff for the new baby, but she's too young for that at the moment (she doesn't get it or care). Any suggestions???
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Re: Introducing my 14 month old to the new baby...suggestions?
Mine didn't care when her brother arrived. We had been slowly setting things up, like the nursery, swing, etc. and always talked that those would be for the new baby. She got to come to the hospital and visit one time. While there, she said her first real word - "baby!"
Honestly, we didn't make a huge deal out of it and she didn't seem rattled by his birth. We're just now getting a bit of jealously (now that he's playing with toys and eating food, etc.) but it's not as bad as I was expecting. The hardest thing is keeping her out of things that are definitely his - his crib, the swing, etc.
Good luck!!!
I don't think you can do much to prep but what you do after can make a difference. We always just acted like DS was nothing special (tried not to make a big deal about him around her) and tried to keep DD's routine as normal as possible. She never had jealousy, only acted out maybe a week towards us and then went back to normal. She's really been amazing with him!
Praying for Baby Camryn
Praying for Baby Scarlett
Remembering Baby Adam
Mine are 14 months apart, and bringing home a baby was no big deal at all. DD1 adjusted super well. We talked about the baby in my tummy all along, and she came to see us at the hospital, and she didn't care at all when the baby came home with me. The only thing she was jealous of at first was when her grandmoms held the baby. She cuoldn't care less when DH or I held the baby.
Honestly 14 months was a really easy transition. I agree you should just spend your last few weeks enjoying being a family of three and not stress much about introducing the baby,.
My second is due in February, and my DD will be 18 months old.
She's getting a baby doll for Christmas....she loves saying "baby" and seeing babies in books and such. That's about really all we're doing to prepare--reading books with babies in them and I am trying to teach her to "be gentle" and not grab animals and other children/babies, etc. because she sometimes doesn't realize her own strength.
When the new baby is born, I will be sure to not be holding him/her the first time DD sees me. I'll spend some time saying hi to her and snuggling before we bring the baby in. We'll also get her a small gift (like a stuffed animal or something) so that she can have something new to play with.