Moms with Toddlers

mchupie · August 2012

Does your toddler understand that another baby is coming? DD is 20 Months old and loves to point to my belly and say baby, but I really don't think she understands what she's in for Wink

At what age do they "get it"?

Newt69 · August 2012

im 27 and my sister is 32, i still dont think she gets it...lol....just kidding.

Tarta · August 2012

DD is 3 1/2 and I'm pretty sure she gets it completely. It'll still be an adjustment I'm sure, but she is totally clued in. I've actually even shown her some birthing videos (hypnobirth so they're not all crazy screamy) so she has some idea of how the baby arrives. We've also watched some videos and read some books about becoming a big sister and what it's like to get a new sibling. I think she's grasping it. Don't know how much younger she could be to still have this grasp of it.

MrsL0908 · August 2012

DS is almost 18 months. He has no idea!

Mom2Mack1 · August 2012

DD is 19 months, and I think she understands a little bit. She likes to lift my shirt, point & kiss my belly, and today she even picked an outfit for the baby. But, I agree with you, she has no clue what she is in for.

mchupie · August 2012

Tarta:
DD is 3 1/2 and I'm pretty sure she gets it completely. It'll still be an adjustment I'm sure, but she is totally clued in. I've actually even shown her some birthing videos (hypnobirth so they're not all crazy screamy) so she has some idea of how the baby arrives. We've also watched some videos and read some books about becoming a big sister and what it's like to get a new sibling. I think she's grasping it. Don't know how much younger she could be to still have this grasp of it.

This is a good idea, I might look for something like that! Thanks!

Jenelle101 · August 2012

My DD is almost 2.5 and I don't think she really gets it. She says "There's a baby in Mommy's belly. No baby in my belly." And we talk about how the baby kicks and all that, but I don't think she really, really gets it. I would think around age 3 they might understand more

enjoylife · August 2012

DS is 20 months also, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't get the big change thats about to happen. He points to my belly and kisses it and say "bye bye baby" while tugging down my shirt back over the belly. But....he will sometimes point to DH's belly and say baby too. We started calling him our "big boy" about 2 months or so ago and reading a couple of big brother books (he LOVES books) to him to help "prep" him. Last weekend we pulled out and assembled the swing, playpen and rock n play along with the infant car seat, and they all just sit in our living room. He goes and touches them and says "baby", so we emphasize that yes the baby will sleep in the pack n play, ride the swing, etc. He has a couple of toy dolls, but those he just likes to point out body parts. hopefully he won't try and poke out baby brother/sister's eyes or nose when we come home from the hospital.

bosha711 · August 2012

I would like to think DS understands a little - he's 20.5 months. He knows "Sissy" is in my belly (we don't have a definite named picked yet, so that's become her nickname!). He lifts my shirt to kiss my belly, he'll rest his head down on it & pat it. It's really sweet.

He knows where Sissy's room is & points to her stuff & says, "Sissy". We took out his old activity mat & put it together & I asked him if he thought Sissy would like it & he laid in it saying, "Sissy". I try to work her into the conversation whenever possible - like I was folding some NB clothes & put a onsie on my belly & asked DS if he thought Sissy would like it. Today we talked about how when she comes out of my belly, we need to put a diaper & clothes on her, etc.

He's just more aware of babies in general now, too. He points to pictures wherever he sees them & says, "mama? baby?". Stuff like that.

mrsjenni · August 2012

DS was 21 months old when DD was born and didn't really "get it" at all (until she arrived, of course!) He just turned 4 and this time he totally gets it and is super excited. DD on the other hand, really has no idea. She says baby and points to my belly, but I don't think she really understands yet.

So I'd say somewhere between 2 and 4 they "get it"

MommaP12 · August 2012

DS is just shy of 3.5 and appears to totally get it. He has been to some of my doc appts and loves seeing the baby on the screen

Tarta · August 2012

mchupie:
Tarta:
DD is 3 1/2 and I'm pretty sure she gets it completely. It'll still be an adjustment I'm sure, but she is totally clued in. I've actually even shown her some birthing videos (hypnobirth so they're not all crazy screamy) so she has some idea of how the baby arrives. We've also watched some videos and read some books about becoming a big sister and what it's like to get a new sibling. I think she's grasping it. Don't know how much younger she could be to still have this grasp of it.
This is a good idea, I might look for something like that! Thanks!

Totally hit up your local library. We checked out a bunch of stuff from there. My cousin (who had her 3rd and final baby a year ago) passed along her favorite book along these lines: https://www.myshelf.com/kids/fiction/05/littlebrownbearandthebundleofjoy.htm

mchupie · August 2012

bosha711:
I would like to think DS understands a little - he's 20.5 months. He knows "Sissy" is in my belly (we don't have a definite named picked yet, so that's become her nickname!). He lifts my shirt to kiss my belly, he'll rest his head down on it & pat it. It's really sweet.
He knows where Sissy's room is & points to her stuff & says, "Sissy". We took out his old activity mat & put it together & I asked him if he thought Sissy would like it & he laid in it saying, "Sissy". I try to work her into the conversation whenever possible - like I was folding some NB clothes & put a onsie on my belly & asked DS if he thought Sissy would like it. Today we talked about how when she comes out of my belly, we need to put a diaper & clothes on her, etc.
He's just more aware of babies in general now, too. He points to pictures wherever he sees them & says, "mama? baby?". Stuff like that.

I can't handle all of the cute in your post. That is so adorable. I think I need to start showing her some of the baby's things and explaining that it's for baby. Thanks!

kelbel527 · August 2012

Tarta:
mchupie:

Tarta:
DD is 3 1/2 and I'm pretty sure she gets it completely. It'll still be an adjustment I'm sure, but she is totally clued in. I've actually even shown her some birthing videos (hypnobirth so they're not all crazy screamy) so she has some idea of how the baby arrives. We've also watched some videos and read some books about becoming a big sister and what it's like to get a new sibling. I think she's grasping it. Don't know how much younger she could be to still have this grasp of it.

This is a good idea, I might look for something like that! Thanks!

We just bought the Mercer Mayer book "The New Baby" and it's been a great way to talk to him about the baby. It explains what you "can do" with a baby. So now, instead of saying things like, I want to play baseball with the baby, he talks about how he can't wait to play with a rattle with the baby (one of the examples in the book)

He's a little past 2 1/2 and I don't think he "gets it," but the book helps and exposure to other babies.

Totally hit up your local library. We checked out a bunch of stuff from there. My cousin (who had her 3rd and final baby a year ago) passed along her favorite book along these lines: https://www.myshelf.com/kids/fiction/05/littlebrownbearandthebundleofjoy.htm

Nita2603 · August 2012

Mine is technically not even a toddler yet. He doesn't get it. I mean....he doesn't even speak yet.

mommy510 · August 2012

DS is 28 mo old and he seems to understand a little bit. He says baby and kisses my belly. He also points out babies And recognizes the crib and swing as baby brother's things. I don't think he understands that the baby will be a permanent part of our family and I doubt he realize that his world is about to be turned upside down.

Holly_1007 · August 2012

DS is 2.5 and he definitely understands that there is a baby in my belly and he is going to be a big brother and he is "so esited" to have a new baby. We took out the baby stuff gradually so that it was a consistent (weekly) discussion about the baby. He came on our hospital tour with us so we could explain when the baby comes out of my belly he would get to meet the baby here. He comes to all our doctors apts and gets to check my blood pressure and listen to the babys heartbeat. He even gets his pretend doctor kit out and assesses me once in a while, listening to the babys heartbeat and checking my BP. Not sure if he really gets that there will be a new baby living with us constantly after the baby arrives or not, but he definitely knows there is a baby coming.

Jennifer Ruth · August 2012

Mine is 23 months. He knows there is a baby in mama's tummy.

We talk about the baby, and he says things like "gentle" and "kind" when we talk about how to be a good big brother.

I let him feel the baby kick and he's seen my tummy move. One time, he lifted up my shirt after feeling the baby kick, grabbed my stomach and did this kind of lift/squeeze move and yelled "Baby stuck!!! Get it out!!!"

Does he realize the baby will be here all.the.time and that he'll have to share me??? I'm not so sure...

hmp1 · August 2012

DS will be 21mo on Monday. I don't think he has a clue what he is in for but we talk about it a lot. He does the same as your LO by pointing to my belly and saying baby. When he points to other babies, I will ask him where mommy's baby is and he points to the belly. We talk about him being a big brother and go hang out in nursery and talk about it being Leo's room. We check out books from the library every other week and I get a book about babies for us to read. He loves the babies at daycare but I think it will be so different for him to see me holding a baby all the time.

Tampasomedaybride · August 2012

I think he somewhat understands. We put the babies carseat in the car last week and he is constantly saying "that's not my carseat?" And when I ask him whose carseat it is he will say "that's baby Nicholas' carseat." He told me today "That's baby Nicholas' carseat for when he comes out." And he has been really interested in rubbing my belly and giving him kisses lately. A friend just had a baby so I think he sort of gets whats coming. He is 29 months (almost 2.5) by the way.

mrs.kapow · August 2012

DD is 23 mos and I think she is starting to understand the idea, but not how it will impact her necessarily.

We read her a "sister book" each night and she has officially learned that the baby is too little for ice cream, but big sister is not, so being a big sister is the BEST! It's pretty amusing.

I think transitioning her to a big girl bed and starting potty training makes the distinction a little easier. Also, she's at daycare with babies all day, so she is at least exposed.

For her birthday, my SIL set her up with the Graco doll set with the pnp, stroller, etc. and she's been taking very good care of her own babies, so that's helpful, I think.

bdbelladonna · August 2012

Not sure what age they really get it. When I was pregnant with DD my DS went to the doctor with me and would hear the hear beat and the doctor would give him her stethoscope to hear the difference between mine, his, and babies. He helped picked out clothes and that but he had no idea what it would be like. This time DS knows whats going on (he's 4), DS is 3 but I'm not always sure she really gets it. I think alot of it depends on the child and how exposed to other kids they are.

Want a personalized experience?

Moms with Toddlers

Re: Moms with Toddlers

Choose Another Board

Search Boards