Suggestions STM?

gregsgurl81304 · January 2014

I have been thinking a lot lately about what to do to prepare a 2 yr old for a new baby. DS just turned 2 and he knows Momma is having a baby and that baby is my belly, but I'm pretty sure he does not understand that he will be a big brother in just a few short months and that baby will soon be apart of our family. I was suggested to get this book "babies don't eat pizza" but as I was looking through it, I don't think it's the right choice for DS. It's long and I feel it would be a better book for older children. I have found a couple others that I am considering purchasing that seem like they could be a good choice for a toddler.

What techniques or suggestions did you use to prepare your children for the new bundle of joy? Are books enough to help prepare?

MrsP419 · January 2014

Honestly, with DD (and this time, too, with DS), we just talked about the baby a lot. We talked about the fun things she could do with the baby and called the baby by name once we had one. We let her pick out a little gift to give DS and even grabbed something small for him to "give" to her. When DD got to the hospital the day DS was born, she just "got" it. It was one of the best moment of my life.

xnbride · January 2014

My boys like a touch and feel book called "Who do you Love?" and it has a part in there that says, "I love my sister/brother" and they always love that part. There is an Arthur book that is pretty good too. WE usually get a gift for the other boys from the baby and the real trick (as silly as it sounds) is that when baby is little I give him a silly voice and make him talk to the boys and say all sorts of silly and cute things. They really love that and it helped with bonding so much. I am kind of goofy like that though, so that may not suit your style but it really did work well.

chloephoebecali · January 2014

I would check out your library. There are so many books on the topic for little kids. Beyond that, I don't think I'd worry too much about my kid "getting" that a baby will be in the house soon. No matter how you prep there will be good and tough times. I think it's hard for a two year old to really imagine what it will be like. Just talk about baby here and there.

tbmadeamistake · January 2014

I'm in the same boat. C will be 24 months when Charlie is born. We've been talking a lot about babies, she kisses my belly, she visits the babies at daycare, etc. When I'm with her and we see a baby, I point that there is a baby in my stomach, call him by name, etc. I'm trying to her to equate the growing belly and kissing it with an actual living, breathing thing. She has two baby dolls that she likes to lug around (very new thing, she ignored them for ages). I hold the baby dolls, we feed them, I reiterate that babies only drink milk when she tries to feed the dolls real food (don't need Charlie choking on a fruit snack because she thinks it's ok based on baby doll's diet!).

We're lucky and my BIL just had a baby with his gf. We are spending as much time with them as we can so she can used to me holding a baby and still being able to give her attention, so she can see what a baby is really like up close, one she can touch and hold.

It's touch and go at this house. No real books on the topic, just lots of talking about Charlie and how much we'll love him, etc. She goes back and forth between kissing my belly and reeling back to smack it, lol, so I assume she'll be equally questionable with the actual baby

it's a work in progress.

gregsgurl81304 · January 2014

Thanks for the input. I really like the idea of referring to LO by her name when talking to DS about the baby. I think this is something that will help him put two and two together once she is born.

MollySm · January 2014

We also just talk about it a lot. We call baby by her name, point out babies everywhere we see them, she gives my belly hugs and kisses. I ask who is in our family and she will include Viviana. The reality of another person living in our house I think is something she's just going to gave to experience to really get, but I'm trying to get her as used to the idea as I can.

diagonalley · January 2014

If you're comfortable with using Shutterfly (or a similar site), you could make your own book of sorts, starting with pictures of you pregnant with DS, then pictures of your DS when he was first born, and transition into the idea of having another baby with pictures of you pregnant now, and you could even take pictures of DS doing things that he could do when baby is here to help, such as getting you a fresh diaper, or throwing something out, to help reinforce the idea of being mommy's helper so he knows he still has an important role. I don't know, but I think it'd be cute if you're willing to get creative with it

gregsgurl81304 · January 2014

Thank you everyone for sharing all your suggestions. I'm sure everything will go well, and DS will love being a big brother.

kimmyberly26 · January 2014

I second what everyone has suggested so far. He may be a little young but some hospitals have sibling classes to help with the prep. They play with baby dolls and tour the hospital. I know our hospital says 3 and up but will allow my 2.5 yr old.

ncbelle · January 2014

My son was about the same age when my daughter was born. He really liked this book: https://www.amazon.com/What-Needs-Sears-Children-Library/dp/0316788287/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1390576969&sr=8-10&keywords=sears+baby (both kids still do!).

I honestly don't think he "got" it until baby was here. I've noticed a big difference in how my almost 3 year old is understanding things than he did at just turned 2. But really he adjusted very well and was excited to be a big brother once baby sister was here.

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Suggestions STM?

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