Welcoming a new baby into the family is such an exciting time. And meeting a new little brother or sister is an incredible experience for a child. But all that love, and attention being showered on the baby can naturally leave older siblings feeling threatened, or even just left out.
It’s time we share our top tips that have helped families just like you transition from one child to two children.
Tips for introducing a new baby to the family
- Prepare your child, in the months leading up to the arrival, talk to your child openly about their new brother or sister, and focus on the positives. This might include them having a new friend to play with (when baby is big enough), or all the visitors you will have when the new baby arrives.
- We recommend sharing stories with your child that has two children in the book, having your child assist with setting up the babies new room, or simply creating a photo album filled with family photos of all the people in your child’s life (this is something when the new child arrives, you can encourage your oldest child to share this book with their sibling).
- Show your child how grown up they are, talk to your child about how they can help with the new baby. Be it nappy changes, singing lullabies, pushing the pram. Children love to feel helpful, and this is a great way to build excitement and help them develop their own independence and self–confidence.
- Reassure your child, as adults we know that a new baby does not mean you will love your existing child or children any less – but it can be a very real fear for young children. Reassure your child that even with a new baby in the house, there will be plenty of love to go around. It is recommended you spend a minimum of 10 minutes one on one time with your older child without any interruptions each day, reading, cuddling, or enjoying an afternoon at the park.
Do you have any tips that supported your family during this exciting time?
We would love to share with our families.
