execting again and I have a 14 month old any advice on getting her use to having another sibling?

Susan - posted on 01/11/2010

My babies are just under a year apart, my daughter 27/10/08, my son 12/10/09. We used to talk to our daughter all the time about her little brother when i was pregnant, we would say "where's connor???" and she would point to my belly and laugh, if she came and sat on my lap i would say "mind connor" or "be careful with your brother" i just did it naturally, just wanted her to get used to his name and it really did work, shes brilliant with him, cuddles him and is very gentle with him.

Serena - posted on 01/10/2010

I have a three year old and a six month old with another baby on the way, I am 5 months pregnant. (I know wth?! I thought the same) But with my older son, someone gave me the advice of letting the baby be his. He was not happy with me having a baby in belly and never wanted to talk about it and used slap my belly saying "no baby!". So I used to say your baby and your brother, he liked the idea of it being his baby. Then when his brother was born I had my husband take him to the gift shop in the hospital and pick out a stuffed animal for brother. He loved the responsibility.
Make time for your older child because your newborn will take up a lot of time and right now they really don't care too much if it is you or daddy cuddling them. It helped out alot but don't spoil your daughter now, I did that and it made it harder when the baby was born. Good luck :)

Sara - posted on 01/10/2010

Just make sure to make your older child feel special, loved and involved every day. Let her help mommy by getting a diaper or let her help pat the baby's back when you burp. Set some one on one time aside every day for her and you will be just fine.

Myeishia - posted on 01/10/2010

Wow This Is So Ironic Because Iam goin thru the exact same situation my son will be 1 next month and iam do on april 13 i was wondering the same thing but i thought what the heck ill just try to get him aqquainted with her and maybe just treat them with the same amount of attention but idk i need help as well

Allison - posted on 01/08/2010

I'm goin through the same thing!! My son was 13 months old when I found out I was pregnant with this one. He's to young to understand that mommy's having a baby and the other day I told him mommy's baby is in there and pointed to my stomach he pointed to his belly like I'm mommy's baby. I'm due July 10, 2010 he'll be 20 1/2 months old when I have this one.

Shannon - posted on 12/30/2009

We always took our daughter to the appointments with us so she could see what was goin on though she didn't understand anythin....She would get to hear the heart beat, see the ultrasounds and all that with us....mine are 18months and 1day apart....We always told her mommy was havin another baby and that she would be a big sister....once her brother arrived we had her help with changin him, bathin him, talkin to him, helpin out any way she could....She has turned out to be a great big sis.....

Destiny - posted on 12/27/2009

I dont have much for advice but I can say that I know how you feel as far as being anxious about it because I am very nervous. I have 13 month old twins who cling to me like static and am having a c section for my third baby on January 12, 2010. They will be almost 14 months old. I still see my oldest 2 as being just babies so this will be a big adjustment for all of us as I'm sure it will be an adjustment for you and your daughter and family. But if you ever want to talk with someone who will be able to understand feel free to drop me a line.

Micaela - posted on 12/20/2009

I am due in a month and a half and my son will be 18 at the time. I have started nannying for young babies so he gets a feel of having a sibling. I will say "this is Will's baby sister and you are going to have a baby sister soon." I also ask him for help when it comes to holding bottles, grabbing blankets, and holding binkys. I also read him a lot of new sibling type of books, I try to find books with real pictures of a mommy with a pregnant belly and then a baby. He also lifts up my shirt and gives my belly kisses. I will say "give baby sister a kiss." I am also playing on getting him a gift when he comes to meet me in the hospital after I have Zoey and I am also going to shop with him so he can feel like he is contributing and I will let him pick out a little toy for his little sister and let him give it to her. Unlike all of you, I totally think my son understands but I'm sure that will not make him less jealous. Just make sure you keep both doing both activities for both kids. Obviously the baby will be your number 1 priority for a while, but make sure to have playdate's for the older sibling too and when baby #2 is sleeping try to do one on one activities with them so they don't start resenting the baby.

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Jessica - posted on 12/19/2009

I'm in the same boat! I'm due June 3rd 2010 and my daughter is 19months and I tell her everyday that she is going to be a big sister. She also lifts my shirt and rubs and smacks my belly i tell her to be nice. She has kissed my belly a few times too. I think she might be a bit young to understand everything that's going on but, I think she understands some.

She is usually really good with babies, but I have a feeling she might be a bit jealous.
Let me know if you get any ideas.
Good luck! :)

Melanie - posted on 12/18/2009

I had my first 2 17 months apart and i made sure that when my first daughter came into the hospital to see her new sister that i fussed completely over her and left the baby for everyone else to focus on.... I also wrapped and packed in my hospital small little presants like books and just small toys for my first daughter so she felt extra special getting presents for being a big sister because naturally all other visitors seemed to show only interest in the new baby so i did my best to make sure i focused on my first daughter who was still a baby herself...

Kristy - posted on 12/17/2009

I'm in the exact same position. my daughter will be 15 months this week and i am due in 3 weeks time. I have been told that nothing can really prepare my daughter as she doesnt understand but once the baby arrives to try and involve her as much as possibble as mummys little helper so she will feel needed in a way. And ive also been told not to change anything til after baby comes as in change kids bedroom or bedtime etc. Good luck to u both.

Shannon - posted on 11/02/2009

If you get any ideas, I would love to hear them, I'm in the same position! I know there are books that can introduce this concept to young children, but 14 months is almost too young for them to understand exactly what the book really means. But it can't hurt to check out some at the library and try, as she gets older she'll understand more language maybe.... I bet just hanging out with friends or family who have younger babies would help, it would be interesting to see how your first one reacts to seeing mommy hold another baby... then you can at least be prepared for jealousy if that's what you see! Or if you don't know anyone with new babies, you could take your daughter's baby doll and do things with it that you will do with your real new one, like "change" its diaper, "feed" it, cuddle and sing to it... Although she might just laugh at how ridiculous you are being, LOL! I don't think that we can do too much to really prepare them for what it will actually be like, I mean, think about what it was like for us when we had our first one - you can try to prepare, but there is nothing like the experience itself to show you what it's like. Good luck (to both of us!)!!!