Any tips for easing the transition of a new baby for a toddler?

Jennifer - posted on 12/03/2010

Boys can be a little hard to transitions with bringing a new baby into the house. My oldest was 3 almost 4 when his baby brother was born and he got a little jelous at first but later felt at ease. But to this day he still swears up and down that there were two "bradens" and I left the good one at the hospital. I guess it's his was of coping when his little brother does something he doesn't like. LOL. I'm now expecting another baby and have been completely upfront with both boys about the baby. I was told by their dr. to get my youngest (20mths) a baby to play with and to show him how to be gentle with it and to show him that mommy can hold the baby and still spend time with him. Hopefully this will make the transition a little easier. But as far as my now 5yr old is conserned he knows that there's another baby in my belly and that it's his new baby brother/sister and is actually excited about it. He will actually come up and give my belly kisses and tell the baby to hurry up that he wants to meet them. Basically what I'm saying is that every child is a little different and handles things differently so go with what you'll think works best.

Adrienne - posted on 12/02/2010

When I had my middle son my oldest was 12 months to the day when he was born. So he never understood what I tried to do to get him ready for the new baby. Getting ready for when my youngest was born was a lot easier. My oldest was almost 3 and my middle son was almost 2. We showed them ultrasound pictures, read them books about the new baby coming home and books about being big brothers. They both sang happy birthday to him when they met him for the first time in the hospital. Now I'm trying to get them ready for our fourth son, my boys are going to be almost 4, almost 3, and either 1 or almost 1. All I can say is let your son help with the diaper changes and everything else with the baby. I can't get my boys to stop helping. My youngest is now crawling away and if I joke around and say where do you think your going? One of the older ones when catch him and bring him back. :)

Katie - posted on 12/02/2010

I just recently had a baby girl in October, my son just turned two and he was really good when I brought her home. Like you we talked about the baby and how she was going to come home, showed him her clothes, baby seat ect. He always wants to be so hands on with her, but I have to be careful about leaving the room if she is in his range, he tries to pick her up if I'm not careful. When I was breast feeding my grandmother told me to get a baby doll for him. When I gave it to him it all made sense, that way he doesn't have jealousy issues when all your attention is trying to feed and care for the infant. It worked really well, Good Luck!

Theresa - posted on 12/02/2010

I don't really have any tips, but my youngest are not quite 18 months apart. I was very nervous about having two so close together. My daughter did very well. It went much easier than I thought it would. So even tough I don't have tips to help prepare maybe it will ease your mind a bit to knpow it probably will go much easier than you 're thinking it will. After baby arrives try to include your son is as much as possible and he wants with the new baby. My daughter liked to get dipers for me, put the used diapers in the garbage and help burp her baby brother. I also tried to spend as much tim e as I could with her. I read books to her while I nursed the baby so she didn't feel left out. And we would cuddle or play when baby was sleeping. You could but your son a doll so he has something to feed, burp, rock and change while you're doing those things to baby. Good luck. Little ones are resiliant and adapt to change fairly easily.