How do you prepare a two year old for a new baby on the way?

Joanne - posted on 02/24/2010

Hi,
My 2 are 21/2 yrs apart & someone suggested to me when I was pregnant with no.2 that it's a good idea to get a pressie from the baby to the older one. We did this & it did seem to help. We also read the older one stories about the new baby coming & once no.2 was around we let her help with the baby. All this helped for awhile but she still got jealous of bubs. She's getting better & we've made special times with her too without bubs to help her feel like she's still special to us. I think it's definately harder when they are the same sex. Good luck though & I hope it all works out for you :)

Crystal - posted on 02/24/2010

well I have a 20 month old son. and I'm pregnant with my second. Due in May. In june my son will turn 2. so far to prepare him what myself and my husband have done is. Just remind him daily that there is a baby in mommys belly. we point to the belly and say baby.We bring him to all of our doctor appts even the ultrasounds. and we show him on the screen baby is in mommys belly. we have been showing him all the stuff that we have bought for out new baby. and we tell him each day thats hes going to be a big brother and hes going to have a little sister.

Lisamarie - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter was just under 2 when we found out and was 2 and a half when her baby brother arrived. I took her to the ultrasounds and showed her the baby in mummys tummy, we read books about new baby brothers and sisters and she felt my son move in my tummy! She didn't really understand that a baby was actually in mummys tummy at the time and now she knows that her baby brother came from my tummy but she insists she did not!!

You just need to explain to her, in a way she'd understand, that she's going to be a big sister! I tried not to emphasise too much on a NEW baby, to my daughter, I made it more about her growing up and helping mummy and daddy with Her baby brother and how much of a BIG girl SHE was going to be. Good luck! :)

Daisy - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter turned two in June (of '08) and my son was due in July. Like many others, we told her about the baby on the way, let her feel his movements, talk to the baby and pick clothes or other baby items for the him. She was totally excited. She held him while we were still at the hospital, with a bunch of pillows around her and she did not want to let him go! She was extra careful and gentle. Different things work for different kids, but keeping her involved seems to be one of the best ways to help prepare her =]

Elaine - posted on 02/24/2010

Include her in everything like Bailey said.
Bay her doll and let her know when the baby arrives she can get her doll, and if you feed the baby let her feed her doll let her do everything you do but with her doll. And it is imported that when you and your family arrives home after the birth of the new baby let dad take care of baby for the first hour at home and dedicate your time to your 1ste child play with her and let her understand that you are still her mommy. Take a walk with her and tell her how glad you are to be home with her.

Pamela - posted on 02/24/2010

I involved My oldest as much as possible we talked about how great it was going to be to be the Big sister, I got with other women at church and held their babies so that she became accustom to me with a baby in my arms. We played with her baby dolls as though they were real babys we did the heartbeat listening and feeling the movement in my tummy. I don't think we missed any oppertunity to prepare her. Still when baby came home she wanted us to take it back. She was a little jealous but I made sure to have activities that only she could do with me we called it her Mommy time. She was 2years 6wks. when her sister arrived. She was helpful at monetoring baby( "Baby turned over Mommy") and fetching things like diapers, she also potty trained eaisly cuz "only babys wear diapers". They are now great friends at ages 28 and 30 yrs. in fact she is considering becoming her younger sister's nanny.

Kandice - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter adapted really well to having a new baby. I have a 4 yr old and a 15ms old. I just included her in everything like the ultrasound and she got a print out every time we went so she would have a picture of her brother. She also helped me decorate his room and pick out his clothes, still does. We took a baby and me class together that was aimed at introducing siblings and I constantly talked to her about him and all the fun stuff and how she would be a special big sister. She loved helping and protecting and they are inseperable. He looks for her while she is at school and she is such a big help, she keeps him entertained while I am cooking or on the phone. I have never had to deal with rivalry...yet! LOL Good luck!

Claire - posted on 02/24/2010

buy her a present from the new baby when it arrive i have a two year old and a new one due in june and already my wee boy blames every thing on the baby in the tummy (so funny)who made that mess in your room ?? baby in the tummy did it !!!

Flossy - posted on 02/24/2010

i hope you have told her first that you have a baby in your belly and let her feel the baby s movements. talk to her about how excited you are so that she can also look forward to the D day. Shop with her for baby things and let choose what she would like the baby to have.

Bailey - posted on 02/24/2010

My sons are a year and nine days apart. I was told to expect the worst so I started to prepare my oldest by including him in most things about the baby. He helped me pick out some clothes and toys helped "decorate" the room etc.Every time the baby kicked, id call him over for him to feel and would referred to the baby as "your baby". We always talked about him as if he could hear everything we said. When it was bed time, Jake would kiss my belly and tell the baby he loved him. When I was in labor (until it got too bad) I had Jacob in the room. When Josh was born, I let Jake "hold" (on my lap with help of course) the baby and kept saying oh your baby loves you sooooo much.. He ended up sharing his bottle and favorite bear with Josh. I dont know if this would work for you but my boys are now 11 and 12 and they still have that bond, like Josh is Jake's baby. :) Good luck and congrats

Felicia - posted on 02/23/2010

baby dolls. Even for 2 year old boys. I tried explaining the baby in the belly thing to my oldest when he was three and he insisted that I was just fat.

Desiree - posted on 02/23/2010

i have a 7 month and 2 1/2 year old. What i did was i explained to her mommy has a baby in her belly and would let her feel him she knew to be careful cus mommy has a baby in there i showed her his things when we got them. she knew i had a baby in my belly but didnt really realize it until she seen him hospital and from then on she was ready to take him home and take care of him