Toddler mom and expecting

Suzanne - posted on 11/17/2008

My 3 year old is playing with her babies and talking to my tummy so I think it's a really good sign. My 9 year old wasn't as excited as I hoped as she told me, we have "enough kids already" LOL but I hope that as she interacts more with the baby once he/she is born she will be happier. I really like the idea of making something for the nursery too, I will have them both do that and help decorate. Bringing them in to see sonogram is a great idea! Shari, sounds like you both have your hands full! Thanks for the advice.

Shari - posted on 11/14/2008

I have 5 children and when I was pregnant with 4&5 (twins) my two year old at the time started saying that she really didnt think we should bring two more babies home so I started telling her to say hello to them since she was their big sister and she was going to have to show them how to grow up and do all kinds of things so I could go watch her do her activities. When I say tell them hello she then got the idea that she could talk to them through my bellybutton. It was hilarious!! but it worked I would let her play peek-a-boo and talk to them and by the time the twins came home she just about couldn't wait and she was such a big help. Now that the twins are 10 they are all so close and still love to play and the older one takes really good care of her little sisters.

Rhonda - posted on 11/14/2008

Teach them about how to take care of a baby with their dolls. It will help if you show them how to hold them and to pick them up and things like that. Because they will want to hold and pick up the new baby, and will most likely not do it right because they don't realize how fragile they are. We did this with my daughter when we were expecting our son. It helps a little. You can also ask them to "make" something special to welcome their new sibling, like a poster for the nursery. You can ask them to help in the naming process. You might not like the names they suggest, but they will feel like they are a part of this, and that is the most important thing for them. I also took my daughter to the doctor's office to see the sonogram of baby, so she could see it. It helped for her to understand that their was a real person inside, more than just a big tummy. You can also ask for help in decorating baby's room. Probably just about anything you do to include them in this whole process will help prepare them for the new one. I'm sure they are excited to be big sister's. The 9 year old should be a great help to you at times. Except for diaper changes. My daughter was 7 when my son was born, and she liked to help feed him, when I stopped breast feeding. Pick out his clothes, and dress him. Play with him, and hold him. AND WALK AROUND WITH HIM. Thus, the training with the doll. She is still doing that stuff for him, and sometimes it's a little annoying because he is 16 months old, and doesn't like to be mauled all of the time by his big sister. Hope this was helpful, and GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS WITH THE BABY!!