London, Europe Brief News – Adding a new baby is a sure way to shake up your family’s life. Here are some advices to help your older child adjust to a new sibling.
Give him special jobs.
Let your firstborn help out — he may surprise you with how much he can do. When you bathe the baby, he can help soap her legs. He will probably be happy to fetch diapers or a new set of clothes. When the baby cries, ask him to gently pat her back or talk softly to her. If he wants to hold his new sibling, have him sit in a chair with pillows on either side of him, then prop the baby in his lap and stay nearby to be sure all is well.
Ask his advice.
Ask your preschooler: “Do you think the baby would like to wear the blue shirt or yellow shirt?” or “Do you want to help me tell a story?” Preschoolers often have a natural flair for entertainment — singing, dancing, or just making faces — and a baby is an appreciative audience. Not only will your child enjoy the attention, he’s likely to take pride in bringing a smile to his sibling’s face.
Watch the baby together.
Invite your child to observe the baby with you. Hold him close and ask him to describe what he sees. “Look at her eyes. What are they doing? How does she hold her hands?” You can even do this while the baby is sleeping.
Read stories about his new role.
Reading stories about the trials and joys of having a new sibling can help your preschooler adjust to his new situation. Books that feature children who resent the new baby in their lives can help him understand that his feelings are natural. Stories that show children enjoying and taking pride in their little sibs present positive role models for your child. Joanna Cole’s gender-specific I’m a Big Sister and I’m a Big Brother are good places to start.
Let him tell the story.
Have your child help make a simple picture book about him and his new sibling. Let him choose the pictures he’d like to have in the book and ask him what words he’d like on each page. He might even want to tell the story of her birth and their new relationship from her point of view.
