I have been thinking about what a shock this is going to be to Landon, he really doesn't know what Coco coming is going to do to his world!!! I want him to feel like he's still very important.
My pediatrician had some amazing tips for bringing home baby #2 and I wanted to share!
At the hospital:
1)First let Big Brother/ Sister visit mommy alone. Let them feel like Mommy is still theirs! Then wheel baby in.
2) Have pictures of Big Brother/ Sisters picture on the new baby's bassinet. Let them see that new baby is thinking of them!
3) Have a present from baby to Big Brother and from Big Brother to baby.
AT HOME:
1) Make sure you give over the top attention for any gentle and sweet behavior towards the new baby.
2) Let Big Brother help.
3) Have people greet Big Brother/Sister first before the baby when they come over.
4) Have gifts for Big brother so when baby gets one he does too!
5) Keep one on one time with Big Brother or sister as much as you can.
6) Reprimand new baby for crying and interrupting Big Brother time! Ridiculous but makes the older ones feel so good!!!!
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Sounds like a plan. Too bad I didn't have those tips with the first 4. I especially like having pictures of big brother or sister in the bassinet.
Love all those, My daughter was good at first because the newborn isn't too instrusive but as they get a little fussy and sleep less is changed. For us this took place at about 6 weeks.
I think this may be one of the most traumatic things in a child's life. I did the gift thing, and it really does help.
My oldest daughter was an only child for five years, before little bro came a long. Some days I still think she is not over it!
We had a treat box for Madelyn when the boys were born. It was just a box of very small random goodies, but when she was being patient and helpful with the babies, she got to pick something out. Truth be told, it was great for when she was starting to feel a little left out but being so great about it. It always made her feel so proud of herself.
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing!
I agree with all these tips and did most of them last time. Our situation was a little different as mini #2 was in the NICU for 5 weeks. So mini #1 thought he was so important that he got to visit the baby in the hospital and the NICU nurses made such a big deal of the 'big brother'. We also let him hold the baby a lot (while sitting of course!).
I think also you can do all the tricks in the book and some kids just don't take to their new sibling so well. A friend of mine's little boy had major issues with his little brother for about a year. Now they're best buddies. Luckily, our mini #1 has always been lovely to his little brother. I'm now more worried about how mini #2's world will be rocked with baby #3 comes! Aggh!
My midwife told me this story:
"Imagine your husband coming home from work one day and saying, 'I love you sooo much, and I love being a husband so much that I decided to get another wife!' That is how bringing a new little person into the world may feel to your son."
I never forgot this story. R did great when G was born, but I do try and remember how he might feel once in awhile...
PS--Every day when G naps, even now that he is 2, we have "special Mommy-R time." It might be 10 minutes or an hour, but we always do it and I have a rule to not let anything (phone, etc) interrupt it if at all possible.
We did a "birthday" party for the new baby at the hospital with big brother(s). The boys helped pick out the cake and sang happy birthday and then the baby gave the big ones a gift. They LOVED it!
Such do-able and practical tips! Good job! My daughter did the gift from baby to the next oldest sibling with each new birth. It was such a hit with all 3 of her older kids. They each still remember what their new baby gave them.
We did many of the same things when we had Cat...Our kids are 6 years apart. We purchased "I'm the big brother" and "I'm the Little Sister" shirts for Day One. Connor also picked out a special lovie from him to her. It worked out really well!
I can't believe you are almost there!
Great tips! Thanks so much!!!
I had Baby M give the princess a special gift. That went over great. The princess gave Baby M a gift that she picked out herself weeks before she was born. I don't think the pediatrition was keen on this idea but, it worked well for us!
Those are great tips! Mini#1 was so happy to see his baby brother though and I was so happy to see #1when he came to the hospital. Those photos are my favorites ever! I never had the jealousy issues luckily. I think because #1 was 3 yrs 11 months when #2 came along. Good luck! Can't wait for you!
What good ideas! I'll have to bookmark this post for when I have baby 2. Thanks for your comment, and I'm so glad I found your blog! I'm enjoying reading all the baby tips especially.
I've heard the same tips about gifts. Gifts make almost everything better, don't they?? I also remember my niece telling my sister "Mommy! Put that baby down!" She's so embarrassed when we laugh about it now.
Landon will make a great big bro!
Our biggest problem was (and still is)getting the baby away from the older sisters.It was their new baby not mine.
It's going to be great! Just prep him for the fact that they don't come out "playing" so he's not disappointed. :)
Another tip is to have a special basket of new toys/movies/crayons etc. that you only bring out when nursing/feeding the baby. Something new to keep the older one occupied. Also, when you take the baby to change diaper you can you say that you need something upstairs, etc. instead of always saying "the baby" needs this and "the baby" that. My first two were 16 months apart and that advice about telling the baby to be quiet it's the older one's turn really worked. And if the baby is in the hospital room you don't even make a mention of the baby at first- just how much you missed Landon. Be well!
These are great tips. I am sure you will have no problems!
The people I currently sit for had a basket of special toys/books that we would bring out for C to play with while I fed S his bottle.
I hope I'll be home in LA this summer so I can meet Coco (and Landon)!
oops just read the previous comments and should have known that Cancer Sucks would have great advice ;)
Great tips!
Those are very wise tips! I would advise you also to occasionally *tell* the baby when she's fussing, "Just a second, Coco, I have to get Landon's lunch ready" (or something along those lines). It seems like so often the big kid is told to wait because you're feeding the baby or rocking the baby or doing something else for the baby. It seems to help if the big brother knows that sometimes the baby has to wait because of him.
You are such a fabulous mother to one that I know you will be great with two!
Great tips--congrats! My kids always wanted to pick up the baby so I frequently needed to watch them. We took a little class and the kids were able to play, hold and feed baby doll (pretend baby).I do not think this was a good thing to do because when the real baby arrived, they should not think they have the right to hold the baby at will.
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