Sorry, have to be quick (juggling two kids LOL). For us the hardest thing for DS was me being in hospital and then not being able to carry him afterwards (I had a CS). I'd never had a night away from DS, so a few weeks before DS2 was due I went for a pampering weekend by myself so it wouldn't be first time I had a night away. I think you're doing all the right things to prepare him and that's all you can do. Being up front about what will happen and how life will change is important, but it will still hit him hard when bubs arrives. Peanutters suggestion of the books is a great one. We're still reading the 'im a big brother' one now. Gifts are also good. DS1 picked one out for DS2 the weekend before he was born and still uses it to try and engage with him.

In our case, DS1 is absolutely smitten with DS2 and hasn't shown any animosity towards him at all. But he was pretty angry with me in the first few weeks. I think this was because I was away for 4 nights and then because I couldn't carry him. When I started picking him up again, things improved dramatically. He still gets grumpy with me when I can't give him as much attention as he would like, but each week it gets better and better.

We're 6 weeks in and DS1 is still adjusting. I think it just takes time, but I'm confident we'll get there. At the moment the biggest thing he's grappling with is learning to wait. We are having a few meltdowns, but like Sloane said I think that comes with the age anyway, it's just a little exasperated by DS2's arrival.