Please help, I have an 8 and a half year old who is getting better but was not really looking forward to sharing mom and step dad with a little crying baby..
DD is very close with DH. He has known her since she was 18 months old. *Someone suggested maybe that is why she is not happy as now she has to share him. Lol.
I have already asked her to be the "official photographer" That did seem to get her a little bit excited as this is a "huge" role to her. I have picked the babies going home outfit in "little brother or little sister" I have also got a few kids magazines and plan to do up a present for presentation to her at the hospital.
What can I include in the pressies? Any ideas? Thanks so much for reading. : )
I have bought a new outfit and lots of pretty earrings for my DD (who is nearly 7) and wrapped them up in my labour bag. I also thought about buying her some pretty perfume and lip glosses to make her feel really grown up. When DS was born two years ago, we actually bought her a Camera of her own to take all her pics, and an album etc to put them in, and it worked really well. I have a gorgeous photo of her leaning over the basinette thing at the hospital taking close up pictures of his face!
We also assured her that she would be the first to see and cuddle the baby, and we wouldn't tell anyone what sex it was before she had seen. We didn't tell her what sex, she had a look for herself when she came in for the first time by opening his nappy. This time she said she won't need to open the nappy, she will just see if she can feel a doodle or not!! Lol.
* Big Sister hair clips - PM Me if you like i know a FB business that does these
* Big Sister bracelet or necklace
* Big Sister Photo Frame - she can pick her fave photo to put in it (fitting as she's your official photographer)
* You could buy the printer ink that you make your own deisgn, print it and iron onto a t-shirt... she can choose her own deisgn or slogan as her 'big sister' role.
Umm i'm sure i can think of more
FWIW when my mum was having my little brothers (i was 12ish) i was a little jealous, letting me pick some presents for bub and making sure we were the first ones to know about him made a big difference.. no-one else was allowed to see him til we did
When my littlest DD was born she brought some presents for DS5 and DDalmost8. They each had a T-shirt which said Big Brother/Sister - they loved them and they insisted DH wash them each night so that they could be worn to the hospital each day. I think it also allowed random strangers to make a big fuss of the 'big' kids because it advertised the fact that they had a new baby. DD7 also received a Beados kit, which was great because it entertained her in the hospital.
We also didn't allow anyone to see the baby until after the big kids had and refused to reveal the gender until they had met OUR baby. Always 'our' baby, never 'my' baby or 'mummy's' baby. My kids are fantastic siblings and number three has fitted in very smoothly with no jealousy issues. Be sure to pay your DD plenty of attention and let her be involved in making some decisions for the baby such as what to wear.
We bought our DD a silver trinket box that she can keep her special things in. We were able to engrave it so that it says it's from her little brother.
Hmm maybe a journal and nice pen, or movie passes for her and DH.
New CD (to drown out crying)
Maybe some new that only 'BIG kids' can have. DD1 loves it when I say that. We got her things that I know DD2 can not have.
If she's not keen on the idea of sharing you then I personally wouldn't be going craY with the big sister thing - a special present is a great idea - but she will probably need reassurance that she isn't being replaced? The photographer thing is a great idea but make sure she is in lots of photos too or else when she looks back at them she won't be in them and may feel upset. Sorry just trying to put a different perception...
I was 5 when my younger brother was born, and very used to being the only child/grandchild. Mum bought me a doll that was my baby (she had a heartbeat when you squeezed her) to take care of while she took care of her baby. I remember very clearly changing my babies nappy while mum changed my brothers lol.
Present for older big sister to be..
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