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DS will be 21 months when DD is born. I want to start preparing him now for the new baby. He is very interested in my growing belly and I will say "where's the baby" or something like that when he touches it. He seems interested in the babies at daycare.
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on books, activities or anything that can get him sort of aware of whats happening.
I got DD1 involved in everything, came to my appts to 'hear baby in my tummy', came to ultrasounds, borrowed books from the library on it (sorry can't think names), she helped me set up the bassinet, we talked about how baby would one day come out of my tummy and come and live at our house and also made sure to explain a number of times how grandma would come to our house to be with DD1 while mummy and daddy went to the hospital to have baby.
My DD1 was 2.5 when #2 came along so would understand bit more than your son but I'd recommend to just keep talking about it esp closer to the end, we talked about it everyday and once DD2 was here DD1 adjusted quite well cause she was expecting it.
My DD#3 will be 20 months when #4 arrives....
TBH i dont think she has any idea of whats going on ........LOL....she pats my belly and says 'bubba', but i dont think she understands there is a baby in there !!! . Shes also the baby of my wider family, so hasnt really been in close proximity to newborns/babies....im sure shes seen plenty in the shopping ctr etc, but shes never formed a 'relationship' with any other 'baby'....i dont really know if there is anything i cand do to prepare her that will help her understand what is happening.....im just going to make sure she gets plenty of mummy time. My DH knows that out of our 3 girls, she will be the one that needs DH attention the most.
For me, its just being really aware of her needs in the first few weeks of bringing the newbaby home.....i dont think necessarily helping me with baby will help her, i just think giving her mummy time and special one-on-one time will be enough...
I used to worry myself sick when pg with #3......DD#2 was only 19mths old when she came along. We survived, she survived. No one suffered. Everyone got just as many kisses and hugs as they did before baby arrived....and now....well now they are the best of friends.
Good luck .....every child is different.....
Nina was 22 months old when Emily arrived. We included her as soon as I started showing. She was very interested in it. I can't remember the book, but there was a book about being a big sister. And MIL bought her a Dora dvd about becoming a sister too. Every day she insisted on looking at my belly to 'see the baby'. It was very cute.
great thread- my ds will be 22 months and i am hoping everything goes okay- he says bubba too and pats my belly but i dont really think he has any idea. :(
Like the others have said about inclusion at appointments.
Darcy was a bit older but we involved her in picking Nate's name. Also ask the daycare if he can spend some time 'helping' in the nursery. It really helped Darcy get used to babies, how they sounded atc - plus she was a great help when he came home :D
I haven't done much til now. i figured he was [prob a bit young to really take it in...
i just got a book from our toy library called 'there's a house inside my mummy' which he loves...
i think there will be an adjustment for him.. but we will all cope.. we have to! i will also make sure the visitors etc shower him with the attention when they come to visit. it isnt like the nb will want the attention!
I have noticed him taking much more interest in babies recently so maybe he is twigging.. when a baby cries he points it out to me and so i have started to say - ooh the baby is crying maybe he needs a cuddle from his mummy or daddy... at that point DS tells me he wants a cuddle!!
I agree that involving DS in things to do with the baby is a great idea.
Also, I got a toy from DS2 to give to DS1 in the hospital. It was a favourite thing at the time so he was so excited and gave DS2 a big kiss. Was very cute!
I'm with mbear - DS is 18months (as you know!) and will be 20ish months when bub arrives. He has NO idea what is going on. It really is beyond him at this point so I haven't even bothered trying to get him to understand.
As mbear said, I'll just make sure when bub is here that he gets plenty of time with mummy too. I think still b'feeding him will really help with that.
We have a book called "There's a House Inside my Mummy" which we brought for DD when I was prg with DS. It's a great book but again, a bit over DS's head at 18 months I think. DD was 2.5 when DS arrived so it was much easier to explain to her.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
Actually my OB has the book in his rooms so next time I'm there I will look through it. DS is picking up a lot of concepts so I might be able to find a way of communicating some.
I tend to go to my visits during work hours as I get prenatal leave but also it is soooooo much easier to go on my own.
Probably the key is keeping the love and attention up to him once DD arrives. Also giving him a special toy. Now that's a language he'll understand.
Yeah we did the toy thing too, we bought Ash a baby born and said it was a special present from Em.