I'd really like to hear your stories if you experienced this!
DS is 22mo (will be 23mo when bub is born) and we've always talked about baby and there's a baby in mummy's tummy and how soon he'll have a baby sister but I don't think he understands yet. I've even showed him babies we pass by in the shops and he doesn't seem to care. He hasn't even noticed that my tummy is about to explode! I'm worried about how he's going to react when we bring bub home and we've only got 3 weeks left.
Did your little one not understand that they were going to have a baby brother or sister? How did they adjust & act when bub was bought home? Any tips?
DD1 was only 15mths old when i had DD but we constantly spoke to her about the baby, that a baby was coming to live with us etc etc, i don't think she got it but i have photo's from when they first met and there was this maazing instant bond.
DD1 looked so proud (odd i know) and content with her little sister.
I think just keep explaining to him, reassure him all will be good, maybe get him a gift from his little sister and get him to pick something for the baby.
could you give him a baby doll for christmas so he has his own 'baby' to take care of? I have heard that can help. I would also hav e a little present for his new sister to give him when he comes to meet her for the first time. Could he help pick out a nice outfit or present for the baby?
TBH as much as we prepare them and explain and show...it's a pretty complex process and I don't think most toddlers give a hoot. Little girls seem to be more into it (from my own experience only) but it really doesn't take long before they can't ever remember their sibling not being there.
My DS is similar and he'll be 3. He gets that the baby moves, and we've bought it nappies (cos he doesn't wear them any more), and furniture (we weren't having any babies after him so had to start our collection again lol), but in reality he can't understand that a real live child will come from me and be his sibling, and won't until he's much bigger.
My DD will be 21 months when bub is due next month, and i don't think she has any idea either. She knows my tummy is expanding - cos my lap is getting less roomy for her.
I think like alot of things it varies from child to child. I knew a nearly 3 year old girl who just didn't get the concept at all but I also knew a not yet 2 year old boy who talked often about the baby in Mummy's tummy. As in - 'Mummy baby, tummy, girl, baby'.
my DS will also be 21 months when his little brother arrives ... he has no clue!!
we have got a couple of those books about getting a new baby, and he has a "baby" (but he doesn't play with it...) so we're focussing on other things he will need to know - like being gentle with other little people, etc ...
but nothing we've tried so far has helped him to understand he's getting a sibling ... yet!
DS1 was 20 months when DS2 was born. We talked about the baby in mummy's tummy and read a lovely book (There's a House Inside My Mummy) every night for the last 6-8 weeks ... but I honestly don't think he "got" it. And you know what ... in the end I don't think it mattered a jot. He was quite happy with his new brother from the word go, and the main thing for us was to involve him after DS2 arrived. We let DS1 get close to DS2 - kiss him, touch him etc - as much as possible without us always harping on about "be gentle, be careful, STOP" lol. Naturally it's important to be vigilant but we figured DS1 had a right to touch him and kiss him just like we did. We involved DS1 in DS2's bath time also. What I do remember though is that DS1 still needed just as much attention post-DS2 as he did pre-DS2, so while it was a juggle at first it all seemed to work itself out. DS1 adapted perfectly. I'm sure your DS will too. Good luck!
Ds1 is a little over 14 months and we constantly talked about the baby. We bought him a doll so he can look after it while I look after ds2 and so far he seems content with that. Its only been 2 days but I can tell already that my boys are gonna be best friends they just seem to have an instant bond
My DS is gonna be 26/27 months when this girl is born - and although he sees my tummy getting bigger, I don't think he really grasps the idea that there's a baby in there, but he does say 'bububub' so I think he's getting the idea
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - even though I should be cleaning
DS1 was 18 months when DS2 was born and he had no clue at all even thought we talked and read books. But when he first got to hold DS2 he couldn't get enough and wanted to touch him and cuddle him all time time and give lots of cuddles.
I think they all get a bit in there own way and just adapt!
My ds was/is 22 months when we had our second. He knows what babies are, he has a younger cousin and a couple of the girls at mg have newborns too so he has been exposed and finds them absolutely fascinating (except for his cousin, who he picks on, little bully! But he is 12 months old and crawling so not really a baby baby anymore... I think the crawling freaks him out maybe?) and has a real cautious curiosity about them. However, he was totally oblivious to the bump thing too. And if we said to give baby a kiss (as in kiss my belly) he would also occassionally kiss DHs belly XD so the whole baby comes out of bellies thing wasn't there either. But, it would be a hard concept for them to grasp so little!
As for when he met DD and we bought her home... Well, she is his favourite. He was smitten In hospital and I've been blown away with how well he's handled her, albeit we have had a few extra tanties mostly caused by him having to wait a little longer when he needs me to get things, but he has been amazing.
He can't walk past her without patting her, and he will randomly come up and hug and kiss her. (and he loves to poke her eyes out, so we always Need to supervise and referee a little XD) It's super cute, he totally loves his "bebe didda". I think you will be surprised with how rubbery children are, and how well they can take things in their stride
DD was 17 mths when DS was born, and although she would talk about hubby etc and play with her dolls, she didn't really have any idea what was going on - as helle mentioned, kids are super resilient and you will more than likely find that by talking about it a lot and getting him used to the idea he is probably taking in more than you think and will cope fine!! Mine have been best buds since the day DS was born - fight like cat and dog but a lot so much love!!
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DS doesn't understand mummy is having a baby!
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