how to prepare siblings for baby's arrival

[nickers]

for the first time in 7wks ds1 cried at school thismorning (he is in kindy)
he told me he didnt want to leave me and the baby, i think he is anxious and worried and i felt like a bad mum like maybe i havent been telling him the right stuff?? i promised him i will be there to pick him up today and the baby was not coming today

we havent told the kids that bub will arrive on Monday, we prob wont tell them until the weekend (ds2 has to have a sleep over at my parents) and depending on what time we have to be at hospital we will have to drop ds1 to someones house and get dropped to school. is this the right/wrong thing to do?

Ive explained to him mummy and baby will be in hospital for 4-5 days but daddy will be home and will mind them and bring them in each day to hospital.
ive told him i wont be able to drive for a few weeks after the baby is born because my tummy needs to heal. he needs a lot of notice of change so i have been trying to tell him how things will be once i go to hospital.
we have kinda said anytime this week or next week baby "could arrive" and as a game all picked a day..
now i feel maybe ive been talking about it too much, or saying the wrong things??
i held back my own tears thismorning and said to his teacher i think he is quiet anxious about bubs birth and she agreed and said he has been talking a lot about it.

How do u prepare siblings for the upcoming birth

[LuluHB]

subscribing for ideas too.

So far my girls are really excited about it, which TBH worries me - I'm waiting for it to all come crashing down closer to the time.

[RhiChiChi]

I don't have any other children, so can't speak from experience but I'd be honest with what is going to happen, exactly like you have been. I think it would be worse if you sugar coated what is going to happen and then your DS1 expectation of what was going to happen was not quite the truth - that would be stressful for him & he might feel more anxious and unsettled. Perhaps don't mention it again unlkess he asks questions - keep him talking about school and other things. I hope your DS is ok

[~clover~]

I'd leave it til the day before he has to go. Too much time gives too much time to think & get anxious about it.

Talk it up. Not what you'll be doing, what he'll be doing. Maybe ask him if he can look after daddy while you're away? Give him special jobs to do for the baby while you're not there.

All my kids got a baby of their own when I had a baby. They liked to feed & change their baby etc.

GLx

[nickers]

i like the idea of giving them special jobs to do when i am in hospital.
he went off to school ok today so that was a releif.
lulu- my boys have always been super excited too so it took me by surprise that he got so upset.

well keeping the day a secret was blown out the window today i had my ob appt and ds2 was sick so not at preschool, he listened to our convo and then got all excited so then i confirmed for him yes it will be monday. i also told him it will be a special surprise for everyone, only us family will know the day then the minute we go to pick up ds1 he told the first mum that he seen when his baby brother is coming!!
im glad we havrnt told them the name!

[~Trish~]

Naww, you're doing a great job Nic! Your DS1 sounds like such a sensitive soul . You sound like you have done everything to prepare him which is great, things won't come as such a rude shock now. He'll probably LOVE having more time with his Dad and I'm sure he'll be a very doting, proud big brother and all his fears will disappear .

When I had #3 it was such a non-event for the two eldest! They were worded up well in advance and when she arrived they took it extremely well.

How exciting that there is only four more sleeps until you meet your little one!!! Hope it all goes fantastically