My kids are 8, 6 and 7 months. We always referred to the new bub as 'our baby' during my pg's so that, as others have said, the older kids feel a sense of belonging and involvement. We had a present from the new bub to the sibling/s and took the older sibling/s shopping to buy a gift for the new baby. We read a lot of books (There's a house inside my mummy is a good one, can't remember the author) and talked a lot about the important job of being a big sister/brother and how good they would be at it and what a lucky baby to have them as siblings. Let the older kid/s help set up the nursery for the baby, fold clothes and so on and tell them what a good big brother/sister they are. When bub is home, ask your older child to help by handing you the nappy, the wipes... my DS LOVES putting the dirty nappies in the outside bin, it's 'his job'.

Prepare the older sibling for your stay in hospital if you are birthing there and explain who will be caring for them while you are gone and that they will come and visit you all the time. Have things in your hospital room for the older sibling to do, such as colouring or building blocks. I was able to leave the new baby with DH and take the older kid/s to the hospital cafe to get a coffee/milkshake, which reminded them that we would still have time alone together and they were still just as important. The big kid/s were the first visitors for the new baby and we didn't have anyone else visit until they were happy and comfortable, perhaps a couple of hours.

I had T-shirts which said 'Big Brother' and 'Big Sister' for my kids and a lot of people made a fuss of them. I had them waiting for when the kids came to the hospital after the baby was born. The kids proudly wore the T-shirts to school the day after DD2 was born!

Something I don't think has been mentioned but which was really good for us is to ask all visitors to make a fuss of the older children if they are present when the visitor comes to the hospital, and THEN see the new baby. It's so easy to forget the older kids and make a beeline for the baby!