How do I talk to my child about the arrival of our new born baby in the family? This is a common problem encountered in many families. Unfortunately, a few mommies fail to prepare their first kid to welcome the second baby home on a happy note. Here is your simple guide on preparing your child mentally.
It is not essential to tell your kid about the arrival of a new baby as soon as you conceive. You may inform that the little kid will be having a new sibling when your baby bump shows up, around 5 or 6 months of your gestation.
Welcoming a second child to the family is joyful as well a little bit horrifying!
Pass on the information gently
Don’t bluntly or directly inform your child that he or she will get a new baby at home in few months. Start gently about the interest of the little one about new sibling in the home. If your child happily says yes, then you can surprise him or her about your second baby. If not, show up some examples and interesting stories to develop an interest about getting a sibling. This is the first step in preparing your child to welcome a sibling.
Avoid negative emotions / comments about the unborn
There are many pregnancy blues. Vomiting, nausea, loss of sleep, inflammation, back pain, etc. are very common. This may make you appear dull to your child. If your child asks about your ill and health, don’t tell it is all the part of your pregnancy. If you say the sickness is due to pregnancy, it would create a negative feeling about the unborn child to your kid. Don’t ever throw signs of negative impact about the unborn child before your child.
Don’t talk too much or ignore about the unborn child before your toddler
Once you passed through the initial step of information, just ignore the topic. Don’t talk about the new baby all the time as it could develop a negative feeling in your child’s mind. Even your child will not show interest in taking about the new sibling all the time. Remember to give answers when the kid comes up with any questions. For example, he or she may ask you, ‘How he will eat? Is he moving now? When will she sleep? Etc.
You can make the conversation about the sibling more interesting by asking the same question to them. Guess what, the children would have developed their own idea about the question they ask.
Prepare mentally!
Mental preparation is essential! Your little one may not be around with you from a few days to few weeks before and after the child birth. After developing positive attitude, you can gently tell your child that the little baby spends more time with mother. Sudden separation from mother would be somewhat disheartening to the little ones.
- Praise your child as a responsible person and boost him or her with positive, motivational and inspiring words.
- Take your child or let the child visit the homes of your friends or relatives who has kids with siblings
- Allow your child to feel the fetus kicking you once the movements are apparent.
- Take your child to your regular prenatal visit and make him or her hear the heartbeat of the baby in the womb.