Welcoming a new child into the family is one of the best experiences a parent can have. However, if you have an older child, they may not always welcome this piece of news, especially not at first. They may get jealous and have feelings of resentment towards their younger sibling if they receive the news the wrong way.

The good news is that there are ways to mentally prepare your child to welcome the thought of a sibling. This way, they will be ready to be a good big sister or brother when your new bundle of joy comes.

Ways to Prepare Your Older Child for a Younger Sibling

When you tell your older child that you are expecting again, there may be mixed reactions to this news. They may be excited about becoming an older brother or sister! However, on some occasions, they may feel jealous and may not immediately be thrilled with the idea of having a younger sibling. They may view the baby as a rival, someone to compete against for your precious attention. While this will be partly true, as babies will need everything done for them, it pays to follow the following tips to help prepare your older sibling for this significant life change.

1 – Help Them Understand What Is Happening

Depending on the age of your older child, they may not fully grasp what is happening. It pays to help them understand the situation to manage their expectations about their younger sibling. If you have a toddler, it will help bring out some of their baby pictures to help them see how they looked like when they were babies. Explain to them that their new brother or sister is going to look like that, too.

2 – Involve Your Child During Your Pregnancy

When picking out clothes at a mall, buying a crib, and other crucial steps to prepare your home for the new baby, it is vital that you include your older child. This will help them feel connected to you and put your promise of “still loving them the same amount even when the baby will be born” into action.

3 – Remind Them They The New Baby will Not Affect How You Feel About Them

Lastly, if you still feel some resistance from your older child, there is nothing like good old-fashioned reassurance. Hug your child and show them that you will never stop being there for them. Tell them in words that even if a new baby is arriving, it will never diminish the feelings you have for them. For children, especially younger ones, hearing these words will make all the difference. 

Conclusion

These tips will help you and your partner help your older child get ready for the fact that they will soon have a younger sibling. At the end of the day, it pays to remind them that even if there will be a new baby in the house, they will still be loved just the same. Hearing you reassure them will put their mind at ease, clear their minds of doubt, and transform apprehension and resentment into joy and excitement.

Whether you are a new parent, an expectant one, or one that has older kids looking to find insight on parenting, read the blog of Malaika, a mom of 4 children. Two of her 4 children are twins. This website is dedicated to them! Read the best and most relatable mom blogs on our site today!