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Prepare Your Toddler For A Sibling

By Sowmiya Prasad

Arrival of a new member into the family is a happy time and good news to hear. However if you are expecting your second baby, it is essential that you prepare your first baby for a sibling. Your tiny toddler, the sweet one and the apple of your eye has a world and you, dad and he are in the only ones in it. He had been enjoying all your love and care all this time. This may not be the situation when a sibling arrives. He may sometimes behave in a different way when someone else shares your time and attention.

To soften the effect, it is imperative that you prepare toddler for sibling and take measures towards the same. The cause of celebration should remain as such and should not turn into something bad. You may feel happy when he accepts and is aware of the fact that some of his friends have siblings. Certainly, he doesn't exactly know what exactly a sibling means. He doesn't really know that the new member in the family would share his parents' care or their time. This is one reason you should prepare your toddler before the sibling arrival. Here are a few tips to prepare toddler for sibling, read on and welcome the new member into your family the best way.

Prepare Your Toddler For A Sibling

Decide when to break the news
When you are celebrating your pregnancy, you should also decide when you should break the news to your toddler, how to tell him about a sibling arrival. One of the best things to do is to wait for a little, wait until half the way of your pregnancy. If you break the news earlier you may get exhausted answering his question "will the baby come today or tomorrow?" however, if he starts questioning about your morning sickness, it is time you let him know about the sibling arrival. This is one of the best ways to prepare toddler for sibling.

Find a way to tell your toddler
It is important that you find a way to tell your toddler about the new arrival. This may help you soften the blow. Adopt an intelligent way to let him know it. Try reading books together on new siblings and this is one way to prepare toddler for sibling.

Celebrate your toddler
The primary thing you should do is acknowledge your toddler. Celebrate him and give him the needed attention. Show your toddler the picture you took when you were pregnant with him, also show him the photos you took in his initial days. Let him know on what is coming next and also assure him all your love and care. This is the way to prepare toddler for sibling.

Assure his involvement
When you prepare the room for the new born, see to it that you involve your first baby actively. Make him feel he is a part of it. Also make him sort out his toys and separate certain toys for his sibling. This way you can prepare toddler for sibling.

He wants you!
Keep something in mind, your toddler wants you and that is the only thing he wants. With the arrival of the newborn, he may have some insecurity. So see to that, you give him adequate care, acknowledge him and celebrate him. Try relating everything to your older kid. Say him your feet was so small when you were born, you were too cute and soft when you were born etc., allow your toddler to hold the new born, let him snuggle with his sibling. This will make him accept the sibling arrival soon. Follow the above steps and prepare toddler for sibling and enjoy the new arrival together.

Story first published: Sunday, November 17, 2013, 12:26 [IST]
Read more about: kids