Suggestions for preparing 3 yo for new baby?

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Toddlers

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amother

Tangerine

Sun, Dec 03 2017, 9:26 pm

I have older kids but I had larger gaps between them and they were sooooo excited to have a new sibling. My current toddler has a completely different personality. She's very moody in that sometimes she's really happy and content and sometimes she's really clingy or stubbornly inconsolable about some slight that we can't even figure out. Having a new baby around is going to completely rock her world and we're worried about it being a difficult adjustment.

We're still a couple of months away from my due date so we have a little time to work with her. I'm looking for suggestions for books and for a doll that she can pretend is a baby or anything else you experienced moms can think of.

Boca00

Sun, Dec 03 2017, 9:32 pm

We talked about the new baby a lot and I told them stories about mommies having new babies and what happened.

Before the birth, I had each of the kids pick out a very exciting treat that the baby would give them when they visited us in the hospital, and I packed that into my hospital bag (could be a toy too but my kids love candy).

After the birth- make sure to give each kid some one on one time, even if it is just a few minutes.

I bought my oldest son a doll and carriage when my next was born and he loved having his own baby. He would also "help" me with "our" new baby.

Bshaah tovah and feel good!

amother

Mauve

Sun, Dec 03 2017, 9:40 pm

I'm in same situation. The older ones thrilled but 3 yr old did not take to the news well. Kept denying it's a baby in my belly got upset w convo... We kept at it and always positive. By now she is neutral. As an aside we always buy everyone a nice gift "from the baby"(we don't spoil them so it's a big deal) at this point the older ones appreciate the gesture but know that a baby cant be buying the gift but for my 3 yr old we plan to buy a nice doll and equipment which she doesn't have and I'm sure this will be a huge deal breaker

Beingreal

Sun, Dec 03 2017, 9:41 pm

I introduced to my kids by gettong a book called "a new baby". I also got my youngest a doll to get used to a baby. When the baby was born we got them a toy.

allthingsblue

Sun, Dec 03 2017, 9:44 pm

I bought a book for my 3 yr old called "a baby of our own." It's a sweet book and really got him excited!

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