A 3-minute read- go on treat yourself…
Here are some practical tips to help foster a strong connection and ease the transition for your family:
1. Magic 20 Daily Practice: Consider integrating the Magic 20 routine into your daily activities. This dedicated time spent with your older child can strengthen your bond and reassure them of your love amidst the upcoming changes. See separate blog- use our handy search bar.
2. Morning Routine: Start the day without the new baby in your arms as you enter your child’s bedroom first thing in the morning. The first thing they see is your arms open wide just for them.
3. Manage Expectations: Recognize that children may have mixed feelings about the arrival of a new sibling. Keep expectations realistic and allow them the time and space to adjust to the changes.
4. Empathy and Understanding: Put yourself in your older child’s shoes and empathize with their emotions. Imagine how they might feel with the introduction of a new family member and validate their experiences.
5. Involvement and Praise: Encourage your older child to participate in caregiving activities, such as changing diapers, with a doll as a practice companion. Offer specific praise for their efforts and highlight their contributions to caring for the new baby.
6. Special Introductions: Make the first meeting between siblings memorable by presenting a thoughtful gift from the baby to the older child. This gesture can help foster positive associations and excitement about the new family dynamic.
7. Create Interactive Spaces: Set up a basket of activities near your feeding area to engage your older child while you tend to the baby. Sticker books and lap play items can provide entertainment and encourage bonding during these moments.
8. Magic Tat Box: Curate a collection of small, inexpensive toys and items that your child hasn’t seen before. Introduce these surprises during feeding times to keep your older child engaged and entertained.
9. Scan Visits: Involve your child in the pregnancy journey by bringing them along to scan visits. Take this opportunity to talk about the baby as a real person, asking questions like, “Why do you think the baby is sleeping?” This helps to humanize the new sibling and cultivate a sense of connection.
10. Imagining Together: Encourage your child to imagine what their new sibling might be like—what they’ll wear, play with, and enjoy most. This activity sparks excitement and anticipation while fostering a sense of companionship.
11. Storytime and Memories: Spend quality time reading stories about babies and reminiscing over old photos of when your child was a baby. Treasure these memories together and celebrate the precious moments of infancy.
12. Socializing with Newborns: If possible, arrange playdates with friends who have newborns. This allows your child to observe firsthand the needs and behaviours of infants, fostering understanding and empathy.
13. Prepare Visitors: Set expectations for how visitors, especially grandparents, will interact with the new baby. Consider involving them in selecting a special gift for the older sibling to reinforce their importance in the family.
14. First Visit guideline: When visitors come to meet the new baby for the first time, keep the atmosphere calm and low-key. Allow your child to greet you without the baby in your arms initially, reinforcing their sense of importance and connection.
15. Special Surprises: In the early days at home with the new baby, consider setting up nightly surprises for your older child to wake up to, such as activities like colouring or playdough. This helps to make them feel special and included during this busy time.
Be kind to yourself and give yourself time to settle in with the new baby.
With love as always
Lisa
PS : I love this book for welcoming a new baby and I sit and read it with a toddler and talk about what we did when they were baby. Toddlers love to play baby themselves so wrap them in a blanket and play Mummy and baby role games to meet the need and support their understanding of what a mum does when they have a baby.