Getting ready for a new baby!

I was hoping for some advise on how to start getting my 15 month old ready for the arrival of her little brother.
As she is young im not 100% sure on the best ways to prepare her for his arrival! Still have a few months yet, but thought it better to get an early start on introducing the idea to her!
Any advise or tips on ways that anyone else did this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks smile

Hi, my girl was 17 months old when my second was born, and I read up alot on the internet on how to prepare a toddler for a new arrival, but to be honest there is not a lot you can do because at that age she just simply could not understand or comprehend that there was a sister on the way. I did talk to her alot about her sister coming but don't think she really understood what I was talking about.

The only thing I could suggest that I find helpful now, is to start teaching her how to be gentle.. I got my girl a baby doll and tried to show her how to be gentle with it and give it kisses and cuddles instead of being rough and that seemed to work because she is just giving her little sister lots of kisses all day long.

All the best for the rest of your pregnancy smile

Thanks so much!
Thats what we had started, She has a my little pony that is a baby and she rocks it in her arms and gives it its bottle and such! I think you're very right it may just be better to tecah her how to be gentle with the baby!

I have a 24 month old and am about to have my second. I know he is a little older and can understand a bit better. But we have been giving him a baby doll to play with, bath ect. We always talk about baby and how he will be a big brother. Also we found it good for him to listen to baby's heart beat, it makes it more real. Plus showing him other babies when we are out. He is now really excited. But as I said he is older so you might not find this helpful. Best of luck though.

The doll is a great idea, also recommend you include your daughter during ultrasounds, going shopping for boys clothes, eg let her choose an outfit, let her rub your tummy or listen to baby kicking, start teaching her how you need her help to get a nappy for baby and some whipes - by telling her to get them herself. The more involved you have them, the better the transition.

Congratulations and good luck.

I dont know if this is over thinking it but I read these two things somewhere to start off on the right foot and to help reduce jealousy/resentment. I'm planning to do these but as your dd and my dd are still quite young it might not be an issue but doesn't hurt to do something!

First one, they said to not be holding the newborn when dd arrives so that your dd doesn't walk in the hospital room after not seeing you for a day or two and your holding another baby! They said to have bubba in bassinet so dd can come straight to you for hugs etc.. and let older sibling discover baby in bassinet and then say "meet your baby brother" blah blah smile

Second one, have newborn "give" dd a present that they brought with them. So they meet and you say "oh brother brought a present for his big sis" grin

Sounds funny but can't hurt! I bought dd a play school DVD and will get a wiggles one too and maybe an activity/coloring book from brother which I would have brought for her anyway to help entertain her in the early breast feeding days!!

Hi,
I'm about to go through this in 7 weeks time.
My toddler is 17 months old and very clingy to mummy, Im really worried about how he is going to react.
I also read about when they come to visit in hospital not to be holding the new baby, lots of hugs and kisses of course and expolore the new sibling together smile
He has a big older sister who is 11, so when he was born it was differant because she was oldernough to understand and she got prezzies off us when she came to visit in hospital that we hid under the bed so she felt special to and just as important.

We are going to do that again this time.

We have a few aninmals that have been great with teaching him how to be gentle and they recently had puppies so he has learnt that they are babies and not to be handled ruffly and he cuddles and kisses them.
Also my sister in law and best friends have had babies recently so it has helped having him around them.

But even though he is amazing and so gentle and kind with the animals and other peoples babies I still worry, but what mother wouldnt worry:)

I'm sure everything will fall into place and will work out when new bubs arrives, I have alot of love to spread between them all smile

All the best to everyone grin

We practised with our son for 6 months to be gentle and made sure he got to interact with lots of babies, but the most important and best experience for us was as soon as the baby was born (and everything cleaned up) my son came and sat with me in delivery room in my lap and the baby lay on the bed. that way he didnt feel threatened or jealous when he saw the baby next.