| The sudden appearance of a new baby can be rough | | | | replaced by |
| on the | | | | the baby and the family cannot be whole unless |
| other children in the family. Daily routines are | | | | EVERYONE |
| disrupted and | | | | is a part of it. If your kids internalize this belief, you |
| suddenly mom and dad are too busy to pay | | | | may be |
| attention to | | | | able to avoid some of the trauma and the |
| older siblings. Worst of all, the new baby is the | | | | understandable |
| instant star | | | | resentment toward this little stranger who has |
| of the family - the center of attention. The adorable | | | | stolen |
| baby is | | | | mommy and daddy's hearts. The better your |
| the big attraction for everyone from mom and dad, | | | | children are |
| to visiting | | | | prepared for the impending event, the better they'll |
| relatives, to casual acquaintances bumped into at the | | | | be able to |
| mall, | | | | cope with it emotionally.As part of that preparation |
| right down to strangers on the street. Everyone is | | | | process, from time to time plan |
| talking | | | | special activities with your kids that relate to babies. |
| baby talk, cooing at the new baby, and making a | | | | For |
| fuss over | | | | example, they might draw pictures of babies or |
| the newborn. The older kids may feel shunted aside | | | | collect baby |
| and | | | | photos from magazines and create a collage. Sit |
| resentful. This is especially true for the displaced | | | | down and |
| former | | | | go through photo albums of your kids' baby pictures |
| baby of the family.Given these natural reactions, | | | | and |
| anything that you can do to | | | | reminisce with them about their own arrivals into the |
| prepare your other children for the new arrival will | | | | world. |
| ease the | | | | Re-tell any family anecdotes surrounding their births. |
| transition. Everything you can do to involve your kids | | | | Teach |
| in | | | | your children lullabies that they can sing to the baby, |
| advance and to get them to actually look forward | | | | plus |
| to the birth | | | | finger games and "peek-a-boo" games to entertain |
| will make a big difference in how they experience it. | | | | their |
| It might | | | | new brother or sister.Arts and crafts projects can |
| even help establish a stronger brother or sister bond | | | | furnish a special parent-child |
| with | | | | discussion and sharing time and may sometimes |
| the new baby that will contribute to the lasting | | | | revolve |
| closeness of | | | | around preparations for the new baby. Kids can |
| a positive sibling relationship.Here are some simple | | | | make |
| ideas that expectant parents might | | | | pictures to hang in the baby's room, or create a |
| try, to smooth the road ahead for their other | | | | baby-safe |
| children. Most | | | | mobile to hang over the baby's crib, or draw scenes |
| are common knowledge or simply common sense, | | | | in which |
| but | | | | they imagine their lives with the new baby - rocking |
| sometimes too easily forgotten amid all the | | | | the baby |
| excitement and | | | | in their arms, and so forth.Let the kids be involved in |
| activity surrounding the birth of a new baby. A few | | | | every facet of the preparations |
| might be | | | | that you yourself are making for the baby's arrival. |
| new ideas that are worth a try. A little advance | | | | Your kids |
| thought and | | | | can help you repaint the nursery or paint a mural on |
| preparation may go a long way towards making the | | | | the |
| "blessed event" a blessing for the ENTIRE family. | | | | nursery wall, and help you pick out baby furniture, |
| Hopefully, | | | | bedding |
| you'll be inspired to try some of these ideas, so here | | | | and nursery decorations. They can choose baby |
| goes.Let your other kids in on the secret as soon as | | | | clothes that |
| the | | | | appeal to them. All of these things can later give the |
| pregnancy is confirmed, well before it is obvious just | | | | |
| by | | | | children |
| looking at mom. Even with your youngest children, | | | | pride and a sense of importance and inclusion in the |
| try to give | | | | baby's |
| them some understanding of the changes that mom | | | | life. When grandma says "What a cute bib the |
| is | | | | baby's |
| going through and what they mean. Check out your | | | | wearing," your preschooler can say "I picked it!"In |
| local | | | | addition, make your children key members of the |
| public library. It should have books geared to all | | | | family |
| different | | | | committee that chooses a name for the new baby. |
| ages that can explain, in terms that children can | | | | Keep the |
| understand, the biological process of having a baby. | | | | kids involved and actively participating and then, as |
| Picture | | | | the birth |
| books about baby animals may also help crystalize | | | | becomes imminent, dad and the kids may even |
| the | | | | conspire to |
| concept and relate it to something your kids have | | | | prepare some extra, special, secret surprises for |
| already | | | | mom and |
| experienced, like watching newborn kittens, for | | | | the baby, like buying or creating a special keepsake |
| example.The library or local bookstore should also be | | | | item or |
| able to | | | | putting together a "welcome home" party.In short, |
| guide you to works of fiction, including picture books | | | | it's always worth the effort to do as much as you |
| for | | | | can to get your kids involved in and excited about |
| preschoolers, that focus on the arrival of a new | | | | the arrival |
| baby in the | | | | of a new baby. Include them in every step of the |
| family and such issues as jealousy and feelings of | | | | process. |
| neglect. | | | | The more they feel that it is THEIR baby, too, the |
| Quiet parent-child story reading times can provide an | | | | more |
| ideal | | | | positive their attitudes will be towards the baby. In |
| opportunity to prepare young children for changes | | | | this way, |
| that are | | | | you can try to minimize the natural insecurities and |
| on the way and to reassure them of their own | | | | feelings |
| importance | | | | of jealousy that go with the territory.The |
| and irreplaceable position in the family. Discuss things | | | | suggestions mentioned in this article can help lay the |
| openly and answer your kids' questions.Encourage | | | | groundwork for good sibling relationships but, of |
| your children to think about life with the new | | | | course, |
| baby and how family routines will be altered. Coax | | | | you can't rest on your laurels once the baby is born. |
| your kids | | | | After the |
| to develop their own lists of things that will be fun | | | | baby arrives, try to do everything you can to set |
| about | | | | aside some |
| having a new baby in the house - for example, they | | | | special time each day that's just for you and each |
| can push | | | | of your |
| the baby carriage and help dress the baby. Help | | | | other children. Offer them special little treats or |
| them think | | | | outings or |
| about all the things that they'll be able to share with | | | | surprises, and encourage grandma and grandpa to |
| and | | | | do the |
| teach the baby as he or she grows up and how | | | | same. To reduce jealousy, give your kids pride in the |
| important | | | | things |
| their role will be as a "big brother" or "big sister".At | | | | that they CAN do that the baby can't do, like |
| other times, let them focus on coming up with ways | | | | dressing |
| that | | | | themselves or enjoying a movie or reciting their |
| they can help care for the baby or have them think | | | | ABCs. |
| of things | | | | Continue along the path that you started on months |
| they can do around the house to ease the burden | | | | earlier - |
| on mom | | | | reassure your kids that each of them is just as |
| and dad. Also, take this opportunity to make your | | | | important as |
| kids aware | | | | the baby is, so that they won't feel that they must |
| that babies require gentle handling and a quiet | | | | compete for |
| environment. You might even use a baby doll with | | | | your love and attention.Good luck and oh, by the |
| your | | | | way, congratulations!Visit Children's Clothing, Stories |
| younger children to role play baby's diaper changing | | | | and Family Gifts |
| and | | | | from Baby Bird Productions for baby |
| feeding.Nurture the feeling that every family | | | | clothes, children's clothing and gift items decorated |
| member is of equal | | | | with her |
| importance and that each occupies a special niche | | | | colorful and amusing artwork for kids. Barbara is a |
| and has | | | | professional storyteller, teacher and artist. |
| special contributions to make. No one is being | | | | |