Babies: How to Get Your Children Excited About the New Arrival

The sudden appearance of a new baby can be roughreplaced by
on thethe baby and the family cannot be whole unless
other children in the family. Daily routines areEVERYONE
disrupted andis a part of it. If your kids internalize this belief, you
suddenly mom and dad are too busy to paymay be
attention toable to avoid some of the trauma and the
older siblings. Worst of all, the new baby is theunderstandable
instant starresentment toward this little stranger who has
of the family - the center of attention. The adorablestolen
baby ismommy and daddy's hearts. The better your
the big attraction for everyone from mom and dad,children are
to visitingprepared for the impending event, the better they'll
relatives, to casual acquaintances bumped into at thebe able to
mall,cope with it emotionally.As part of that preparation
right down to strangers on the street. Everyone isprocess, from time to time plan
talkingspecial activities with your kids that relate to babies.
baby talk, cooing at the new baby, and making aFor
fuss overexample, they might draw pictures of babies or
the newborn. The older kids may feel shunted asidecollect baby
andphotos from magazines and create a collage. Sit
resentful. This is especially true for the displaceddown and
formergo through photo albums of your kids' baby pictures
baby of the family.Given these natural reactions,and
anything that you can do toreminisce with them about their own arrivals into the
prepare your other children for the new arrival willworld.
ease theRe-tell any family anecdotes surrounding their births.
transition. Everything you can do to involve your kidsTeach
inyour children lullabies that they can sing to the baby,
advance and to get them to actually look forwardplus
to the birthfinger games and "peek-a-boo" games to entertain
will make a big difference in how they experience it.their
It mightnew brother or sister.Arts and crafts projects can
even help establish a stronger brother or sister bondfurnish a special parent-child
withdiscussion and sharing time and may sometimes
the new baby that will contribute to the lastingrevolve
closeness ofaround preparations for the new baby. Kids can
a positive sibling relationship.Here are some simplemake
ideas that expectant parents mightpictures to hang in the baby's room, or create a
try, to smooth the road ahead for their otherbaby-safe
children. Mostmobile to hang over the baby's crib, or draw scenes
are common knowledge or simply common sense,in which
butthey imagine their lives with the new baby - rocking
sometimes too easily forgotten amid all thethe baby
excitement andin their arms, and so forth.Let the kids be involved in
activity surrounding the birth of a new baby. A fewevery facet of the preparations
might bethat you yourself are making for the baby's arrival.
new ideas that are worth a try. A little advanceYour kids
thought andcan help you repaint the nursery or paint a mural on
preparation may go a long way towards making thethe
"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 hereand nursery decorations. They can choose baby
goes.Let your other kids in on the secret as soon asclothes that
theappeal to them. All of these things can later give the
pregnancy is confirmed, well before it is obvious just
bychildren
looking at mom. Even with your youngest children,pride and a sense of importance and inclusion in the
try to givebaby's
them some understanding of the changes that momlife. When grandma says "What a cute bib the
isbaby's
going through and what they mean. Check out yourwearing," your preschooler can say "I picked it!"In
localaddition, make your children key members of the
public library. It should have books geared to allfamily
differentcommittee that chooses a name for the new baby.
ages that can explain, in terms that children canKeep the
understand, the biological process of having a baby.kids involved and actively participating and then, as
Picturethe birth
books about baby animals may also help crystalizebecomes imminent, dad and the kids may even
theconspire to
concept and relate it to something your kids haveprepare some extra, special, secret surprises for
alreadymom and
experienced, like watching newborn kittens, forthe baby, like buying or creating a special keepsake
example.The library or local bookstore should also beitem or
able toputting together a "welcome home" party.In short,
guide you to works of fiction, including picture booksit's always worth the effort to do as much as you
forcan to get your kids involved in and excited about
preschoolers, that focus on the arrival of a newthe arrival
baby in theof a new baby. Include them in every step of the
family and such issues as jealousy and feelings ofprocess.
neglect.The more they feel that it is THEIR baby, too, the
Quiet parent-child story reading times can provide anmore
idealpositive their attitudes will be towards the baby. In
opportunity to prepare young children for changesthis way,
that areyou can try to minimize the natural insecurities and
on the way and to reassure them of their ownfeelings
importanceof jealousy that go with the territory.The
and irreplaceable position in the family. Discuss thingssuggestions mentioned in this article can help lay the
openly and answer your kids' questions.Encouragegroundwork for good sibling relationships but, of
your children to think about life with the newcourse,
baby and how family routines will be altered. Coaxyou can't rest on your laurels once the baby is born.
your kidsAfter the
to develop their own lists of things that will be funbaby arrives, try to do everything you can to set
aboutaside some
having a new baby in the house - for example, theyspecial time each day that's just for you and each
can pushof your
the baby carriage and help dress the baby. Helpother children. Offer them special little treats or
them thinkoutings or
about all the things that they'll be able to share withsurprises, and encourage grandma and grandpa to
anddo the
teach the baby as he or she grows up and howsame. To reduce jealousy, give your kids pride in the
importantthings
their role will be as a "big brother" or "big sister".Atthat they CAN do that the baby can't do, like
other times, let them focus on coming up with waysdressing
thatthemselves or enjoying a movie or reciting their
they can help care for the baby or have them thinkABCs.
of thingsContinue along the path that you started on months
they can do around the house to ease the burdenearlier -
on momreassure your kids that each of them is just as
and dad. Also, take this opportunity to make yourimportant as
kids awarethe baby is, so that they won't feel that they must
that babies require gentle handling and a quietcompete for
environment. You might even use a baby doll withyour love and attention.Good luck and oh, by the
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feeding.Nurture the feeling that every familyclothes, children's clothing and gift items decorated
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importance and that each occupies a special nichecolorful and amusing artwork for kids. Barbara is a
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special contributions to make. No one is being