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