...or 5 ideas for welcoming a newborn into a sibling group...
Ah, the magic of a newborn! I still remember the moment I walked through the door, triumphant with my little one asleep in her car seat. My 2.5-year-old daughter was so proud to have a little sister. But then the little sister woke up and started screaming! Alice came over to her, looked at her for a moment, and then solemnly said, “Mommy, can we take her back to the maternity ward?” That’s when I realized I was going to have to mediate to keep this baby from becoming the number one target in a turf war.
Here are five survival ideas for a smooth (or almost smooth) welcome of the newborn into the family.
1: Exaggerated compliments
There’s nothing like flattering a growing ego! Did your oldest child just draw a doodle that vaguely resembles a mutant fish? Now’s the time to adopt the “Wow, that’s incredible, the most beautiful fish in the world!” technique. With a baby who’s the center of attention, you need to counterattack by doubling down on the compliments. Your goal: to make your older children feel like they’re still the center of your universe.
2: Time just for them »
You have two hands, but unfortunately not the gift of ubiquity. However, you will have to find a way to spend time alone with each of your children, even if it is just for a quick bath during number 2's nap or a bedtime story before breastfeeding! These precious moments show your elders that they still matter, despite the arrival of the little invader.
3: Make them your shock assistants
The art of parental manipulation comes into play. Why not turn your older children into super helpers? They can help you with bottle feeding or give him little massages! Better yet, they can be the official guardians of the baby's stuffed animals. It gives them responsibility and, the cherry on top, it can free up some time for you to drink your coffee (or what's left of it).
4: Tell the story of “When you were a baby…”
There's nothing like reminding your older children that they too were cherished (and capricious) little bundles of love to ease tensions. Pulling out photo albums, showing embarrassing videos (bathing at 3 months works every time) and reminding them that they too had their moment in the spotlight can help to calm things down.
5: Prepare a newborn gift for the eldest child.
It’s cliché, but always appreciated! Prepare a gift for your newborn to give to your older sibling when they are born. This works great for little ones, maybe a little less so if your older sibling is 12. Although, the birth and your time in the hospital will always be associated with the arrival of the terrible little brother, but also the great gift received from his parents! I admit, it sounds like a bribe, but my oldest daughter was very happy to receive a gift and to give one to her little sister. The first of many gift exchanges!
In conclusion: You are already superheroes!
Remember that you are human, that mistakes are allowed and that humor is your best friend. After all, they say that a child who laughs is a child half asleep… or something like that.
So, take a deep breath, smile and get ready for this new adventure. And if all else fails, you can always console yourself with the thought that you will have good stories to tell their future partners!
Have you ever survived the arrival of a new baby in a family? What is your best memory or the craziest piece of advice that saved your life? Share it in the comments or send this article to a friend who needs it. Because after all, the secret to getting through it all is to never do it alone!
תגובות