STMs adding the new baby

[sunfrogger]

So since we have a good number of STM+ on here I thought I'd start us a thread.

How have you been preparing your LO/s for the new baby? How is it going? Talk about it here!

[sunfrogger]

So I'll start. We've been talking it up forever. She knows baby sister is in mom's belly. We reinforce the big sister and sharing stuff with the dog.

I'm going to send cupcakes in for her last day at preschool since she's going to stay home with me for budget reasons until I go back to work. She'll get to wear a big sister shirt etc. I got her a baby doll carrier since I plan to wear the baby a lot so that she doesn't feel left out. She never cared for uppies so I'm hoping that's not a big deal. If it is I'll just tandem when it's unavoidable.

She's doing REALLY well with pt right now and I'm nervous about regression.

[tiffrobot]

The Ovia app was really fun for the kids to follow throughout my pregnancy. They liked comparing their hands and feet to the estimated weekly size it shows, as well as seeing all the different approximate size of the baby in each theme for each week.

DS is 4.5 and has already gone through this (though he was 23 months when DD1 was born so seeing it in a different light). He’s naturally curious and big brother like so I answered every question he had throughout as honestly as I could, which included going online to find diagrams of 38 week babies in utero when he asked what it looked like inside my tummy then. He thought that was so cool. His current job is to pick out a new pair of PJs for her every night and he thinks it’s so fun and “aw”s over all her tiny clothes haha.

DD1 I thought was going to be more resistant to the change because she’s always been more of a mama’s girl than DS was, but she has become insta-Mom. We also got her a baby carrier for Christmas and she has since renamed her doll that she puts in it to Noelle 😊 I’ve tried to keep my normal routine with her like reading to her before bed and finding times to cuddle during the day but so far she hasn’t shown any resistance if I do have to leave, she hears N crying and wants to make sure she’s taken care of too!

N also got them new books about being big siblings when she was born, and the kids picked out their own gifts to give her too so they love making sure the toys they each got her are nearby.

ETA the last week or so of my pregnancy when I was parking my butt on the couch more often, we pulled the laptop out and watched lots of old videos of the kids when they were babies and they got a huge kick out of that too, seeing what they were like.

[mrsp84]

DD1 (4yo) is so excited to be a big sister. She helped MH paint the baby’s room and has helped us put some of the baby gear together. We talk about what’s going to happen when baby comes-and ask if she’s going to change poopy diapers, hold her, etc. and she says yes. I think she’s going to love having a real live baby to “play” with.

I like the idea of a baby carrier. I might have to get her one. She has a double stroller and drives them everywhere around the house. Both babies are named Penelope after her baby sister. ❤️

We also talk a lot about how she’s a big girl and will soon be a big sister so she needs to start listening better and doing things when we ask her to help out around the house. She’s getting better at cleaning up her toys, keeping her room clean and going to bed without any issues because she wants to show her sister how much of a big girl she is.

[benandjerrys]

DD is 2.5. we've been reading all the books and talking a lot about the baby. She's excited. She asks to talk to the baby, to see the baby (to pull up my shirt). She knows the baby will drink milk from my breasts and that that will take a lot of time. She knows that the baby will cry and she might feel sad too. I am cautiously optimistic that it will go smoothly. DD really does well independently playing, dressing, going potty, and eating so she doesn't NEED a lot of things from me but she definitely wants snuggle time with me.

[snowyowl]

DS is only 19 months, so we talk about a baby coming but I don’t think he has any real sense of what that means. He’s fascinated by other kids and babies, so I’m hoping that means he’ll react positively.
I’m sure there will be some adjusting. But he’s really more into his dad, so that will come in handy.

[easternshoregirl]

Jan 20, 2018 14:20:51 GMT -6 benandjerrys said:

DD is 2.5. we've been reading all the books and talking a lot about the baby. She's excited. She asks to talk to the baby, to see the baby (to pull up my shirt). She knows the baby will drink milk from my breasts and that that will take a lot of time. She knows that the baby will cry and she might feel sad too. I am cautiously optimistic that it will go smoothly. DD really does well independently playing, dressing, going potty, and eating so she doesn't NEED a lot of things from me but she definitely wants snuggle time with me.

This is where we are, minus the going potty. E is still in diapers but we're fine with that. We tried PTing around the new year but it wasn't working so we backed off and we'll try again in a couple of months! He definitely loves his snuggles too, today he nuzzled down into my chest and said "I like it here." 

[bassa]

DD1 is 2.5, and so far she’s been doing really really well with E being home. I was worried the tantrums would increase and she’d become more difficult, but that really hasn’t been the case. Any time E makes a squeak or cry, DD1 goes “It’s ok little baby!” in this really high pitched voice. She loves her “teeny tiny toes!” and is very patient when I tell her I can’t do something until E finishes nursing.

So all in all, it’s been going well so far! I think it helps that H is currently off for two weeks paternity leave, so doing more things with him has been a lot of fun for her.

[flippinchica]

We talked about baby beforehand but I'm not sure how much he got it. He loves to hug and kiss the baby but acts out too mostly at thin that seem unrelated like getting dressed. He sometimes wants to see my boobs and other times tells me to put them away, lol. Right now he is still in he crib and the baby is in the snoo in our room so eventually we will have to do something about that. I'm dreading it. They do some potty training at daycare but we haven't done much at home. He doesn't seem bothered by pee or poop in his diaper at all. We are still sending DS to daycare throughout my leave.

[helloerrbody]

Jan 20, 2018 14:30:44 GMT -6 snowyowl said:

DS is only 19 months, so we talk about a baby coming but I don’t think he has any real sense of what that means. He’s fascinated by other kids and babies, so I’m hoping that means he’ll react positively.
I’m sure there will be some adjusting. But he’s really more into his dad, so that will come in handy.

This is us.  DS is 21 months so I think it's all way over his head.  He points to my belly and says baby, but I think he probably just thinks I named my big fat belly "baby" lol.  He does love babies but I do not think he is going to love me nursing and holding one most of the time. 

[sarahh]

Jan 20, 2018 14:44:52 GMT -6 flippinchica said:

We talked about baby beforehand but I'm not sure how much he got it. He loves to hug and kiss the baby but acts out too mostly at thin that seem unrelated like getting dressed. He sometimes wants to see my boobs and other times tells me to put them away, lol. Right now he is still in he crib and the baby is in the snoo in our room so eventually we will have to do something about that. I'm dreading it. They do some potty training at daycare but we haven't done much at home. He doesn't seem bothered by pee or poop in his diaper at all. We are still sending DS to daycare throughout my leave.

This is is too. DD1 was just under 2.5 when DD2 was born. She would pay my belly and say baby before I gave birth but didn’t really get it. She is also still in diapers. We are probably going to potty train some time next month. She is in a toddler bed though and has actually gotten better about staying in her bed/room since DD2 came. She is acting out some though because she isn’t getting as much attention but we are adjusting and it’s getting better. She’s still in preschool and with her sitter so most of my weekdays are just spent with the baby which is good for all of us.

[watermelonseed]

My DD just turned 17 months and has no clue how life is going to change! 😆 She recently moved to her new “big girl” room and will gently pat my belly.

We are going to introduce and have her meet baby at our house when it is just us. I think being comfortable in her own environment is best given how young she is. baby will be in the car seat or bassinet vs. one of us holding the baby when she comes in.

[teraiin]

DS1 really had no concept (and still probably mostly doesn’t tbh haha)

We’ve been working hard on getting him to “be nice” because he tries to cover the babies and give them toys or pay their head bit he doesn’t reaiE how strong he is lol

Also since one boy came home a week sooner than the other he calls them both that bay’s name 🤣 I’m not sure if he thinks all babies are called that or what lol

[blueskiessmiling]

DD is also 2.5 (she’ll be 3 in May). She was really excited for the baby my whole pregnancy and was always patting my belly and talking to the baby. Fortunately that has continued since he was born. She totally adores him and will do anything to be a “helper” with him. We do let her hold him fairly often so he doesn’t seem off-limits and cause resentment. She loves to rock him and sing to him- it’s so heartwarming.

She was a bit challenging his first week home to H and I, but has toned it down. She’s sensitive by nature but it seems like that has been a bit amplified as well. Given what a change her little life is going through, it seems pretty reasonable to me.

[rebeccabunch]

DS1 was just 26 months when DS2 was born and had no clue. Now both boys, especially DS1, are really into it.

They love talking about what they were like as babies. DS1 you cried all day long but slept all night, you loved to take a long time to eat but would get mad afterwards, you used this swing too, DS2 slept all day but was up all night, DS2 always spit his food up, you both ate milk from mommy, blah blah blah.

They seem to enjoy it and I hope it helps set the table of mommy spent all this time she’s spending on the new baby on you too. It’s hard when babies cry but you did it as well, etc.

[yellow711]

tiffrobot I never thought to have DD follow along on the Ovia app! Great idea.

[yellow711]

DD is 4.5 years old. She is very excited to become a big sister. She likes to kiss my belly and talk to the baby (she always talks to the baby in a baby voice).

Due to the room layouts, we thought it would work best to have the baby use the room DD had used since she was born. Moving DD to her new room went really smoothly (wayyyy better than I thought).

We talk to her about things she can do to help once the baby is born - help pick out his clothes, grab a fresh diaper, help give a bottle, etc....

I am worried at how much of an adjustment and change it will be for DD - she has been our sole attention for 4.5 years.

[girlonabike]

Hi!

Kiddo is 2.5, and although I've tried to talk to him about the baby, I don't think he really "gets" that he'll have a sister in a few weeks. I know he loves babies in theory--he is obsessed with the "Everybody Loves Babies" docu on Netflix, and he loves his little cousin. But having a baby full time at home? Not sure how he's gonna act when mama is busy with the baby instead of him. We've been slowly transitioning him to his Big Boy Bedroom--we put his toddler bed in the nursery for now, so he can get used to the bed. Then we'll move it into his own bedroom, so he can get used to that. But kiddo is very much a needy attention seeker, so....I think it might be a little rough at first.

[Queen Mamadala]

My older kids are 13, 11, 8, and 3. Older two are pretty much "Cool. Another sibling." Not much preparation at this point. Probably the same for my 8 year old. We've been talking to dd3 (3 year old) about being a big sister and having a baby brother. I think she gets it. She's super excited and talks about baby Teddy being in my tummy and that I eat and drink for Teddy. She's aware I have doctor visits and knows he's coming soon.

Big kids...I'm "preparing" them by having them help clean, organize and sort stuff.

Dd3 is in a drawing mood since getting an easel for X-mas. This is me. The little circle thing that's located where my chin would be is baby Theodore. She refuses to draw a body and swears that's my uterus/tummy. Lol

[dragonflyinn]

DD is 2.5. We talked it up a lot & made a big deal of all the ways she would get to help as a big sister. Watched a lot of Daniel Tiger gets a sister & read a lot of books about it. She is obsessed with the baby & doesn’t seem to be jealous of him. It’s hard bc she has a cold so keeping her away from his things & giving him space is a challenge haha. The biggest challenge has been with me— she wants nothing to do with me. Not in a mean way but she just ignores me since he has come home. So that hurts a lot even though I know it’s not on purpose.

[pippiann]

M is newly 3 and was obsessed with my belly when I was pregnant, called my belly button a baby button. Lol took him a while to get that the baby wasn’t in my belly anymore, but my situation was a little different bc L was in the NICU for 10+ weeks. I am not sure if M’s “acting out” is him just being 3 or bc of L. He loves his brother without a doubt and is very sweet with him. Luckily L is such a chill baby and I can just put him down and give M attention when he really wants it (like when he wakes up). I really think the big brother books were really effective bc he wants to find his eyes, ears, and nose etc like in the books. My ils leave Tuesday and I am anxious to see how it goes.

[sunfrogger]

DD1 is 26mo so the girls will be 2 1/4 yrs apart.

Anyway she got very interested in my belly today. "Baby sister is stuck in mommys belly, I want her to come out and play ". Also very protective of my belly when a scary giant came on the magic school bus.

It was super adorable and I am slightly less concerned about the two of them and her handling the transition.

Pdq..

[Deleted]

Ds will be just shy of 5.5. We’ve let him help do as much of the construction on the babies room as possible and including him in decisions. Each time I gave an ultrasound we look at the pictures together.

He’s been asking for a sibling for close to three years so I’m hoping the excitement will still continue when he’s here. He knows mommy may not be able to do everything instantly but that we still love him/want to spend time with him and that we will still try to do as much of the same routine as we can.

[kyzo]

yellow711 our DD will be 4.5 as well.

We've been really honest with her. She asked how the baby was coming out of me and we showed her my c-section scar and said the doctor was going to take the baby out the same way. She understands mommy is going to have a big owie and that mommy may not be able to pick her up. She did suggest that the doctor use scissors instead of a knife.

I'm worried she's going to regress a little. She insisted we get out some of her old baby stuff when she saw our latest Amazon shipment of baby stuff. We are trying to prep her for kindergarten in the fall so we keep telling her what kindergarteners do and how they behave versus little kids. She responds well to that. Other than that, she is super excited to help and is becoming more independent every day.

[ajetter]

pippiann three has been my least favorite age of all of them. Both my oldest were the hardest to handle at three. Two is it’s own kind of special, but three the kids have some intent behind their actions. DD1 was 6 weeks shy of three when DD2 was born, and oh man. She acted out an insane amount. DD2 and DD3 have handled new baby transitions much better at 2.5, and they also were never used to a lot of solo attention. So I’m sure age plus that factor makes a difference.

[ajetter]

DD3 hasn’t missed a beat with us bringing DD4 home. I can tell she’s a bit more on edge and quicker to cry, but overall she has done a fantastic job of handling the change. We read lots of big sister books, talked about the baby, and basically just reiterated that she was going to be a big sister like the ones she has. She has loved babies since as long as she has been able to select her own toys, so she is loving this real live baby doll business. Oh she also watched the Daniel Tiger baby episode a million times. It’s the easiest one to find online. Lol.