Adjusting to a new infant can often be a difficult process for a family. Especially when there is an older child who used to be the only child, the entire dynamic of how the family operates can change almost overnight. Because of this, it is especially important that parents take the time to do certain things to go about helping the older siblings make the adjustment to having a new infant in the house.

Helping older siblings adjust to the new infant should begin even before the infant is born. Some types of adjustments, such as living space adjustments, should be made as early as possible. For example, if you have a toddler that will be giving up his baby crib and moving into a toddler bed when the new infant comes, it may be best to try to move the toddler out of the baby bed and into the toddler bed as soon as possible. This gives the toddler more time to adjust to the new sleeping arrangement. The same goes for when older siblings will be sharing a room with the new infant; if there is going to be a new bed, a new dresser, and a changing table in their bedroom, it is better to put those things in well before the birth.

Another important aspect of helping older siblings adjust to the new infant is getting the older siblings to see themselves as helpers and care-givers, rather than seeing themselves as competitors with the new infant for their mother’s attention. Depending on the age and maturity of the older siblings, there may be a variety of ways that you can do this.

Finally, the most important component of helping older siblings adjust to the new infant has to do with how the children are treated. If older children are jealous of the time commitment that the new infant receives, or if they believe they are not being treated fairly, sibling rivalry is bound to erupt. You can minimize this by making special time to spend just with the older siblings, and by makings certain that you are indeed treating all of the children fairly.

Posted in Parenting

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