Introducing a new sibling to your child is a very important process. While it is true that children will obviously develop their own interpersonal relationships, the way that you go about introducing a new sibling to your child can often set the tone for their relationship, at least in those initial and important days. By planning out how you will go about introducing a new sibling to your child, you can help make this big family change a bit less traumatic.

To make the process of introducing a new sibling to your child a positive one, you should begin the introduction even before the new sibling is born. Share the ultrasound pictures of your new baby. Get your child to rub your baby on the head by rubbing your belly. Let your older child feel your baby kick. Talk to and about the new sibling. Help your older child to understand that the new baby is already a part of the family.

You can also help with introducing a new sibling to your child by talking about the new baby, and helping your older child to understand how things change. Your older child needs to know that babies cry, that they need lots of attention, and that they sleep a lot. By knowing what to expect from their new sibling, your child is less likely to be surprised.

Make the introduction into a celebration. Have your older child and the new sibling exchange gifts. Ask your older child to help you plan a birthday party for the new sibling. By turning your older child into a partner in this way, your older child will be less threatened by the increased attention and time that the new sibling takes from mommy and from daddy.

Finally, be patient with your child when introducing a new sibling. Your child will probably be very excited and happy, but it is also possible that he may act shy, afraid, or even act out physically. Help your older child to understand right from the beginning what sorts of activities are appropriate around the new sibling, and which ones aren’t.

Posted in Parenting

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