Making The Adjustment To Older Sibling As Easy As Possible For Your Toddler
You’re expecting your second child, and although you’re over the moon about it, you’re a little worried about how your toddler will deal with the transition to big brother or sister. The first thing that you need to do is stop worrying – it’s not good for you or the baby. You might be worried about how your toddler will take to his or her new sibling, but as long as you make the adjustment process as easy for them as possible, you will have nothing to worry about.
To help you to do that, below are a few tips and ideas.
Make any changes long before the new baby arrives
One of the most important things is to make any changes before the new baby arrives. Say, for instance; you want to use your toddler’s bedroom as the baby’s nursery because it’s closest to your room, make sure to move your toddler to a new bedroom as soon as possible. That way he or she won’t feel like the baby forced them out of their bedroom.
Invest in a double stroller
The last thing you want is to make your toddler feel pushed out. So depending on how old they are, it might be a good idea to invest in a double stroller for your toddler and your new baby, such as a Graco double stroller. That way your toddler won’t feel like they’re being pushed out of the pram, so to speak, and will feel like they’re just as important as their new brother or sister.
Find ways to get them excited
One of the best things that you can do to make the adjustment process easier for your toddler is to get them excited about the arrival of their new brother or sister. There are lots of simple ways that you can do this; it’s just a case of finding what works for you and your child. TV programs or books about becoming a big brother or sister are always a good idea and tend to work well when it comes to getting little ones excited about the arrival of their new sibling.
Make them feel special
Remember, no matter how excited you are about the arrival of your new baby, it’s important to make your toddler feel special. Set aside time with them each day to do something together. Talk to them about how proud of them you are, and how you know that they will make the best big brother or sister ever. The more special and involved you make your little one feel, the easier they will find it to adjust to the arrival of their new brother or sister. When the baby arrives, it’s a good idea to ensure that they are the first person to meet him or her, as this will make them feel extra special.
For toddlers, it can be hard to adjust to a younger sibling, simply because they’re still incredibly young themselves. However, if you take them time to get them excited and find little ways to ensure that they don’t feel left out, you can make the adjustment process easier for them.