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Pregnancy, Childbirth
| Obstetrics and Gynecology > Pregnancy and Childbirth > Family Education > Telling Your Children About the Baby |
Telling children about the baby
Childbirth and a new baby is a big change for the entire family, especially for any children you have now. Siblings may be worried that they will be overshadowed by the new baby or that the baby will change routines they are used to. The following checklists can help prepare your children for the birth and new baby.
Preparing siblings |
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Read books with your children about pregnancy, new babies and being a new brother or sister. |
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Bring your children to prenatal visits to hear the baby's heartbeat. |
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Take children on a hospital tour to see where mom will give birth. |
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Buy your children a lifelike doll to "feed" and bathe. |
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Make changes in bedroom or sleeping arrangements well before the baby's birth. |
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Let your children help you pack for the hospital stay. |
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Talk about where your children will stay during labor and childbirth. |
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Follow your children's lead about how much and when to discuss the birth and the new baby. |
Sibling adjustment after birth |
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Greet your children with open arms in the hospital or when you return home. |
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Give your other children a gift from the baby. |
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Prepare little gifts that visitors can give your other children. |
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Keep a special box of toys and books for the other children to play with at baby's feeding times. |
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Include other children in the baby’s care as much as possible. |
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Spend time alone with your other children when the baby is sleeping. |
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Accept whatever reaction your children displays for the new baby. Many different reactions are "normal." |
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Reinforce familiar rules. Structure and routines are necessary for the other children. |
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