Preparing the eldest to have a younger brother & bull; hello healthy

Giving your first child the understanding that soon she will have a younger sibling is something you should also prepare before your second baby is born, especially if your first child is only one or two years old. The arrival of a new baby can bring changes to the family, you as a parent must pay more attention to caring for a newborn baby than to your first child.

This is what can make the first child feel jealous or feel that he is being rivaled by his newborn sister. However, you can anticipate this by giving understanding to your first child before your second baby is born. This will make things easier for you.

Preparations that can be done during pregnancy

You can begin to give understanding to your first child since you became pregnant. That way, he will better understand that soon there will be new members coming to the family. However, when telling your child about your pregnancy, consider your child's level of maturity and your own comfort.

Tell me that you are pregnant and that soon she will have a younger sibling

You could tell that right now there is a younger sibling in your stomach. Your child needs to know it from you firsthand, not from anyone else. You may need to show and share pregnancy photos of your first child, photos of your first child as a baby, or others to help your child understand that unborn babies and newborns need special attention.

Visiting your friend who has a baby can also help the child develop interactions with the baby and you can see if the child likes babies. Taking your first child when you visit the obstetrician can also help your child slowly accept the presence of a younger sibling who will be born later.

You can also let your child hold your stomach so that he can feel the kicks or movements of his or her sibling who is still in the womb. Always tell positive things about your unborn baby to your child, don't let your child know that you are sick or tired while pregnant.

Build time with dad

You cannot work alone, remember you can work with your partner to give understanding to children. If your first child is used to spending a lot of time with you, try to invite your child to spend more time with his father.

This will train your child not to be with you all the time, so that later it will help you when your baby is born. After the baby is born, of course you need time for yourself as a period of recovery and time for your newborn. If your child is used to his father, then he may not feel that you care less about him. Your child may be less surprised by the changes that occur when a new family member arrives.

Involve the child in preparations before birth

If your child is interested, you can involve him in preparing for everything related to his younger sibling who will be born. She may be able to help choose clothes for her younger sibling, shoes, socks, toys, and other baby items. That way, he will feel involved and become part of the people who welcome the birth of the baby.

Approaching the time of birth

Approaching birth time makes you even more busy with yourself and birth, which may make your child anxious and create new fears. This is normal. At this point, it's best to stick to your normal routine.

Don't make big changes at this time. If you want to move your child's room, it's best to do this a few weeks before birth. If your child cannot go to the toilet by himself, you should not force him to do so.

At this time, the child also needs more time with you. Spend time with your child as much as you can and enjoy it before many changes occur in your family. At this point, you could tell him that soon his younger sibling will be born, he can visit you in the hospital when the baby is born. Tell him that this will be a new, exciting experience for him, he doesn't have to worry if you are not there.

When the baby is born

After your baby is born, it's a good idea to keep a close eye on your first child so that it can help him adjust to the changes that occur. It's a good idea to stay involved as much as possible in your day-to-day activities with your baby so that she doesn't feel left out.

This can help build interaction between siblings and siblings, even though it may take longer for your work. Let him enjoy time with his younger siblings, maybe he wants to play with babies, talk to babies, dress him up, and so on. Also, don't forget to make time for your first child so that he or she still has their full attention. You can do this while the baby is sleeping or whenever you have the opportunity.

If the child is rude to the baby, so be it don't scold him. Understand what feelings your child is feeling so that they behave in this way. This could also be a sign that he doesn't feel like you are getting enough of your attention. This means that you should spend more time with your first child.

Having a younger sibling is a big change for children. It takes time for her to adjust to and really understand it. What is important you do is always give understanding to children.

You need to know

Several factors can make it more difficult for children to accept the presence of their younger siblings, such as:

The personality of the child has the greatest influence on how he interacts with his newborn sister, based on research.
Children who have the closest relationship with their mother, usually get more angry when their younger siblings are born.
Children who have the closest relationship with their father are usually more able to adjust to the presence of their younger siblings.
Your child's stage of development can also affect how well they can share your attention. 2 year olds are usually more difficult to share because they still need a lot of time and attention from you.
Stress in the family can make adjusting the first child to the presence of a younger sibling more difficult. Therefore, you should always try to establish harmony in the family regardless of the circumstances.