How to Prepare a Toddler for a New Baby

Preparing a toddler for a new baby is not easy. Children under the age of three may not understand fully that the bump in Mommy's belly is a new brother or sister that will soon be a part of their lives. First children get used to the attention they get as only children and when a child is very young it is hard to expain to them that they will have to share this attention in the future. They recognize that Mommy is getting a big belly and may even understand that there is a baby in the bump, but they cannot understand that a new person will come from it.

There are some things parents can do to help prepare their toddlers for the arrival of their new brother or sister.

Get Toddlers Used to Babysitters

If a child is used to being with Mom or Dad all of the time it is not a good idea to wait until Mom is in labor to have someone watch him. Parents should start slowly by leaving their child with the designated babysitters for short periods. Parents should hug and kiss their child and let them know they will be back. After doing this a number of times the toddler will realize that even though Mommy and Daddy are away for a while they always come back for him.

It is a good idea to have people the child is familiar with and comfortable with watch him. The toddler may be with this person for an extended period of time and having someone he likes watch him will ease some of the anxiety.

Set Up Gear Before Baby Arrives

It is important to let a toddler see the different items her new brother or sister will be using before the child is born so she is less curious after the baby comes home. Setting up the swing, nip nap, etc... and allowing the child to touch them and ask questions early prevents them from trying to play with them when the baby is actually in them.

Taking a doll and showing a toddler how the baby will use different things will help the child understand what they are going to be used for.

Talk About the Baby

Talking about the baby to a toddler regularly helps it become a part of everyday life. There is a difference between talking about something and having it in the home, but preparing the child ahead helps to save them from some surprises.

Tell toddlers that when the baby comes it might cry a lot and he has to be patient. Tell them that the baby will be too little to play with right away because it will be very small and they will have to be gentle. Let toddlers know that they can help take care of the baby by holding a bottle or getting diapers for it. Make the baby special and refer to it as their baby. This might help them get excited about a new little brother or sister that is all their own.

Let Toddlers Know How Loved They Are

The most important thing a parent can say to a toddler as they prepare for the arrival of a new baby is they love them and will always love them very much. A new baby is a new person to love, but will not take away from the affection that is felt for the toddler. Reassuring them of this often will help them feel more secure and perhaps a little less jealous when the baby arrives.