Should Your Child Be Present when a Sibling is Born?
Surprising Benefits!
You might assume that the intensity of giving birth might be overwhelming to a younger person. However, there can be surprising benefits found in encouraging your child to be present when a sibling is born.
Educational Benefits
When your child is present when a sibling is born, you are completing the cycle of education that began when this curious younger person first attended child birth classes with you.
Along with other information about how babies are conceived and the stages of pregnancy, you can now show a child who is present when a sibling is born the final result of what pregnancy means.
You child's presence at the birth of a sibling is the final chapter in an ongoing educational process--one that is very real and ultimately satisfies the child's curiosity.
Removing the Mystery
Your child who is present when a sibling is born is less likely to fear the mystery of where babies come from simply because the mystery has been removed.
Babies don't just appear out of thin air.
This benefit has different implications.
To begin with, being present at the birth of a sibling gives your child a chance to personalize the experience. When a sibling is born, your child is actively aware that this is his or her very own new sister or brother, not some impersonal diagram in a medical book.
Your child's experience of what pregnancy means goes from the technical to the personal.
Additionally, when your child is present at the birth of a sibling and can immediately see and touch this new baby, an instinctively protective side can be aroused. The child will form an immediate concern for the new family member that can obviously overcome any jealousy you might assume will be there.
Including your child when a sibling is born also gives you the chance to interact with this child at the same time you are caring for the new baby. This further eliminates the possibility of jealousy because you are showing that you can make time for both children.
In sum, there can be surprising benefits found when your child is present when a sibling is born.
Aside from showing how the new baby is the final result in the ongoing medical process of pregnancy, you are also giving your child a head start in forming a strongly protective emotional attachment to this new person.
After all, this baby belongs to your child as a new brother or sister. This can give them something to brag about.
Educational Benefits
When your child is present when a sibling is born, you are completing the cycle of education that began when this curious younger person first attended child birth classes with you.
Along with other information about how babies are conceived and the stages of pregnancy, you can now show a child who is present when a sibling is born the final result of what pregnancy means.
You child's presence at the birth of a sibling is the final chapter in an ongoing educational process--one that is very real and ultimately satisfies the child's curiosity.
Removing the Mystery
Your child who is present when a sibling is born is less likely to fear the mystery of where babies come from simply because the mystery has been removed.
Babies don't just appear out of thin air.
This benefit has different implications.
To begin with, being present at the birth of a sibling gives your child a chance to personalize the experience. When a sibling is born, your child is actively aware that this is his or her very own new sister or brother, not some impersonal diagram in a medical book.
Your child's experience of what pregnancy means goes from the technical to the personal.
Additionally, when your child is present at the birth of a sibling and can immediately see and touch this new baby, an instinctively protective side can be aroused. The child will form an immediate concern for the new family member that can obviously overcome any jealousy you might assume will be there.
Including your child when a sibling is born also gives you the chance to interact with this child at the same time you are caring for the new baby. This further eliminates the possibility of jealousy because you are showing that you can make time for both children.
In sum, there can be surprising benefits found when your child is present when a sibling is born.
Aside from showing how the new baby is the final result in the ongoing medical process of pregnancy, you are also giving your child a head start in forming a strongly protective emotional attachment to this new person.
After all, this baby belongs to your child as a new brother or sister. This can give them something to brag about.
Published by Dan Reveal
Come walk with me. I'll share my umbrella. View profile
- How to Register the Birth of a Baby in ScotlandThe birth of a baby in Scotland must be legally registered within 21 days following birth. Scottish law allows a birth to be registered in any registration district in Scotland. It is not restricted to the district wh...
- How to Help Your Child Make FriendsGives tips for helping children make and keep friends, as well as advice for what parents can do to model good social skills and help children when they get into fights with their friends.
- How to Register the Birth of a Baby in Northern IrelandIt is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland to register all births within 42 days. Various agencies will require proof of birth so that parents can claim child benefit and when they register their child with a GP.
- Teaching Your Child to Be CompassionateA suggestive guide to various strategies and activities that will encourage compassionate behavior in your child.
- Would You Let Your Child Participate in a Medical Research Study?New medicine, treatments, and vaccines - they all need to go through various stages of research and clinical trials before they are approved for general use. If you had the option, would you let your child participat...
- How to Prepare Your Child to Attend a New Baby's Birth
- 10 Ways to Deal with Sibling Jealousy
- Having Children Present at a Birth: What You Should Know
- Tips on Preparing the Big Brother or Sister for a New Baby
- Baby Tips for Parents of an Unenthusiastic Future Sibling
- Dealing with Sibling Rivalry on the Day of Your Second Child's Birth
- Preparing Your Older Child for the Birth of a Sibling
21 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting points, but I don't think its a great idea.
I agree there can be some good points, but what if something goes wrong? My youngest brother came into the world normally enough, but the brother between us died a few seconds after he was born for want of being able to breathe. If I had seen that as a toddler, I think it would have left a really bad mark on me.
I think this depends on the age of the child as to whether to be present at birth or not! Great article.
ps I agree, being in the delivery room would be too much for a young child! :-)
Very interesting article, well done, Dan! :-)
I'm planning on bringing my daughter in after the baby is born. She got to see the ultrasound though.
I would not allow a small child to be present in the delivery room. Excellent article as always. Thanks!
You had some valid points.
True information. Although the application of such would differ depending on the child and child's maturity. My oldest was brought in right after her sister was born. She was rather sleepy and was completely uninterested in the new baby, lol. The girls didn't see their brother until he was brought home, but they were anxious by then (at the time they WANTED a brother, probably can't say the same now...:D )
Interesting subject. Thanks for the great article