Should Your Older Child Name the New Baby?

I was only three years old when my younger brother was born. Therefore, my parents didn't even ask me what we should name him. Personally I would've favored "It" or "Send him back" which were my favorite sentiments when my parents brought him home from the hospital. However, involving an older child in the process of naming the newest addition to your family can give that child a sense of responsbility and attachment before the child is born.

Set Some Ground Rules

Let's say you're welcoming your second child into the family. This means that your first child, who is used to be the only game in town and has successfully played that role for several years, might be feeling resentment over having to share food, toys, living space, etc. Most likely, you or your spouse will want to agree on what to name your new bundle of joy. But in the event that you want to give your oldest the keys to that car advise him or her that profanity is illegal and adjectives for rotten smells and stenches are off-limits as far as the baby's legal name is concerned. However, be advised that you have no control on whether or not the child uses those names as nicknames.

Make Sure That the Child (and You) Understand The Name Game

I heard of a woman who almost named their newest arrival, a boy, Chris. This seems uneventful, right? The family's last name was Steena. No word on whether or not the boy became a Golden Gloves boxer. There are also families whose last name was Case that had a boy who they named Justin and Alexanders who had a daughter named Brandy.
Most of the time, parents don't make those kind of mistakes. But kids not only are keenly aware that these names are plays on words but will also make sure that their younger siblings will be targets for harassment for the rest of their natural lives. So if you decide to give an older sibling the honor and privilege of naming their younger sibling ask yourself if they are up to the challenge. Do they often talk back? Do they use smart-aleck comments? Do they set fires in the backyard?