Tips for Announcing Your Pregnancy to Your Children

During your second, third, or further pregnancies, you have the added fun of announcing your pregnancy to your child or children! You may be wondering when is the best time to announce your pregnancy, or want some ideas on creative ways to tell your child or children you are pregnant. Read on for some tips.

When to Announce Your Pregnancy

Many parents wonder when is the best time to announce their pregnancy to their kids. Some like to announce it right away so they can explain to their children why mom is throwing up a lot and tired all the time, or simply because they are excited and see no reason to wait. Some like to wait until the second trimester, when the risk of a miscarriage is greatly reduced. Still others like to wait until they start showing so that the concept of a baby on the way is more concrete to their child or children. In the end it's all up to you and when you feel is the best time according to your particular circumstances and family.

Announcing Your Pregnancy to a Toddler or Young Child

With a younger child, you may want to wait until you start showing to announce your pregnancy. That makes the concept of a baby seem more real. Then you can say something like, "Remember how we talked about maybe getting a new brother or sister for you? Well, we are getting one! It's in a special place called a womb (or uterus) inside Mommy. It's safe inside there while it grows. See my belly, how it's getting bigger? It will keep getting bigger as the baby grows. Soon you'll be able to feel the baby kick! Then, when the baby is ready, it will come out of Mommy and you'll have your new brother or sister!"

Announcing Your Pregnancy to an Older Child or Children

For an older child, you can have more fun announcing your pregnancy! First, however, if you feel like your child may not take the news very well, wait to make the announcement. Have discussions with him to prepare him for the news that you're having a baby. Hopefully soon enough he will warm up to the idea of a new sibling, and you can make your announcement.

Creative Ideas for Announcing Your Pregnancy to Your Children
One idea for announcing your pregnancy to your child is to get her a baby doll. Tell your child that the doll is so that she can get some practice playing with and taking care of a baby before their new brother or sister comes along!

If you have an older child who has been asking you for something for a while (a video game console, a skateboard), now might be a good time to get him that thing. Buy the thing he wanted and give it to him as a gift. Say, "We thought it was about time we got you that (DSi, new bike) you wanted, now that you're going to be a big brother!"

An older child might enjoy sharing in the fun of announcing the pregnancy to other family members. Let her in on the plan to surprise people, or you can even make her the announcer!

Another way to announce your pregnancy would be to show your child or children an ultrasound picture of the baby. This will also help make the pregnancy seem a little less abstract to them.

Get your older child a book about being a big brother. Wrap it up as a gift and watch your child's face as he realizes that he's going to have a new baby brother or sister!