What to Say to Your Children about the New Baby

You are expecting a baby and you are thrilled! You have a new little baby on the way, scheduled for delivery in a few months. If you have other children, how do you know when to tell them they are going to have a new little sister or brother?

How To Tell Your Children About The New Baby

You want to carefully plan when and how to explain to your children about the new baby. You also need to plan how you are going to support them through your pregnancy and the delivery.

Let’s face it, bringing a new baby into the home is both an exciting time and a disruptive time in the lives of young children. Even teenagers find that a new baby is effects their lives. They will probably have their nightly sleep interrupted for at least a few weeks, and mom might not have the time or energy to drive them to their own events.

Both mom and dad are responsible for preparing other children for the new baby. It’s important that mom and dad are understanding of any reactions and make this a positive time.

When To Tell Your Children About The New Baby

How do you know when to tell your children about the new baby? It will really depend upon their age and development. If you have a child between 2 and 3 years old they might have a hard time sharing your attention, their possessions and your time. When you begin furnishing the nursery is a good time to start explaining that they have a new little sister or brother coming.

This is a great time to get a picture book about how babies develop and are born. There are great resources available to help you explain and show pictures that they can understand.

Changing your youngsters schedule (such as beginning nursery school) or asking them to learn a new independent skill (potty training, for example) close to the time the new baby is born may make them feel as though it is their sibling’s fault. If you cannot make those changes well before the new baby’s arrival, wait until after the baby is born and the schedule at home is settled.

If you have children who are 4 or 5 you can begin to tell them at the same time you are telling friends and relatives. It is better they hear it from you than from one of those friends or relatives.

After the Delivery

When the delivery time comes and you are at the hospital for a day or two, you can call home frequently. You can also encourage your other children to visit and meet their new sibling. If for some reason they are not able to visit at the hospital then a digital camera with pictures of mom and new little one is a great way to help them through this time.

Whatever you do, be sure you do not neglect your other children. Spend as much time with them as you can, and try to make the new baby’s arrival as pleasant as possible.