Parenting experts share 3 tips on how to get infant no. 1 onboard with infant no. 2
Meghan, 39, is due to give birth to a girl in February 2021, according to Women’s Health magazine. However, parenting experts believe it’s never too early to teach your first child about siblinghood.
Here are three tips physicians and childcare providers believe new parents should think about when they’re prepping baby number one because of their second bundle of pleasure.
Maintain your first child in the loop
Being the firstborn generally means being the center of a mother and dad’s world, and including a new baby disrupts that status quo.
This simple fact of life is why pediatrician and mother of triplets Delene P. Musielak believes it’s important to incorporate your own firstborn in the baby preparation procedure, especially if your eldest is at the toddler stage such as Archie — who is now 2-years-old.
“Not including them can lead to regression, like bedwetting, sucking their thumb, needing a pacifier, needing a bottle or even address regression to get attention.”
Apart from letting your first child know that they are likely to have a new sibling, sleeping arrangements might have to be changed to accommodate baby number two. This could mean having to transfer your firstborn to a new bed or space .
If moving is necessary, there is a right way to go about it, according to specialist nanny Jada Rashawn, who serves as a priest adviser for the childcare marketplace Sittercity.
“Transition baby number one out of a crib into a’big kid bed’ if they’re old enough and are showing signs of readiness, like standing or climbing in and out of the crib” Rashawn wrote to Fox News via email. “One crib is much better than just two and this is a great way to help your firstborn observe a landmark!”
Not only will there be adjustments to your household for baby number 2, but there will also be physical changes to your mother’s body. Although this simple fact is not surprising to adults, it surely can be to get a toddler or young child.
A crash course in reproduction is not necessary, however, Dr. Laurie Hollman believes parents must let their firstborn understand that bodies change throughout pregnancy.
“If you or your partner or a surrogate is pregnant, then you can start to use that word (pregnant) so that the child is not frightened or confused by the change in their mother’s body,” Hollman told Fox News. “Depending on the child’s age and speech development they will not only be interested about this new baby but also about how bodies change. Recall their bodies are changing quickly but they don’t think that will occur to grown-ups.”
Hollman, who is a child psychoanalyst, psychologist and therapist at Selecting Therapy, went on to add:”You desire any bodily change to be looked at from a positive light, something to be inquisitive about but maybe not afraid of, something that’s common and natural, and something you want to share and chat about with your child.”