Sibling Rivalry What To Do

You are pregnant with your second child, and you are excited to tell everyone about this good news. Everybody is happy and is eager to welcome the new baby of the family. But your first-born is somewhat shocked and manifests complicated reactions.



Naturally, you don't want your first child to exhibit those hostile feelings towards your second child. Here are some ways to help you in dealing with your first child's temperament of having a sibling soon.



Break the news to him earlier - There is no exact time in telling your child about the impending birth. But as much as possible, break the news to him in your early months of pregnancy. Be sure to break it to him nicely, considering his feelings.



Keep it simple - When explaining about the impending birth of his younger sibling, try to tailor your explanation to your child's level of understanding.



Reassure him - Talk to your child in a positive manner about your pregnancy. Being positive will greatly help your child cope up with the news of having a baby brother or sister soon. In the meantime, shower him your love and attention; Reassure him that he is not being replaced and that no matter what happens, he will still be your number one angel.



Make the move from crib to bed a jolly one - Have your child be ready with transitions in his life, including giving up his crib for his younger sibling. Talk to him in a nice way and suggest that because he is now a grown baby, he gets to sleep on the bed because cribs are just for small babies.



Lavish him your time - After the baby is born, it is only natural that your toddler may feel jealous of the attention your new baby is getting. Be sure to set aside a special bonding time with him. Lavish him with your tender loving care so that he may not feel left out after all.



Recruit his help - Have your toddler help out in taking care of the new baby even in small simple ways. In this way, he may enjoy his new responsibility and gets to bond with his new sibling very often.



Develop compassion - Help your toddler handle his emotions well with regards to the new baby. Show him his baby pictures and explain to him that a baby needs special attention and care just like when he was still young. This may help him be more tolerant of the time you spend with your new baby.



Shower him with gifts also - When buying something for the new baby, be sure to buy also gifts for your toddler. Don't overlook your first-born child's feelings. Be sure to have something for the both of them to make your toddler feel that he is still part of your world.