Your firstborn has been the center of your attention for many months.
Now that a new member of the family is about to arrive in your home, he will need to share you with the new baby.
He sees the baby as a competition for your attention and love.
Your toddler fears the time when he'll be cast aside and the baby will forever take his place in your heart.
From a toddler's perspective, this is a big change, and change is something that doesn't sit too well among children this age.
Your toddler probably has a lot of questions as to why you're bringing another baby in the house.
Aside from thinking of a good answer for 'How was the baby made?' you need to prepare your child for the big transition.
Below are some ways to help your tot handle the situation.
1.
Guide Him Through His Expectations There are probably a thousand things going on in your toddler's mind right now.
To help him with the confusion, spend some time with him to talk about what to expect when the baby arrives.
Give him a time frame when the baby is due (at summer, when school starts, etc.
) and let him know what the baby will do for the next couple of months of its life (eat, sleep, cry, etc.
).
Doing so will help relieve his anxiousness over the situation.
2.
Schedule Playtime With His Daddy or Another Adult in the Family As you prepare for birthing, you'll have less time to spend with your firstborn, even more so once the new baby comes home.
During this time, your toddler needs another adult to lean on.
Let him spend some one-on-one time with his dad or a relative.
This way, he becomes accustomed to the presence of another family member while you are busy tending to your newborn.
Moreover, your toddler won't try to compete for your attention, since he's also busy with his own thing.
3.
Bring in the Changes Gradually Having a new baby at home brings in a lot of changes.
Most likely, your child will have to move into a new room to make way for the arrival of the baby.
If you plan on moving your toddler from a crib to a toddler bed, do so at least six weeks before you give birth.
If you do this close to the baby's due date, he'll see the change as displacement and resent the baby for it.
Set up the nursery a few weeks ahead so that he'll get used to seeing baby stuff inside your home.
4.
Teach Him the Concept of Gentleness Your toddler may not like the idea of sharing your love with the newest member of the family, but that doesn't mean he's not excited about becoming a big brother.
Sometimes, this excitement can turn into rough play.
Tell him that babies like gentle touches and have him practice on a doll or stuffed animal.
5.
Give Him a Role in Taking Care of the Baby Though he may not admit it, your toddler probably wants to take part in caring for his sibling.
When you're changing the baby's diaper, tell him how it's done.
He won't be able to do it, for sure, but by doing so, you are sort of letting him in on a big secret.
Show him what big brothers do for their little brothers or sisters.
You can assign him little responsibilities such as bringing the baby's bottle, singing to the baby, or picking up toys from the floor.
As your family becomes bigger, your toddler will go through some ups and downs.
Shower him with hugs and kisses so that he won't feel he's been replaced.