ByThe Vine Childcare Center

How to Help Your Older Child to Adjust with the New Infant

There's nothing as joyous as bringing home a baby.

It can shift the family environment, especially if you already have a first child at home.

If your child is too young to understand the concept of having a new sibling, expect jealousy, confusion, and even anger.

What should you do to minimize sibling rivalry and your child’s natural panic reaction once the baby is born?

Here are some steps to help your older child adjust with the new family member and welcome their sibling with open arms.

Set aside special moments with your little ones. Call your older child over to nuzzle with you and the newborn baby.

Tell the baby that you want to introduce Big Sister/brother, who is a wonderful girl/boy that you hope the newborn will aspire to be like.

When you say your firstborn that they are going to become a big sister/brother, say it with excitement.

Make your child a hero in the eyes of the baby

Let your older child sit and hold the baby, help her/him to support his head.

The more your older child snuggles the new sib, the better their relationship is likely to be.

Role play responsibilities can really be effective especially girls will enjoy having a baby doll of their own to care for.

Better living through bonding

List out things your older child can do that the baby can't do yet and praise.

This will help the older one feel that although the baby is new and unique, they’re special in their own way, too.

Pour out Praise for the older one

Keep your child’s routines the same as they were before the baby as much as possible.

Untimeliness may at times, annoying for the older sibling.

Avoid Transition in the daily routine

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