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According to my soon to be mother-in-law, my fiancée sat on his sister’s head when she came home from the hospital. He was a couple of months away from being two years old and was not excited about the new family addition. He grew to love her.

Preparing a child for a new baby can seem like a daunting task. Start as early as possible. Depending on the age of your child, you will need to adjust your announcement. Be ready to answer questions that your child may have. Add some books about childbirth and becoming a big brother/sister to your child’s bookshelf.

Some hospitals offer sibling birth classes. If your child is interested in becoming an older sibling, look into registering to one of these classes. Ask your child to help you pack your ‘hospital birth bag’ and talk about the accommodations you have made for him/her while you are at the hospital.

When the new baby comes home, include your child in daily activities such as changing the diapers, baths, and burping the baby. If your child is not interested in the new baby, don’t worry about it. It will come with time, but don’t try to force it.

Make special “big boy/big girl” time each day with one parent until your child is adjusted to the new baby. Even ten minutes of playing catch with dad can decrease your child’s resentment or feelings of jealousy toward the new baby.

Stay firm with the household rules if your child acts out even though you understand that it’s due to the new baby. Understanding the behavior will help you keep your sanity, but your child still needs limits and consistency.

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