Assisting Your Toddler in Forming Bonds With Their New Baby Sibling

 Although it's tough to constantly remember, particularly when we're the ones who have been up all night, the arrival of a new baby signifies a huge life shift for your toddler Package In Singapore. It may be helpful to imagine OUR life and relationships being drastically altered at such times (assuming we aren't too sleep-deprived to do so). Maybe anything along these lines...

You and your spouse are totally devoted to each other.

Then, suddenly, he sits down and enthusiastically declares that he will soon be bringing home another lady to live with the two of you permanently, whether you like it or not.

A new lady appears in your house a few months later, as expected. She's young and stunning, and random people in the shopping mall come up to gawk at her. They don't seem to notice you. She wants to spend a lot of time physically connected to your spouse when you go back home. Since she came, it seems that you are supposed to share not just your spouse, but also everything else that was before yours alone. Since she's been here, she's made no attempt to be sociable or contribute to the household, and yet everyone thinks you're pleased with the new arrangement!

Worse still, your spouse seems to stay up all night with his new love every night and is too exhausted to spend meaningful time with you during the day.

Please excuse me for asking, but when did this seem like a good idea?

Please don't misunderstand me. A new baby sibling may be a great addition to your family. It simply doesn't always seem that way at first. Or, at the very least, not for your child. In the sleep-deprived haze of newborn parenting, it's essential not to lose sight of the fact that a baby's birth brings tremendous changes for your kid.

So, here are some suggestions for assisting your toddler in adjusting to their new baby brother and bonding with them. Some are based on my clinical and theoretical expertise, but the majority are based on my experience as the mother of three young, adoring siblings:

PRIOR TO THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY

1. Encourage connecting with your 'listening belly

 Just as you bond with your baby before they are born, your  toddler Package In Singapore may do the same. Tell your toddler that their soon-to-arrive sibling can already hear them from within your womb. When you're reading, talking, or listening to music with your toddler, for example, this offers great chances for engagement "This book is now being read by your older sister and me, baby. You'll be able to listen to it from within my belly, and when you're ready, we'll be able to show you the images as well" or "I'm curious whether you enjoy this music as well - your older brother chose it for us all to listen to" "..

2. Read about new newborn siblings in tales

 A number of books have been produced to assist toddlers in preparing for the arrival of new baby siblings. We read Joanna Cole's "I'm a Big Sister" (who has also written a big brother version). This tale appealed to me because it describes how infants scream out for what they need. My empathetic eldest kid was relieved to learn that infants were just expressing themselves in this manner and were not constantly unhappy. I could then ask for her assistance in figuring out why her sister was crying - "I wonder if she's trying to ask for a feed or a nap, what do you think?" - after her newborn sibling had come. Assisting in this manner may give your child a feeling of responsibility that he or she will appreciate.

3. Look at your toddler's newborn pictures with them

A few months before their new baby sister was due, I put together a small book for each of my girls. There were pictures of their hospital stay, of being kissed and hugged, and of utilizing all of the baby equipment (e.g., baby capsule, sling, playmat, etc.) so that they knew that they had enjoyed things as infants and that our new baby would soon have his or her turn.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY:

4. Your hospital stay: 

If, like me, you prefer to have your infants in the hospital, there are certain things you can do to make the separation from your toddler less painful. My children and I video-called each other every morning and night so that we could say our good-nights and good-mornings despite being apart. I understand that this isn't feasible for everyone, but it's worth considering if you can. (Goodnight kisses on the phone screen-cover may become a bit dirty.) Knowing that I wouldn't be able to be my normal physically engaged self after the delivery, I prepared peaceful things for my little guests to do in my hospital room (coloring, puzzles, etc.) and set up small treasure hunts for their visits (which worked perfectly as I was able to stay comfortably still for the hunt while they ran around my room).

5. Be prepared for newborn gifts

 When you have a baby, people are generally very kind, but toddlers may frequently feel left out. Either put the baby's presents aside and open them later, or keep a limited supply of pre-wrapped gifts on hand for your toddler if he appears to be having trouble with it.

6. Enlist your toddler's assistance

 This doesn't always mean giving a bath or putting the baby to bed (though it's tempting on occasion), but your toddler may definitely be asked to assist in other ways "Which of these outfits do you think would be a better match for your baby sister today? Thank you for your assistance ".. And, if you have a really helpful toddler at home, he can definitely help by giving you wipes or diapers, or by gently massaging your baby with you.

7. Maintain normalcy

 While nothing is normal (particularly your energy levels), the arrival of a new baby sibling should not be the end of all enjoyable activities if at all feasible. If you think you'll be able to make it to your toddler's favorite playgroup sessions with a new baby in tow, go for it. Otherwise, your child may associate the arrival of a sibling with the end of enjoyable activities, which isn't ideal for sibling bonding.