Becoming a Big Sib

Preparing Toddlers for a New Baby

By Alexandria Powell

Bringing home Baby with a toddler already in place? It sounds daunting, but it doesn't have to be. While young children can't "prepare" for the new baby in the same ways that older kids can, there are a lot of things parents can do to help them sail through this very important milestone.

Preparing a toddler for the arrival of a new sibling can be difficult because very young children have a limited appreciation of abstract concepts, says Dr. Michael Wasserman, a pediatrician at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, La. Even if your toddler has felt the baby kick or seen a sonogram photo, she probably doesn't truly understand that another person is about to join the family.

To make things simpler, keep in mind that nine months is a long time. "It's best to slowly start preparing after the sixth month of pregnancy," says Kathy LeMaster, a registered nurse and parenting education coordinator at Baylor Medical Center in Irving, Texas. "Toddlers can become overwhelmed with too much information. Periodic repetition of small amounts of the same information is helpful."

And be sure to keep explanations short, simple and concrete. Sherry Grunder's granddaughter, Aliyah, had just turned 2 when her parents began discussing the issue of adding another child to the family. "My daughter-in-law asked Aliyah if she would like a new sister," says Grunder, a writer in central Maine. "Aliyah, confused, replied, 'Sticker'? Her mom said, 'No, not a sticker, a sister. Or would you rather have a new brother?' Aliyah emphatically replied, 'A STICKER!'"

Want to see more?

• Tiny Playmates: Welcoming Siblings with Smiles
• When Baby Meets Toddler: Helping Siblings Adjust to the Newest Family Member
• Family Introductions: Getting Siblings Ready for a New Baby
• Talk about it!