Supplies for older sibs at homebirth?

[aricha]

This will by my third homebirth (my husband's 4th), but the first with the older siblings. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about things to have on hand for them during labor? The last two labors have been about 19 hours total (from the very first contraction) but only about 5 of them active labor.

Besides me and my husband and the midwife's team (MW, assistant, and student/doula), we will have two support people for the three kids-- one who can support kids as they want to be around the birth, one who can support kids who need a break or don't want to be there (though if all the kids want to be there, they are both welcome to be there as well)... Both, obviously, are very well-known to the kids and we totally trust them with any child-related decision making. They will be here staying with us for a week or more before the due date, so should be familiar with the kids' routines (naps, meals, comfort items, bedtime routines, etc).

Anyway, as we were shopping for birth supplies for the baby, we thought it might be nice to have a special shopping trip for the siblings' supplies-- like special snacks and juices that we can set aside for the birth. We also thought some new special activities or toys would be a good idea...

Any suggestions for supplies for the older siblings? Oh, they are 6, 4, and 2. Any other suggestions on preparing them (and their support people) for the birth? My husband and I really would love for this to be a "family affair" as much as the kids are comfortable with it, but we also really want to be able to concentrate on labor and the birth and not on general childcare of the older ones.

Thanks for any advice or words of wisdom!

[melamama]

Originally Posted by aricha

Anyway, as we were shopping for birth supplies for the baby, we thought it might be nice to have a special shopping trip for the siblings' supplies-- like special snacks and juices that we can set aside for the birth. We also thought some new special activities or toys would be a good idea...

Any suggestions for supplies for the older siblings? Oh, they are 6, 4, and 2. Any other suggestions on preparing them (and their support people) for the birth?

I think this is a great idea. I would look at it as if you were going on a trip and packing special things for the way. My kids have always had ice cream (regardless of the time of the birth), I know I just bought my Recharge and both my boys would have been happy to have a special bottle for just them. I would have the ingredients for a favorite meal.

I don't know if you do media, but this seems like it would be a good time for a special show or movie. I would also look at the other thread about good hb books, even if they have been through this before, some of those books are so nice they would be good to read again (my youngest could read Welcome With Love every day).

When my youngest was born I made the older two baby dolls, but it could be any kind of small present from the new baby to them.

We also always like a new pack of crayons or markers, big sketch pads, stamps, glitter, stickers.
Maybe also a new outside game? A slip n slide? My 6yo and 3yo love water balloons and love to just toss them through a hula hoop (or just at the fence).

Also for daytime, maybe an outside adventure? While everyone will want to hang out, for children that age, the breathing out of getting outdoors might be important. A trip to a park with a scavenger hunt list---but simple things like a bird feather, round rock, pinecone, etc.

Thank you for posting this, my head hasn't been in planning mode and I think I'll do some of these things too

[aricha]

Originally Posted by melamama

I know I just bought my Recharge and both my boys would have been happy to have a special bottle for just them.

It's so funny you mentioned that, because that item is exactly what the kids were begging for today that got me thinking about getting some special snacks for them during the birth!

[brendaziz]

Well u sound very organized and i love that u have 2 helpers- one for kids that wanna be involved and 1 for wanting to be separate.

Besides maybe some new puzzles or games or things along those lines-
I woudl maybe consider buying them each a disposable camera. So whether they're with you or not- they can have someway to feel like they were involved that day. And you'll prob get some really interesting pics!

[3surfboys]

love the camera idea!

my boys were 5 and 3 when we had ds #3 at home, and we did not prepare ahead but probably should have - turns out my labor was only 1.5 hours and it occurred in the middle of the night. My dh woke them up a couple hours after the birth - we had b-day cake for breakfast