Toddler book to learn about baby coming?

[LindsayK]

I went to the library with DD (2.5) the other day, and thought I might pick up a book for DD and I to read about new babies/siblings, etc. I'm due in August, and DD is quite aware of this, and talks to baby, "pats" him (my belly) and talks to him. She's really quite excited about a new baby right now.

The thing is, every new sibling/new baby book I found usually went like "a new baby came, and I don't like him/her, when are they going back, I guess I like them ok now" I'm guessing at some point a book like this will be helpful, when we hit some of the snags that come with integrating a new member of the family, but right now DD is so happy about having a little brother that I don't want to introduce negative feelings toward baby when none exist.

Hence.... I am looking for suggestions for an age appropriate, *positive* book about new babies/siblings.

TIA!

[physmom]

Have you heard of "It's the best day every, dad!"? It's not reallly about a new baby but there are two sisters hanging out with their dad and you just see them having fun the entire books. Even though DD is an only child she loves the book and the illustrations are beautiful.

It's not about a baby coming but it might get your DD excited about all the possibilities to come with having a little brother or sister. I also love to see a book with an active dad taking a roll, so I liked it because of that too (no offense to single parents! but it just fits my family well).

ETA. The author is Brooke Shields and it looks like she has another book about getting a little baby sister that is VERY positive: http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Your-W...ref=pd_sim_b_1 I haven't read it but the reviews are complaining that it's too positive and doesn't have any "tension". It says it's a list of fun things to do with your baby sister and one of them includes cuddling with mom.

[LindsayK]

Thanks for the suggestions! They both look like good books, so I'll look at the library this week, and order off Amazon if they're not there.

Speaking of Amazon, now that I have a book in the genre I'm looking for, it came up with a bunch of other suggestions, and I can sort through the reviews to see if they are the kind of book I'm looking for.

Sort of off topic, but DD got up this morning, and then unzipped her jammies to show DH how she nurses her baby doll! I have talked about how I will nurse the baby, but she came up with the role playing all on her own... so cute!

[Norasmomma]

We had "I'm a Big Sister!"(not sure on author) and "new Baby" by Mercer Mayer-both are more about how awesome it is to an older sibling and how to help, what babies can't do. Those worked well for us, we read both often while I was pg. The transition for us was flawless, DS just fits right in and DD loves him so much.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

There are a couple of books by Dr. Sears. "Baby on the Way" and "What Baby Needs". Both show things in a very AP way (co-sleeping, breastfeeding, babywearing). To be honest I think I enjoyed them more than DS.

DS loved "I'm a Big Brother" by Joanna Cole. It wasn't particularly AP, but it was the one he wanted me to read most. The other one he loved was the Little Critter book, "The New Baby". In that one the baby doesn't really do what Critter wants or expects, but then he figures out what the baby can do, and how he can interact with her.

[Boot]

DS and I loved Waiting for Baby and My New Baby by Annie Kubler. They have no words so it easy to tailor the story to your own situation. The older sibling is a boy though, if that matters. Hello Baby is really cute too.

[kevinsgirl]

Dr Sears has one called Baby on the Way. It's great! (oh , I just read someone else recommended it already. Hear, hear!)

Usborne has one called The New Baby that shows mom b/fing. And I see now they have a sticker book :-) always a hit with the two year old crowd.

The more inundated you (or your little one) can be with information and preparation, the better!

Enjoy expanding your family.

[busymama77]

"Baby on the Way" is absolutely the best. The illustrations are wonderful and really encouraged DS to ask as many questions as he had - which he had a lot and it was wonderful.

I think I may check out the ones recommended for big brother. We in need of some new books anyhow - gives me a good excuse to buy some.

[IAMommy]

We borrowed one from my midwife called Welcome with Love (it has another title too). It is about a lovely homebirth with all of the older siblings in attendance. It shows the baby's head emerging from the side, so you don't see any lady parts, but it was enough to freak out my MIL. My DS loves the book and asks for it all the time.

[lunarlady]

We also have "I'm a Big Sister!" and that's a hit in our house, as is the "Berenstein Bears and The New Baby". The Big Sister book is cute because it shows that little babies can't do much right away, but that being a big kid means you can do things the baby can't do (like eat ice cream and pizza). The bears one cracks me up because dad and brother go out to build brother a new bed, and by the time they come home there's baby sister. Too funny, since their is no labor/delivery, but my DD likes it and relates to the fact that our new baby gets her old "little bed" (cosleeper/crib) because she now sleeps in the "big bed" (twin). And brother bear is just excited to be a big brother, not worried or anything.

[greenbeanmama]

Originally Posted by IAMommy

We borrowed one from my midwife called Welcome with Love (it has another title too). It is about a lovely homebirth with all of the older siblings in attendance. It shows the baby's head emerging from the side, so you don't see any lady parts, but it was enough to freak out my MIL. My DS loves the book and asks for it all the time.

We loved this one! We checked it out from the library every two or three weeks the entire time I was expecting, and my son could quote it. Great book!

(In Australia, the title was "Hello, Baby")

[Tjej]

We have a Baby by Cathryn Falwell. Simple, direct, positive, cute. It was GREAT with my DD (she was almost 2 when DS was born).

The Annie Kubler books are cute too.

Tjej

[leanbh]

my daughter loves dr. sears' book "Baby on the Way"

[Shannie77]

Here are our favourites:

Baby on the Way by Dr. Sears (very ap as pp have said)

Welcome with Love by Jenni Overend (about a homebirth, from the youngest siblings point of view, DD loves this one! I love the illustrations - they show the baby's head emerging and the placenta.)

I'm a Big Sister by Joanna Cole (I love how positive it is, it does show bottle feeding but DD and I have talked about how some babies nurse and some get bottles etc..)

I'm a Big Sister by Ronne Randall (Not very AP but DD loves this book. It talks about all the great stuff a big sister CAN do)

A Baby for Grace by Ian Whybrow (at first I didn't think I would like it because it did show the negative side to being a big sister. Basically everyone is saying No to Grace - for what I consider things that really might happen. In the end she goes to the Garden and tries to cut some flowers with the garden shears. Her Dad races out and says NO, and Grace cries. The Dad says it was so nice she wanted to pick flowers for the new baby. After that everyone is so pleased she was so thoughtful, and she and the baby open up a present each. Finally the Dad and Grace get to go to the park alone. I think it is a pretty realistic look at what it might be like for the big sister/ brother in those first few days.

[Thalia]

Eek! Welcome with Love is selling for over $50 on Amazon!

[Chloe'sMama]

Originally Posted by Boot

DS and I loved Waiting for Baby and My New Baby by Annie Kubler. They have no words so it easy to tailor the story to your own situation. The older sibling is a boy though, if that matters. Hello Baby is really cute too.

We love these two as well. My dd never noticed that the child was a boy, and I think the gender is pretty vague. It could easily be a girl dressed in pants and tshirts (as DD is most of the time).

[dolcedaze]

We borrowed most of these, but We Have a Baby was the favorite by far- for me and for my then 2.5 year old. I love that it had a happy, concise message, showed the toddler involved on every page, and showed things like breastfeeding and co-sleeping without being in-your-face about it.. just presenting it as normal, like it should be!