worried about reaction to new baby...

[mama2gracie]

my dd is 18 mo. - and she is the queen of the castle! :LOL i am a little worried about her. you all with more than one - i don't want the truth - i want to hear what will make me feel better.

someone please tell me she will love the baby, i WILL be able to take care of two children and no i won't go crazy doing so.

[My Three Boys]

Tia - You CAN do it!!!! (And I AM telling the truth!) Gracie will be fine and you'll be fine. There may be a bit of figuring things out at the beginning, but she'll never remember being an only child. Just wait until baby number 2 is playing with Gracie and they're best friends. It will happen!!

Jennifer - mom of three - Sam (9), Andrew (7), and William (4.5)

PS Is your daughter of the king an official group? I ask because we have a group in the Episcopal church called the DOK.

[Melaniemomto6]

You CAN do it & still stay sane Your dd WILL be fine & she'll absolutely love the new baby

The most important things are to talk to her about the baby often - at her age she won't understand completely, but it will help. Let her help with the baby - go get you a diaper, wipes, etc. Let her pick out a present for the baby (don't forget to get one for her FROM the baby). After the baby is first born and everyone is ooohing & aaahing you may have to remind them that dd needs a little of that as well After the baby is born make sure to spend some one-on-one time alone with dd (when baby is napping, get a sitter for an hour, etc.) it'll make her feel special and will eliminate jealousy due to her feeling like the baby is getting all the attention.

Good luck to you - but you don't need it You're gonna do awesome!

[mama2gracie]

THANKS!! i needed to hear that. thanks for the advice melanie - i will be sure to make an effort to spend one on one time with gracie.

jennifer - no official group - i was stating that i am a daughter of the King (as in Jesus Christ) saved by grace through faith!!!

[mama2gracie]

just wanted to add that i am so excited about #2 playing with gracie!! she sooooo needs a playmate!! she doesn't play by herself that well and sometimes, well sometimes i have to clean or something!! :LOL

i can't wait to see them playing together!! okay, i feel better now.

[Boobiemama]

My daughter was 16 months when I got pregnant with Jack. She did AWESOME! She attended the birth, she played in the waterbirth tub as he was born. She adjsuted really well. Of course it was a bit stressful in the beginning, having to take care of a new baby with a demanding toddler, but we adjusted quickly too. You can do it! But you may think it was a dumb idea that first week or so! but then it gets easier.

[johnsmom04]

I am having the exact same worries. DS is our little prince and I am so worried that he will feel left out when the new baby arrives. I have been so tense about being an inadequate Mom to two children that I think he can sense it. He was irritable all day and is not obviously sick, teething, etc... I know I should calm down and just go with the flow...but being pregnant now caught me a little off guard. Please reassure me that things will still be fun when the baby arrives, and not fraught with jealousy!

[mama2gracie]

Originally Posted by Boobiemama

But you may think it was a dumb idea that first week or so! but then it gets easier.

lol This is what i am afraid of. when i first had gracie, i even had thoughts of "what were we thinking?" even though i loved her so much, it was a lot more work than i expected! i just keep telling myself that people have babies 2 years apart all the time and they do just fine...right?

i know what you mean johnsmom about being inadequate! i am already sooo inadequate and i lack patience so much of the time, i wonder how in the world i can handle it. i don't have much advice but i am at least glad i am not the only one!

[xenomama]

I guess this is a pretty common fear. I sure have it. Once we decide to tell her, I want to get some "new baby" books from the library and talk about the baby *all the time*.

[Vegarchist]

I am in the same boat. Ds is 17 mo and I really wanted him to have the "baby time" he needs. He hates sharing me with dh and I am so worried he is going to be royally p*ssed at the new arrival. It helps to remember that they will be a little older when the package actually arrives!