Adjusting to a new baby

[Liquesce]

My son turned one today. His brother/sister is due in about two and a half months. As it stands he gets seriously weirded out if he sees me holding even a doll, let alone another real child. I can only guess at what it's going to be like for him when there's not only a new baby but one that doesn't exactly go away.

I'm really just looking for a little advice from people who've been there ... how did you help an older sibling adjust to a new baby when they're used to being the only? Especially if "older" still meant not old enough to really be able to sit down and try to talk about it in advance.

[LeighB]

I don't have much experience with that. But what about giving him his own doll to care for? I'm not sure if at that age any of the shows/books about new babies would help.

good luck!

[CarrieMF]

My youngest 2 are 12 months apart. the older of them didn't have much of a hard time adjusting, she's a big daddy's girl. When she did want something I got really good at picking her up while holding the baby & having her sit on me so I could read books to her while nursing, etc. i also had a 3.5yo at the time too, but she didn't have any problems with the baby. She helped with the middle one, but there were things a 3.5 year old just can't do.lol

[zjandosmom]

My ds1 would cry and throw himself on the floor if he saw me holding another baby (I was pg at the time). I was seriously worried. When his brother was born it was like he knew that that was his baby. Then he cried and pitched a fit if anyone other than me held his brother! Seriously. He was 22m when ds2 was born and not talking at all yet. We just talked about the baby being not just ours but his as well. I also tried really hard not to use the baby as an excuse not to do something for ds1. EX. instead of saying "not right now, I'm nursing ds2" I would say 'mommy's hands are busy now but I'll get it for you in a minute'. I also heavily used the sling! Then my hands really were free much of the time. Good luck. I know your two will be closer in age than mine were and it will be hard at first but they will probably be so close and it will get easier!