When to tell big brother??

[littlemomma]

I am so excited to tell my 4.6 yo! I know he will be thrilled and really get into learning about the process and planning, etc. However, I know that 9 months is LONG and I wonder if I'd regret telling him so early. Also, like kufduke said, he would be :blah to the whole world!!! Which, I guess is okay.

What are your thoughts and experiences???

Thanks!

[Spark]

Hmm, my son is 3 and he overheard Jason and I talking. He right away said, "Mama's gonna have a baby!" But, then again, he wished on Cicely's B-day candle for another baby (that was March 8... right around conception!!!). So, he's had baby on the brain.

The first week he kept wanting me to push the baby out. He'd say, "Mama, get into the bathtub and (grunting noises)." ALL THE TIME.

He didn't understand it would be Soooooo far away. Now, we've taken to telling him that when we put up the Christmas tree, the baby will come soon after that. Now he wants us to put up the Christmas tree.

Uh... sooooo, while 4 1/2 and 3 is a bit of age difference, I would say wait until he notices your belly and starts asking about it. If he doesnt' overhear before then!

[Satori]

I'm not telling dd who is almost 5 until its obvious i'm prego becasue she will tell the entire world and even 4 months is a long time to her.

[dziejen]

We told both of our girls already. Dd #1 is 8 and very intuitive and I wanted her to hear it from us, not overhear it from anyone. We told dd#2 last weekend because dh thought it wasn't fair for everyone to know except her :rolleyes It turned out to be a good thing because she is happy and she is actually being very considerate when I ask her to be gentle nursing and she happily came to my appt today. We have emphasized over and over again that it will be a long time away and it will be hot weather and then cold weather again before the baby comes so it has been working for us. Plus we were so excited we told so many people we are expecting that it's not a big secret anymore around here. I guess it just depends on what works for your family.