New Sibling:5 Ways to Help Your 1st Born Adjust With an Infant

• Posted by Slurrp Farm April 4, 2020 Filed in Health #foods to eat during pregnancy  #pregnancy nutrition  257 views
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  No matter how old your bigger child is, he or she will have a tough time adjusting when a new brother or sister comes into the picture. Think about it: while you were making a list of foods to eat during pregnancy, ( and ohh BTW did you know millets are best consumed during the second and third trimester and have a fair amount of calcium, protein, fiber, antioxidants, iron, zinc, etc.),  you already told your toddler that they will have a wonderful little brother to play with and how fun it would be. Then the little brother is born and your toddler begins to wonder: “Were you kidding? This squirming, red-faced baby that takes away all of your attention and time is supposed to be fun?” He then touches and plays with the baby in all the inapt ways, asking him to catch the toy thrown at him and you yell at him for doing so. He tries playing hide and seek and you yell at him again for getting the blanket off the baby. He tries hugging the baby and you warn him to be extra careful. All this while, leaving your toddler confused. Here are a few tips to set the stage for a healthy sibling relationship:

  1)          Educate Them:

  When your older child knows what to expect, it makes the transition easier. The process must begin when you have begun ensuring pregnancy nutrition( Don’t miss out on dry fruits, Slurrp Farm’s nut powder maybe?). Explain to them how you are going to go to the hospital and how the baby will cry at times when he is born. The more prepared they are, the less likely they are to exhibit strange behavior. Get them involved by letting the older child open the baby gifts, sprinkle baby powder or put the baby’s socks on. Praise and encourage whenever possible.

   

  

  2)          Talk About Their Role:

  Your older child must know what is expected of them ahead of time. Talk to them about their roles as a big brother/sister. Try to normalize it further by talking about your own experiences as a sibling and how you demonstrated good behavior towards your new sibling. Teach them to be protective of their younger brother/sister.

  3)          Don’t Let It Be All About Baby:

  Having a new baby in the house is surely going to change a lot of things but don’t forget about your other child in the process. The last thing you want is for him to feel unloved or neglected upon the arrival of the new sibling. This is important to avoid sibling rivalry and other potential issues that can emerge from it.

  4)          Never Compare Your Children:

  This is normal especially when it comes to hitting milestones such as walking, crawling teething, etc. Remember that every child is different and will have different personalities. As your children grow, they will have different achievements, excel at different things and behave to situations differently. It’s okay to let them be and appreciate the differences.

  5)          Be Supportive:

  Acknowledge your older child’s unspoken feelings and assure him you are there for him. Tell them that you understand that it must be hard for him to spend so much time with the baby. When your child is aware that you understand his feelings, he is less likely to demand attention. Also, demonstrate extra love and increase your daily dosage of hugs.

  Remember it can take some time for your first child to accept the new situation and you may experience bouts of regression or acting out where he or she starts acting like a baby. Keep calm and take small steps.