Your second child is on his/her way. Of course, you are delighted at the prospect of a new addition to your family. You can't wait to hold a baby in your arms again - they do grow up so fast. Of course, it could be that your first child is not too sure about it all...

The arrival of a baby is not only a major event for the parents, but also for any siblings. Especially if there isn't that big an age difference between your first child and the baby. Up until now, your first child has had all the parental attention and now the house is filled with items in anticipation of the newborn. There are cuddly toys that they can't play with, small clothes, and a lot of talk will probably centre around the big day.

And then, of course, after the birth, there is this tiny human that can't play yet, that needs a lot of feeding and attention, mom and dad will be tired a lot - things will change. This is where jealousy can set in, which can cause a lot of additional stress for all involved. Luckily, it needn't be that way. There are a few things you can do to make the expansion of your family go that bit more smoothly...

Introduction Before Birth

No doubt you have already told your eldest about the upcoming arrival of the baby. This is a good stage to reassure your child that no matter what, you will love the both of them just as much. Depending on the age of your eldest, you can explain that you will probably be a bit tired because babies are very delicate and need a lot of looking after, stressing that that does not mean that you will love your firstborn any less.

You could allow them to touch your belly and connect with the baby, and turn the whole experience into something very positive - when the baby is big and strong enough they can play together and it will be fun.

Show trust in your son or daughter and tell them that if they want to, they can help you look after the baby. Of course, such help can mean everything takes a bit longer, but it will make them feel involved.

Introduction After Birth

If you decide to give birth in the hospital, it is advisable to take your first child to visit as soon as possible. It's important for them to see that mom is alright and the meet his/her new brother or sister.

They will probably be amazed at how tiny the baby is and want to gently touch. If possible, allow them to do so - it's a way of bonding and not being allowed to touch could be taken as a sign of distrust.

It's also a good time to cuddle your eldest and involve them in it all, reassure them that their place in your heart has not been taken over by the new addition - you are a family.

Gifts

A new addition to the family often means receiving gifts for the baby. If you already have plenty of items to assure your baby's comfort, it could be a good idea to ask kind family members and friends to buy a few little presents for your first child instead.

This way, your newborn won't end up with a huge pile of cuddly toys that they can't yet play with anyway, and it will be a celebration for your eldest as well - what child does not like receiving presents? It will give everything a festive feel for all.

After Care

Having a baby and looking after them can be physically and emotionally draining and stressful, especially in the beginning. There just does not seem enough time in the day to do everything and get some rest as well.

Of course, your first child will want lots of attention and might have some trouble adjusting to how everything has changed, despite your best efforts to the contrary.

It's important to work as a team and allow the other as much rest as possible, and divide your attention between the children. Make sure you praise accomplishments in school, show appreciation for works of art and allow for bedtime story time.

If there are relatives or friends nearby that are willing to offer a helping hand, it can be helpful to have them visit and spend some time with your first child. Perhaps they will offer to have your child visit them, which can be beneficial, especially if they have children of their own. But make sure your child does not feel like they are being "sent away" and feel excluded.

Besides, as you probably have experienced already, listening to the stories of how a child's day went can be quite relaxing and will often bring a smile to your face - it's an excellent way to wind down after a long day, and appreciate the many blessings children bring to our lives.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

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