Preparing your home for your second child is always tricky. Even though you have experience as a parent, the process of bringing a new family member home can still be a challenge.
You can make the whole transition smoother by helping your older child understand the needs of their new sibling. This will teach your first child responsibility and will help form a strong bond between your children.
Baby Care
All parents are afraid that their first child will become jealous of the new arrival. While some jealousy is to be expected, most children love having a sibling around the house and will get invested in caring for and loving the baby when it arrives.
If your first child is still young, try to have them help out with things they’ll enjoy. For example, they might like feeding the baby or helping to swaddle it. These straightforward tasks can empower your first child and help them feel like part of the team.
Giving your first child an opportunity to show affection for the new baby is also an important part of their growth together. Set aside time in your weekly calendar for things that you plan to do together. These can even be practical things you have to attend to, like a well-child check.
A licensed pediatrician uses a well-child check to measure things like your baby’s weight and vital signs. This check-up can spot issues and is designed to empower you as a parent. Bringing your older child along can help them feel like part of the parenting team, as they’ll hear what the doctor has to say firsthand. This can help with your efforts to educate your older child about the needs of their new sibling.
Education
Most older siblings are curious about their new baby brother or sister and want to learn more about the baby in their home. You can tap into this curiosity to help your first child transition to life with a sibling.
Start by teaching your older child about the basics of baby care. This will help your child understand why their sibling is getting so much attention and new things bought for them. For example, you can help your first child understand safe sleep guidelines by involving them when you are buying new rockers, cribs, or bassinet.
Likewise, you can educate your firstborn to help them understand the basics of mindfulness. As a parent, you can use mindfulness to help calm yourself after a long night of distributed sleep and baby-care stress. Your firstborn is also likely to feel overwhelmed at some point, so have them practice a few mindfulness techniques with you like writing or yoga practices.
Community Support
As a parent of two, you’ll need to lean on your community to help give your children the care and attention they need. Leaning on community support can be particularly helpful for your first child, as they may become bored while you have to look after the baby.
If your first child is sporty, consider reaching out to other parents and working together to pool your resources. Most other parents are understanding and may even offer to do most of the transport while you care for your newborn.
Leaning on community support is a great way to free up time and reduce your stress. However, you still need to be present for your firstborn during the day. Try to attend as many events and show your support by bringing the whole family along to things like sports matches and theatrical performances.
Creating a Space for Your First Child
Your first child may instantly fall in love with their new sibling. However, even the most loving of siblings need their own space sometimes. Creating a space just for your first child can help them feel respected and independent in your home.
Creating a space for your firstborn is particularly important if they are neurodiverse. We all need different things from our environment and children who live with conditions like ADHD may need a space that helps them find happiness and joy during independent play.
You can set up your home environment to support a child with ADHD by picking calming colors and choosing sensory-friendly fabrics when possible. Cotton, soft wool, or bamboo feel great and can support their ability to focus.
You can make your first child’s space more interesting by adding an exercise area. Letting your child burn off some steam while you care for the baby will make a big difference in their health and well-being. Low-cost options include exercise balls and yoga mats. Just be sure that anything you install is child safe to reduce the risk of injury.
Conclusion
Your firstborn will quickly learn to love their new sibling. You can make the transition to a two-child household that much easier by educating your child and giving them baby-care responsibilities. Just be sure to give them some space for themselves, as all kids need room to play independently sometimes.
Photo Credit
Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash
Guest Author Bio
Jori Hamilton
Jori Hamilton is a writer and journalist from the Pacific Northwest who covers social justice issues, healthcare, and politics. You can follow her work on twitter @HamiltonJori, and through her portfolio at Writer Jori Hamilton.
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