If you are expecting another baby, perhaps you will be thinking about birth preparation for siblings? You are facing a whole new set of challenges, because now it's not just you and your partner who have to prepare for the birth, but you also have to prepare the older children for the new family member. You will be faced with various challenges. Your biggest fear may be jealousy. But don't worry, our midwife Katharina has some great tips for you.
When should I start birth preparation for siblings?
The question of when to start birth preparation for siblings is quite individual. You have to decide whether you want to talk about it right at the beginning of the pregnancy or whether you would rather wait for the first few weeks. If you want to keep your pregnancy a secret for the time being, it makes sense not to tell your siblings either. But you should start preparing your siblings for the birth as soon as they can see your belly.
Although pregnancy is not a taboo subject, it is understandable if you want to wait for the first few weeks. Telling a child that there won't be a sibling after all is anything but easy.
How do I prepare the older children for the new sibling?
The question of how you prepare your children for a sibling is very individual. You know your children best and know whether they like to read or play. Birth preparation for siblings also depends on their age. If your child is already at school, you will have completely different opportunities to talk to them. A toddler, on the other hand, cannot grasp the situation immediately and needs much more time.
Should the children cuddle with the baby bump?
A wonderful way to prepare the siblings for the new family member is to cuddle up in the evening. If you read a book every evening anyway, you can take the opportunity to talk about the baby in your tummy. Did it kick you today? Was it active or rather tired? If you like, you can also let the older children feel the baby's movements from time to time. This makes birth preparation tangible for siblings and ensures that a bond is formed straight away.
You can also use your evening cuddle time to talk about what will change in the near future. Especially when you have your second child, the first will be "knocked off the throne", so to speak. It's best to discuss what will change bit by bit. Preparing for the birth of a sibling is not always just about looking forward to it. The older children also have certain obligations.
How should I talk to my children about the pregnancy?
When you talk to your children about pregnancy, you should make sure that you do so in an age-appropriate way. Small children often don't understand everything or can't understand what is being said properly. The younger the children are, the more often you need to talk about the pregnancy. If the children are older, they may react immediately with jealousy. But don't worry, this is part of birth preparation for siblings.
How can birth preparation for siblings be organised in a playful way?
Use the time with your children before the birth to playfully think about what will change. Always remain positive and pay attention to the wishes and concerns of the older children. Give the children the freedom to shape their future with the new sibling themselves and don't put them before final decisions. Perhaps you can recreate the new family situation with play figures or cuddly toys.
Birth preparation for siblings also includes a certain amount of room to make their own decisions and the opportunity for the children to say "no". If the new sibling is to move into the older child's room, this could initially be met with resistance. Give your children the chance to be against it at first. Keep bringing up the subject and involve them in all decisions.
There are also a lot of great books on the subject, depending on the age of the child you can use cardboard picture books. They usually focus on the future, i.e. when the baby is born. If the children are older, you could consider starting with fertilisation. However, as this is a very sensitive topic, it might be too much for siblings to prepare for the birth.
Should I take the older siblings with me to the gynaecologist?
Ultrasound images are a wonderful way to visually announce the new baby. As soon as your gynaecologist no longer performs the examinations vaginally, there is no reason not to take the older children to the gynaecologist. It is a wonderful experience when you can see the new sibling in your belly together.
What else can I do to prepare the siblings for the birth?
Birth preparation for siblings in everyday life is actually quite simple. When the baby is moving in your belly, you can let the older siblings feel it. There is also no reason why you shouldn't give your children more responsibility. Depending on their age, you can ask them to help you more in everyday life. Especially if your pregnancy is very strenuous, your children can help you a little. This way, the older siblings learn to take on a little more responsibility and realise that something is about to change.
A great way to give the older siblings a task is to wash and sort the baby clothes. Perhaps you can also buy a few new items of clothing together, chosen by the older children.
Should I take my children to the antenatal class?
Especially when the children are still very young, it is often difficult to concentrate on the content of a birth preparation course. In some cities, there are special antenatal classes for siblings, but these are often fully booked or only available in large cities. If you are looking for a Birth preparation course online you can let the children participate by watching the videos together.
>>> Book your place now in the online birth preparation programme with our midwife Katharina
How do I deal with jealousy during birth preparation for siblings?
No matter how intensively you organise birth preparation for siblings, jealousy will come. Guaranteed. You should therefore respond to your children's fears and worries and take them seriously. Take your time and just let the jealousy come. There will be tears, maybe even the odd outburst of anger. But it will be worth it in the end.
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