Monday, July 18, 2011

How to introduce my 16 month old to newborn?

I have a 15 month old, and I am due next Thursday with my second. I have been pretty worried about the same thing! Advice I have gotten is to expect temper tantrums. At their age, attention is attention. What is good attention to them is anything that puts your focus on them and gets you to stop paying attention to the baby. Don't scold her if she misbehaves, completely ignore it. On the flip side, when she is playing nicely and behaving, pay attention to her and tell her what a good girl she is. Tell her how much she loves the baby and how much the baby loves her. Babies are suggestible and when you tell her that, they accept it as truth. Buy her a doll, so she can take care of her baby while you take care of yours. Try to involve her in the care of the baby, like throwing away diapers. Also, mine has recently gotten the concept of giving kisses, we say give mommy kisses or give daddy kisses, so we plan to add the baby into that. I also talk to her a lot about the baby in my belly. She likes to touch and pat my belly and I will tell her "mommy has baby Riley in her belly" and she will say "a baby" over and over. Hopefully things go smoothly! If they are a little rocky, don't stress. It will get better. She will barely remember it!

No comments:

Post a Comment