Older Siblings: Preparing to Bring Home a New Baby

Bringing home a new baby can be exciting, but also hard. Older siblings may have many big feelings. This is normal.

Every child is different, but here are some ideas that can help:

• Spend “special time” alone with your older child every day. Let them know this time is just for them. Ask a support person to watch the baby if you can. Some ideas for special time:
  • Watch a show together in bed.
  • Eat a meal, just the two of you.
  • Read a book together.
  • Talk and snuggle.
  • Visit a favorite park or library (when you feel ready to go out).
• Read books about welcoming a new baby. Stories can help kids see that others feel the same way they do. Here are some ideas for stories:
  • Visit your local library and ask the librarian for books about bringing home a new baby. Lots of libraries have baby and toddler story time too!

  • The book Lola Reads to Leo tells a beautiful story about the main character’s relationship to her new baby brother. You can read it together (the Boston Public Library has copies in English and Spanish), or watch this read-aloud with your child:
  • Visit these websites with book and movie ideas:
    • Juguetes Cucamenta: Books and Movies to Help a Child Cope with the Arrival of a Sibling (includes some books in Spanish)
    • HAOTW: Home and On the Way: Favorite Books about a New Sibling
• Watch movies to prepare your child for a new sibling. Try:
  • The Rugrats Movie: This 1998 animated film humorously and sensitively addresses the challenges and joys of bringing a new baby into the family.
  • Zipi y Zape y el Club de la Canica (translated into English as Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang): This 2013 Spanish film about older children addresses the relationship between siblings, and can be a fun way to discuss family dynamics.
• Give your older child a job. Kids like to help but may not know how. Some ideas:
  • Bring you water while you feed the baby
  • Put dirty diapers in the trash
  • Hand you wipes during a diaper change
  • Help pick out the baby’s clothes
• Play with a doll before the baby comes, and after.
  • They can take care of their “baby” while you take care of yours!

When you can, keep up the things they enjoyed before, like going to school, playing at the park, and keeping their routines. Their life has changed, but many things can stay the same.

And don’t forget support for yourself! Parenting classes and support groups can give more tips and a chance to learn from others.

• Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts: Calendar of Playgroups
• Massachusetts Family TIES: Local Parenting Support Groups
• More ideas for support

This video can help you better understand your child’s feelings about their new sibling.