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A NEW BABY ON THE WAY: HOW TO EXPLAIN TO SIBLINGS THAT THE FAMILY IS EXPANDING

20/09/2021

A NEW BABY ON THE WAY: HOW TO EXPLAIN TO SIBLINGS THAT THE FAMILY IS EXPANDING

The arrival of a baby is always news that brings joy and excitement. There are so many things to do to get ready and you can't wait to tell everyone the news, especially to the little brother or sister. This is a very delicate moment and, as such, needs to be managed with some care: how do you tell your child that a little brother or sister is on the way? 

 

1. Choosing the right moment

The right time to announce the arrival of a little brother or sister is not always defined and depends on the child. Children have difficulty identifying time (days, hours, months), so telling them too early that there will be a new baby soon can make them impatient and give them the illusion that the birth will never come. It is therefore a good idea to wait until you are closer to the due date to announce the news. In the case of older children, however, it is better to involve them in advance and give them a chance to get used to the idea. In any case, whether the child is big or small, the important thing is that it is mum and dad who tell them  and not other family members or friends. Finding out that a baby brother is on the way from a relative's comment could make him lose confidence in his family and make them feel left out. Sweetness and patience are therefore the key words so that this moment is experienced with peace of mind and to help them get used to the idea: luckily you have nine months.

2. Letting them know what it means that a baby is on the way

Especially in the case of an only child, it is a good idea to really explain what the birth of a baby will entail. When they are told the news, they don’t really know what to expect, as they may have seen friends from the outside struggling with younger siblings, but they don’t know what it means in everyday life. The task of mothers and fathers is therefore to explain to them gradually and patiently what it means to have a brother or sister without omitting details. A creative idea could be to use fairy tales to tell the story of a child's life from the time it is in the womb until it is born and then from the first words to the first steps. Fairy tales are the best way to tell children the truth while respecting their feelings and development.  

 

3. Involve the child in the waiting process 

The child will begin to see that a part of the house is set up for his or her little brother or sister and new objects fill the space. The advice here is to encourage curiosity by allowing them to discover and touch all those objects and spaces that will soon be occupied by a new child. As well as involving him in the process of discovery, it can also be a moment of sharing to involve him in the choice of colours, names or clothes so that he feels part of this arrival. This is also the perfect time to strengthen the bond between father and son, since when the child is born dad might be the only one to help in the most delicate moments without making the eldest child feel sidelined.

It is important to remember that it is normal for children to feel jealous of a new arrival in the family and to throw tantrums, especially after the birth. The important thing is to avoid comparisons and to keep calm because every child is special in its own way, they just have to get used to the new balance.


Find out how to make a new arrival in the family special with the perfect gift: 

 

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