Letting Older Siblings Help with the New Baby
It is so exciting when you bring home a new baby. Family and
friends come over to see the new member of the family. When
friends and family arrive to see the new little one they bring
in gifts and forget all about the older sibling. Everybody is
making such a fuss over the new little one that they forget
about the other child. It can take an emotional toll on most
children no matter what their age is. They have been the baby
for so long they never thought about having to share mom and dad
with anyone else. Older siblings don't understand why everyone
is paying the new baby so much attention and not even noticing
them. Most kids will act out in situations like this to get
attention from family and friends. If parents and other family
members would let the older child get involved they would feel
wanted and noticed and have no need for acting out. Bringing a
gift for them would also help out with some of the emotional
issues. If they had their mind on a new toy then they would not
even think about acting out. Letting older siblings bring mom
and dad diapers, wipes, ointment, clothes or anything for the
baby. It makes the older child feel important like they are
needed. Allowing them to get involved with the new baby will
make the older child love and grow closer to the baby. Never
leave the two of them alone. Do let the older sibling make
simple decisions for the baby. Such as what shirt to wear, what
bottle to use or what bath towel to use. There are so many
decisions that they can make in the babies life without even
affecting the baby. It just helps the older child feel more
involved with the new baby. It also makes the older child feel
more grown up because mom and dad are trusting them to make
decisions for the new baby. Although these things may seem so
minor to you and I. They are a very big deal to a small child.
All of these things are positive points when raising a child and
a new baby. These points can make bringing in a new baby a
wonderful transition for the whole family.