for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

Don't worry - this is quite a ways off for me!

I was just curious...what are you doing to prepare your child for the new addition? I saw so many books at the bookstore yesterday and was wondering if you've done a lot of research on the best ways to introduce a new member, or are you going with gut instincts?

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

I dont think John Anthony is old enough to understand through any preparation (I could be wrong)....

We're going to prepare with the real thing I hope it goes ok. Ive had numerous moms tell me JA's too young to feel the jealousy thing, I dont really beleive that, but it would be great if it WAS an easy transition. We'll see....

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

RU thinking of baby #2 already ??

Luke will be 21 months when #2 is born and while he'll be a little older than JA is when his little sib comes, I think he will also be pretty young to comprehend. One thing I've been doing is not calling him my baby anymore. I'd always call him ' Mommy's baby' or something like that and now I call him 'Mommy's boy'. I also say 'Where's the baby?' and rub my belly, I don't know if that means anything to him except that I'm calling something other than him 'baby'. Other than that, he will have a chance to transition for a few months after the baby comes until we steal his crib away. My SIL has a big cradle that I can probably use longer than a bassinet.

I have a feeling it will be fine, he's always been so adaptable. He's quite content to do his own thing once in awhile, he's not clingy. It still feels weird that he will be the older one in the house but I guess it'll sink in more as I get closer.

Anna's going to share all her wisdom so we can learn from it.


ETA: I think the biggest thing after the baby comes is division of my time and trying to balance it fairly. Realistically, I know an newborn/infant will require more 'maintenence' than a toddler but I still want to have Mommy & Lukie time. Of course, I've seen it go the other way too. My niece has a brother 2 years younger (she's 3) and she DEMANDS so much attention to the point of my nephew definitely getting less than his fair share (IMO). I hope to find a good balance but it's very easy to say what you want to do, it's another thing to live it, so we'll see. I think I babbled beyond answering your initial question but I got on a roll....

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

I have come right out and told Justin. Heis very excited about it. He tells everyone he is going to be a Big Brother. He will tell you that the baby (or his little brother - depending on his mood) is in Mommy's belly. Every night and morning he kisses my belly and says Good Morning/Night. and I love you Little Brother.

I guess time will tell if he is actually grasping what is to become a reality for him...so we will see

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

I keep thinking that moms with more than one child must be a god-send! I can't imagine having two kids...

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

Annalise is 14 months so there is nothing I can do now to prepare her. She can say and understand 'baby. I guess as I start to show she can start to learn to point to my belly when I ask where the baby is. She has 2 dolls she calls her babies. She holds, rocks, and pats them. I may try to have her learn to do more with them if she seems to understand. She will be 20 months when the baby is born so I also have to transition her out of the crib without making her think the baby is stealing it. She will get a new room and the baby will have the nursery (her current rm.). That should also help her feel like the big sister with the new big room with a big girl bed.

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

Liz, I know what you mean about the toddler demanding more attention. It does sound realistic, since they are more aware, and just need more step-by-step, minute-to-minute attention, whereas the little one can sleep for hours at a time

I think even pointing to our bellies and saying 'baby' to our toddlers doesnt give them the concept of what is going on...
To JA, when I point to my belly, he thinks of his new fascination, BELLY BUTTONS and all he says a million times is 'bully bully'...
So saying 'baby', and pointing to my belly is as 'silly' to him as pointing to my eye and saying 'shoe'

He does say 'baby' when he sees other little ones, his age and younger, and even when he sees himself in the mirror. But Im sure this is something, at his age, that we will have to take as it comes and adjust to day to day...

Ive seen my nieces and nephew adapt to eachother (16m and 20m apart) and they are SOOO close and cute with eachother (of course including the 'knocking eachother over' and 'shoving her when mommy's not looking' but its cute when they know that they are somehow 'together' and how they each have their places in the car, at the table, playing a game, etc....

Liz, did I ramble more than you?

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

great replies as usual. I was just curious and thought we could all learn from your upcoming experiences.

I am not considering Baby #2 yet, but of course, my husband is....so I'll have to stay away from him!!!!

Re: for the mommies with #2 baby on the way

I was 3.5 when my siblings were born, and my earliest memory is from that time, when my parents and their friends brought them home!!! So by that age, it had enough of effect on me to still remember.