There has probably been a lot of talk about a new baby joining the household, but having a new sibling may not always be easy for your little one.
Although in their little minds they may see it as a new friend to play with, they won’t be prepared for the changes that will occur.
The biggest change for them will be having to share.
Sure, as parents we’ve taught our little ones how to share at daycare, at the playground and on playdates.
However, we haven’t taught them how to share us.
At the age of two and three, kids tend to be very territorial over their parents, even at home.
Usually, girls will claim “their daddy” at times where mom may want to be close to dad.
Vice versa, boys will be territorial with “their mommy” when it comes to sharing her with dad.
You can imagine how difficult it may be for your little one to share you 24/7.
If you find your toddler having a hard time with the new baby, here is some advice that may help ease the transition.
Keep the one-on-one time going
Your newborn is only interested in two things — eating and sleeping.
Since they don’t require your attention as much as your toddler, try to spend as much time with your toddler as possible.
It may be that you play together for a half hour while the baby is sleeping or laying down in a rocker nearby.
You can also wear an ergonomic baby carrier, such as one from Baby Tula, to keep both your toddler and your baby close.
It may even help your toddler see that even though the baby is close, he still has your full attention just like the good ol’ days.
Do this every so often throughout the day to allow your toddler to feel that bond between you both.
Don’t be dismissive toward breakdowns
Keep in mind that your toddler has only been around for two or three years and his communication skills are still being developed.
Even as adults, we still have trouble communicating at times.
If you see that your toddler is lashing out, keep calm and brace yourself for a ton of patience.
These types of breakdowns usually happen because your little one has a ball of emotions that he has trouble with communicating them all.
It can be a mix of jealousy, hurt and some anger, so the best way he can let you know is to act on them.
As parents, we have to accept and recognize how our little one is feeling “outed”, and the best way to do this is to talk through it.
Talking through it is the best way to remind them just how much you love them while consoling them through their emotions.
Instead of reprimanding them, make them feel validated with each outburst as a reminder to not only your toddler, but also you as a parent.
Gift your oldest as much as your baby
Showering a newborn with gifts is always custom.
As with your first, loved ones will stop by to see the new baby and most likely that will come with a gift for the baby and not your older child.
Try to have a gift ready for your toddler when a gift is delivered for the baby.
Gifts for your toddler can be anything from a new coloring book and crayons, a new jar of bubbles, their favorite snack, or a small toy that you know they would enjoy.
It can also be that you want to match the baby gift if it’s something like clothes.
Let’s say the baby has a new dress, you can easily shop for Presley Couture girls twirl dresses to make her feel included, special and excited to match with her baby sister.
If change can be difficult for adults, there’s no doubt it can be twice as hard for toddlers.
Having a newborn can already seem overwhelming as parents, so make sure you remember that and keep your little one front and center until they fully ease into the new transition.
They may not actually be front and center all of the time, but it helps if they feel like it.