| u’re pregnant with your second child, | | | | don’t try potty training, or changing her |
| it’s time to be thinking about how to | | | | sleeping arrangements during this time. If you |
| prepare your first child to deal with “not | | | | can’t get these things accomplished |
| being an only child” anymore. This can be | | | | before the baby comes, plan to put it off a few |
| a difficult transition for any child, and most, | | | | months. |
| regardless of age, have some adjustments to | | | | · Familiarize her with babies in general, |
| make. Here are some suggestions to help your | | | | particularly the amount of care they require. Talk |
| child be prepared. | | | | to her about when she was a baby, and all the |
| · Talk about how special it is to be a big | | | | things that she did. Then when the new baby |
| brother or sister. Discuss the baby in terms of | | | | comes, she will have something to relate to. |
| how important the older sibling will be in its life. | | | | · Let her assist you with any baby |
| This is your child’s chance to be the big | | | | preparations that she would like to help with, but |
| kid, which is usually a very appealing idea. | | | | don’t force her. She might think its fun to |
| · If you’ve been thinking about | | | | pick out nursery items, for example. |
| putting your child into a preschool program, now is | | | | · Prepare her for the time you’ll |
| the time. Don’t wait until after the baby | | | | be spending in the hospital, and explain what the |
| comes, or she might feel like you’re trying | | | | situation will be like. If you can make it special for |
| to get rid of her. She should have time to make | | | | her, so much the better. When my daughter was |
| friends and get adjusted before the baby comes, | | | | born, we had arranged for my four year old |
| and then she will enjoy the chance to get away. | | | | son’s favorite aunt and uncle to come and |
| · Get her used to being away from you. | | | | stay with him at our house while I was in the |
| If your child spends most of her waking hours in | | | | hospital. He was looking so forward to their visit; |
| your care, it’s time to start having | | | | he hardly noticed I was away. |
| someone else take over some of this time for | | | | No matter how well you prepare your child, there |
| you. Maybe start using a sitter a little more, or | | | | is bound to be some difficulty in adjusting to the |
| sending her to play at a friend’s. This | | | | new baby. My son thought his little sister was |
| way, when the baby starts to demand your | | | | cool, but he didn’t much care for the fact |
| attention, she will be accustomed to having other | | | | that I was her Mommy, too. It takes a little time, |
| caretakers. | | | | but things work out well in the end. And, anything |
| · Don’t plan any major changes | | | | you can do to prepare them ahead of time will |
| for her right after the baby is born. The | | | | only make the transition easier. |
| adjustment to the baby is plenty, so | | | | |