Prepare for sibling adjustment with Baby+Company at Discovery Place KIDS

Discovery Place Kids Huntersville

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Is your child ready for a new brother or sister?

Stephanie Godfrey, Baby+Company lead certified nurse midwife, is coming to Discovery Place KIDS to help families prepare for the exciting sibling adjustment period. Join us Saturday, August 20, to learn how you can make the sibling transition as smooth as possible and decrease anxiety leading up to your next little one’s birth, as well as special tips on how to introduce a new brother or sister in a peaceful, happy and unifying way for your family.

As you prepare for the session, check out two Baby+Company’s tips to prepare for a successful sibling adjustment:

1. Set Patterns
Set patterns that you can continue over upcoming months after your new baby arrives. Establish routines around bedtime, naps, meals and toileting. Encourage age-appropriate independence: place a step stool near the sink so preschoolers can wash hands or get a drink of water, place books and quiet toys on a low shelf to for easy access, and keep a stocked “snack shelf” in a cabinet or refrigerator with small portions of suitable snacks. Allowing the big brother or sister to feel “big” will make sibling adjustment an exciting time.

2. Set Expectations
Attend a “Sibling Class” together and read books about babies, so you can talk about what a new baby might be like. Set reasonable expectations – it will be a while before the baby will smile and play. Begin discussions about what will happen when it’s time for the baby to come to encourage a smoother sibling adjustment period. Children may be very concerned where they will go, who they will be with and when they will see their mom again. Help your child buy or make a present for the baby, and get a special present the baby can “give” his or her older sibling when they first meet each other at the hospital.

There’s a saying that the first child teaches you how deep love goes, while the second child shows you how wide love can spread. Despite the logistical challenges of welcoming your second baby, ultimately having a sibling is a wonderful gift that will benefit your first child and the entire family.

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