https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:10:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874577 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 23:24:54 +0000 Mrsbells 2874577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Not sure if someone already mentioned this but Daniel Tiger has episodes about becoming an older sibling which were great for DD. She was also 4 when we were expecting her sibling. And these episodes really kicked started her questions and interest in having a new baby </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874547 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:47:13 +0000 misolee 2874547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD was 3.5 when her little brother was born and 5.5 when little sister was born and she handled big sister duties like a champ. Some things we did first time:</p> <p>1)our hospital had a “super sibling” class. It was super cute. We went one Saturday and they had some activities to teach them how to help with new baby. They showed them how to swaddle and how to change a diaper with a baby doll. They also explained some safety tips. They showed them around the labor and delivery room and the nursery area so the kids could see where the baby would be born. And then it ended with a free ice cream at the hospital cafeteria 😂</p> <p>2)I love these books and I teared up reading with her:<br /> “You were the first” by Patricia Maclaclan and “Hello in there: a big sisters guide to waiting” by Jo Witek</p> <p>3)baby brought big sister a Vtech Camera to take pics of her at the hospital. My DD also made everyone who came to visit the baby take a pic and it was a good way to get her involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874533 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:16:57 +0000 SweetCaroline 2874533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: Good call talking about babies crying. I love the sentiment of letting DD help, but only of her own initiative. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874525 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:44:17 +0000 magnolia 2874525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: aww that’s hilarious! I was also thinking about making him a photo book with lots of pictures of him as a baby to present day so he can see how he was once little too. We will see if we get around to it</p> <p>All these suggestions are awesome </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874512 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:31:06 +0000 psw27 2874512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Things that helped - </p> <p>1. Other kids in his class were getting siblings so the teachers were discussing it a lot. They did a lot of changing diapers and shushing babies and talking about why babies cry. It was super helpful since 4/10 kids had new siblings that spring!<br /> 2. We had daddy start doing more things (esp as I got bigger and more tired) so that it wasn't always mommy bath night or mommy bedtime routine - less sticker shock when mommy wasn't always available.<br /> 3. Kept his routine as normal as possible - he went back to daycare right away, still went to his activities, etc.<br /> 4. The baby got him a gift - just something little - a paw patrol truck or something being like hi I'm here, can't wait to be friends.<br /> 5. We had a few books - I'm a big brother, My new baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874509 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:22:28 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2874509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 was just about 4 when DS2 was born this past September. We mainly just talked about it with him every so often and got a few books. One Special Day and There’s Going to be a Baby were favourites. As I went through the hand me down baby stuff I got some bottles and tiny diapers and sleepers out for him to put on his doll. As DW’s belly grew he would come and talk to the baby and say goodnight and he would touch her stomach when baby was kicking. We showed him ultrasound pictures but he didn’t care ha. A few weeks before baby brother came we went to the store to pick out a stuffie for him and he helped us put together the crib and do stuff in the baby’s room. He’s a big helper kid so he did like taking diapers to the trash and showing toys to the baby once he came.</p> <p>He started school the day DW went into labour! It was a Thursday and after we dropped him off she started having contractions. I picked him up and we had dinner and then things started ramping up so when I put him to bed I told him that baby was coming and grandma would be coming to stay. Tried to keep it exciting and fun even though it was hectic. We had a few simple scripts we had repeated to him: when the baby is ready, mommies will go to the hospital and the doctor will help him be born, grandma will be here to stay with you, etc. I don’t actually remember what his reaction was! We kept him home the next day since baby was born at 1 am and it was just too much to get grandparents to get him ready and take him to the second day of school since he cried the first day. Besides that change in routine, we just spent the weekend together and back to full time school on the Monday. He did absolutely amazing with all the transitions that happened this year. </p> <p>I would say we just kept it casual and didn’t go crazy emphasizing it. It was still a bit abstract until DW started showing. Also be prepared for questions about how the baby will come out if you haven’t handled that before :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874507 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:17:30 +0000 Aria 2874507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter turned four a month ago and our second is due any day. When we first told her, we got a lot of different books from the library but the one that was best for her was Babies Don’t Eat Pizza. She’s been very curious about the growing process and has had a lot of questions that I think that book does a good job of addressing. She has always been very apprehensive about a sibling, from the beginning her response has always been “I want it to just be me forever”. I think having something special planned for after the baby arrives has been helpful for us. She goes to a coop preschool and knows that when the baby is here Daddy will get to work in the classroom and she’s super excited about that. I also have a pregnancy app that she gets excited to see what the new size of the baby is that week. Basically just talking about it a lot and answering her questions honestly as they arise. I don’t know if any of it will work, but hopefully I can report back soon and let you know how it’s going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874502 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:55:50 +0000 SweetCaroline 2874502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: DD has several baby dolls, two specifically that have real names and are a part of the family. Legit, she will probably have a hard time when her babies have to give up their seat in the car for the real baby. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874500 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:54:22 +0000 Kaohinani 2874500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following ...<br /> If I ever do hit it lucky and conceive, I have a newly minted 4-year old and love the advice of my fellow bees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874497 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:44:49 +0000 BadgerMom 2874497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just had our second last week. DS will be 5 the end of May. These are the things we did with varying levels of success. </p> <p>- I made a ring chain tear-off thingy. He would tear off a ring every Saturday and on the inside it say “XX Weeks. Our baby is the size of a...” - DS looked forward to tearing off the rings every week and got a kick out of the veggie comparisons. I also think it helped but somewhat of a timeframe on things. </p> <p>- We got the book “Babies Don’t Eat Pizza.” It’s a good book for older siblings. It goes into a lot more details on what is happening and what to expect. - DS only asked to read it a couple times so it wasnt a favorite but he did seem to retain the information because he would ask relevant questions. </p> <p>- We took DS to an elective 3D ultrasound. - This was a total flop. He couldn’t have cared less. He was interested for like 30 seconds and spent the rest of the time on DH’s phone. </p> <p>- We did the hospital sibling baby class. - They got out the fake babies and got to change and hold and feed them. I think this made the whole thing real for him. He was soooooo serious. </p> <p>Otherwise we just did lots of talking about what was going to happen and things he could expect. So far things have been going well. He’s an observer by nature so he prefers to take her in from afar but he loves to check her out when she’s in the swing and report back the status of her eyes (open or closed). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874495 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:43:10 +0000 ALV91711 2874495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was 5.5 last August when DS2 was born. We didn’t get any books or watch any shows but we talked about it a lot. We told him what to expect with a baby, basically they eat &amp; sleep. We let him pick the paint colour for the room. We were painting both rooms and did them the same. We couldn’t keep his routine the same since he started kindergarten the following week. </p> <p>Like @KT326: I did not make him the helper. If he wants to help that is great. </p> <p>I did make sure to move his snacks in the pantry to were he could reach them, that way if I’m busy nursing and he’s hungry he can get something himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874493 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:26:03 +0000 KT326 2874493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: My mom was always telling him he will be a great helper and I would always have to add "if he wants to". Although now that they are both older he does help out more, mostly just watching the toddler while I cook dinner and yelling at me when he is getting into something haha.</p> <p>@DesertDreams88: this too! I wish we had worked on this a little more before the baby came. Especially those nights I was solo parenting and all the baby wanted to do was nurse... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874491 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:25:13 +0000 youboots 2874491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in the same spot. DD will be 4.5 when baby is born in September. We just bought the book babies don’t eat tacos. I’ve actually been watching call the midwife a bit with her- it may be too graphic for some but I think it helps her understand a bit. We also watched the documentary the Milky Way and the series the 9 months that made you on Netflix. She just kind of plays and shows interest occasionally.</p> <p>She says sweet things like that she will share her toys with the baby and that they will live in our house and we will all be a family. We had to tell her that her play room will now be the baby’s room- now she calls it the baby’s room. I think she’s catching on pretty easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874489 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:24:29 +0000 Beehive 2874489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our two are 4 years 3 months apart. We didn't really do anything apart from talk it up (DS was very excited to meet his new sister). One recommendation I followed was not to make any big changes 2-3 months before the baby arrives. We made sure that all the changes to his room etc. were finished by then, so he had time to get used to it before the biggest disruption. The "baby" gave him a gift when he met her in the hospital, too (although he was onto us and knew it came from us). I really love this age gap - it's been perfect for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874487 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:20:29 +0000 magnolia 2874487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: I also forgot to mention I got him a baby doll. He doesn’t really play with it but I showed him how to hold it, give gentle kisses and we talked about how little the baby was </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874486 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:20:24 +0000 DesertDreams88 2874486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Work on the concept of "wait" and "be patient" and "take turns"..... this isn't a cycnical answer, it's an honest answer, it's the only thing that went well with my son, haha. While waiting he would sit on the couch or bed and fold his hands, sometimes sing a song to pass the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874485 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:19:19 +0000 magnolia 2874485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: I really appreciate the idea of not making the older child be a helper. I’m the one who chose to have the baby so why should they have to help out? He’s still a kid</p> <p>Also gonna take the idea of telling him about the baby crying a lot as the way to communicate! Thanks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874484 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:14:11 +0000 KT326 2874484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are 4 years 9 months apart. We just talked about it a lot. I didn't even buy any books! Baby brother was born 5 days before Christmas so everyone was home for a couple weeks (though we did send him to daycare maybe 3-4 times between when he was born and New Year's). After the holidays he went back full time. </p> <p>We prepped him by telling him babies cry a lot because that is how they communicate, they don't do much right after they are born, they are very fragile so we need to be gentle, etc. </p> <p>He did great when baby came home! I also didn't expect him to be my helper. If he wanted to help, great. If not, that was ok too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874483 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:03:53 +0000 SweetCaroline 2874483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: we are doing the same as far as not interrupting her routine. I am open to keeping her home on Fridays if all is going well, because I can imagine she might feel sad to be missing out on being home with us, regardless of how boring it might actually be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874480 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:58:56 +0000 magnolia 2874480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: I’m following! My son will be 4.5 when baby comes in May</p> <p>So far my main plan is to minimize disruption tohis routine and schedule as much as possible. I’m keeping him in his same room/toddler bed and he will be going to preschool and his activities without hopefully any changes</p> <p>We have talked a lot about the baby, he says he wants to shares his toys and play with the baby . He got a little upset when I said the baby wouldn’t be big enough to play with right away. I’m planning on getting some books from the library soon. I think there is also a Daniel tiger episode with baby sister coming we may watch </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-4-year-old-ready-for-baby#post-2874471 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:14:50 +0000 SweetCaroline 2874471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is newly 4 and our second child is on the way. We have several weeks before we will tell her, but what are some things you did along the way if you had an older child who was getting a sibling for the first time? I'm specifically interested in the 4-5 year olds becoming siblings. </p> <p>Looking for conversation topics, books, TV shows, movies, special activities, etc. Thank you! </p>