Hellobee Boards Topic: When to tell older kids?

Hellobee Boards Topic: When to tell older kids? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:03:24 +0000 muffinsmuffins on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899227 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:56:05 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2899227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our son was the first person we told on the day we found out! He had just turned 3. It was a couple days before Christmas and we wanted to tell our parents on Christmas but felt he needed to know before everyone else :silly: We are lucky because it was a healthy pregnancy but even if it hadn’t been, we figured we would just have to handle that as it came as it’s part of life unfortunately, and anything can happen. Our older son is not a chatty kid so he never spilled to anyone the whole time. Shantuck on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899226 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:50:22 +0000 Shantuck 2899226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would wait until the point in which you are fine with everyone knowing it. With this current pregnancy, we told my 7 year old son at the 12 week mark (after we had received the genetic test results) and he literally told everyone he saw that next day in school. My phone started blowing up with texts and calls from moms of his classmates with well wishes within 10 minutes of school dismissal. I've personally lost 2 pregnancies around the 10 week mark so that perhaps shapes my view as well.... ScarletBegonia on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899220 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:30:50 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2899220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We told my son pretty early when I was pregnant, he was 3 and a half, and we ended up having a stillbirth at 21 weeks, which was devastating to all of us. He's now 5 and we are TTC and have already decided we will tell him right away. He experienced the loss as acutely as we did and was entitled to mourn and grieve like we did - so if we get pregnant again, no matter what happens, he will be in on it from the get go. LemonJack on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899217 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:20:58 +0000 LemonJack 2899217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We told our girls (5 & 2) after I’d gotten my NIPT results back around 11-12 weeks. Once those were good, we felt comfortable starting to share it out a little more freely. bhbee on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899211 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 15:52:39 +0000 bhbee 2899211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Baby Boy Mom: agree my kids never thought anything about my first tri sickness and fatigue! We did it after the NIPT results - they were just turned 3 and 6. We had lost the last pregnancy at 11w after seeing a hb, and I was really glad we never told them especially my oldest who was 5 then. Also it was fun to tell the gender at the same time which I think made it a little more tangible for them. We told the kids first and then other family. Kemma on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899202 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:54:57 +0000 Kemma 2899202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I waited a lot longer with our fourth pregnancy (we lost the third pregnancy) predominantly because we didn’t “announce” and once my oldest knew then everybody would know! Baby Boy Mom on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899185 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:58:45 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2899185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We waited until 12 weeks because I was afraid they would spill the beans to other people and I wasn't ready to share. For reference, they are 8,6,3 and not once did they ask why I was sick/resting/not making dinner or anything like that. That part was actually really surprising but they just accepted things as they were. LadyDi on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899183 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:53:27 +0000 LadyDi 2899183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We told DS1 about our third pretty early. He was three at the time and we were telling our family and he would have known something was going on. DS2 was too young to know what was going on. maybebaby on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899175 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:17:34 +0000 maybebaby 2899175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @graceandjoy: That's a good point! @LAZB: That must have been so hard :( Great point about telling everyone - our families do not live nearby. We haven't told them yet but also not like the kids could hop on text and spill the beans LOL! But they would totally tell daycare/school friends etc which is a good thing to keep in mind! LAZB on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899174 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:15:41 +0000 LAZB 2899174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We told our daughter at 9.5 weeks with the last pregnancy (I had 4 good ultrasounds at that point). We lost the pregnancy at 11 weeks, and she was DEVASTATED, she still talks about that baby sometimes, so I swore we would wait longer this time even though we now it is genetically normal. Now I'm not sure how long we will wait, I'm already excited to tell the kids and I'm not even 4 weeks lol. I'd love to wait until Christmas, but will definitely be showing by then, so don't know. All that is to say, anything can happen, it really is just what you feel comfortable with. Also. little kids can't keep secrets, so by telling them you are basically telling everyone. graceandjoy on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899173 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:12:55 +0000 graceandjoy 2899173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kids were 2.5 and 4.5 and I think I told them after 1st appointment. My 4.5 year old had since told people, but I was comfortable with people we see regularly knowing early. And I knew that if something were to happen, it wasn't like I would/could hide it from them either. maybebaby on "When to tell older kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-tell-older-kids#post-2899171 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:05:05 +0000 maybebaby 2899171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am 9w5d and we had first apt last week. Baby has healthy, strong heartbeat and all looks good. My husband and I are thinking about telling our kids (nearly 4 and 6) tonight but now second guessing - is that too early? I've not been feeling great and been wiped by the evenings and I feel like it would be easier to explain if we could tell them...plus we are just really excited to tell them, they are both so eager to have a baby in the family. When did you tell your older kids? With my first, he was less than 2 so it didn't really matter as he didn't "get" it!