Hellobee Boards

How old is DD1? My daughter was almost 4 when my third was born. With my middle child, she was just shy of 2 and it wasn't that exciting. It was a neat moment, but it was a moment (like a minute) she ended up being more excited about the unlimited ice cream on the floor. With the second, she got it much more and it was special (she told me she was never going to let the baby go and wouldn't let anyone else hold him!).
That being said, I wouldn't want grandparents in on that moment either, so why don't you just say what you typed? It seems very logical to me!

I understand what you mean about having a special moment with just you, your DH, and your kids. But you may want someone else there to help keep your LO1 happy. My LO1 was 15 months old when LO2 was born. My parents brought LO1 into the hospital room to meet her little sister. It was actually a good thing they were there because LO1 needed distraction after a minute of seeing (and trying to poke) her little sister. Of course no one can predict how the moment will play out and whatever happens is what happens, so if you feel strongly about only having immediate family in the room at first then I'd just be honest with the grandparents. Just explain about wanting that intimate moment.

@LuLu Mom: same scenario as you - scheduled section, and we wanted out oldest to be the first to meet the baby. We even had a no social media rule before big sis could meet little sis. We didn't announce her birth until sis & all grandparents had met baby.

Here's what we did:
- my mom had Chloe
- DH called my mom when he got back to recovery. Our plan was for them to wait for a second call, just before I was wheeled to my post partum room. We did make calls to let everyone know baby was born & we were safe/healthy.
- I ended up having some trouble from the spinal, though. I couldn't move my legs! The first time, I was out of recovery and in my PP room in about two hours. This time, it was more like six. Yeesh!
- so, DH called my mom back and had her bring Chloe down. The girls met in my recovery room. Not ideal, but we made it work.

Because of that, DH had to meet my mom & Chloe in the hospital lobby. No one was really allowed back, but the nurses were really cool! We did get about an hour just the four of us and it was INCREDIBLE. We also got about three hours just the three of us which was wonderful, too.

We called my mom, and then had her come back. In other circumstances, my dad & ILs would have been there at that point, but I still had another 2 hours or so in recovery. My mom & Chloe got to help us up to my PP room!

I wouldn't have done it any other way. We didn't really had to lay down the law. We simply told people that Chloe was meeting sis first, and that was that.

@LuLu Mom: no, you're not over thinking it! We had the WORST TIME with visitors with our first so I was really anxious with our second.

It helped that I was stuck in recovery for so long. It helped that it was our second baby, and people weren't as excited. and it helped that I had her on a Tuesday & everyone had to work, so people weren't camped out at the hospital like last time (I had Chloe on a Friday, so we had visitors non-stop Saturday and Sunday).

It was much more pleasant this time. It felt like a vacation. DH even slept at home & I sent Charlotte to the nursery. Total bliss.

@LuLu Mom: You aren't over thinking it! You want it to be special. It is one of those important moments You can always phrase it as wanting to cherish the first time you are family of four before getting more visitors.

@LuLu Mom: you won't regret it!