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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Recommend me a book to use to help my 21 mo understand he'll have a new baby brother / sister soon...

16 replies

acatcalledfelix · 07/08/2011 18:20

That's it really. I've been having a look on Amazon and am tempted by The New Baby, but I've love to hear what worked well for others.

DS is 21 months, will be pretty much two when the new bub arrives. He's still pretty non-verbal but does appear to understand a lot.

Also, any other advice on how to introduce the new arrival?

Thanks!

OP posts:

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mustdash · 07/08/2011 18:41

We read the book <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=there%27s%20a%20house%20inside%20my%20mummy&sprefix=there%27s%20a%20&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">There's a house inside my mummy over and over to DD1, who was 2 when DD2 was about to be born and again with DD1 and DD2, before DD3. They loved it, it is very lovely and repetitive, and they still smile when we mention it.

It is a start! Good luck.

3rdtimesacharm · 07/08/2011 18:46

a second vote for house inside my mummy - great to read snuggled up together. We have used it with dd1 who was 2 and dd2 who was 18 months when ds arrived. dd2 enjoyed listening to it but not too sure she fully got it. dd1 loved it.

RandomMess · 07/08/2011 18:47

I'll 3rd that book too.

However my then middle child was just 3 when no 4 was born and she hadn't worked it out all. Asked who the baby's mummy was..........................

camdancer · 07/08/2011 18:55

DS loved There's a house inside my mummy before DD1 arrived. There is 22 months between them. We also had My New Baby and Waiting for baby which were good because they have no words so we could talk about what was happening.

We also used them before DD2 arrived (another 27 months). We had to buy more advanced books for DS but DS and DD1 enjoyed all three basic books also.

feelingvfrazzled · 07/08/2011 18:56

I'll fourth(?) it! When I first read it I didn't quite feel the size of a house but soon enough did anyway!
Our age gap is 27 months so I would have started out about your little ones age... It's great. DS1 loved it and didn't question arrival of DS2 although that might have had something to do with the play doctors kit he bought out with him for his big brother!
Exciting times, good luck. My face photo ever is ds1 holding ds2 for first time, he is soooo proud.

acatcalledfelix · 07/08/2011 19:21

I admit some of the reviews of "there's a house..." on Amazon have put me off a bit, it seems a bit, well, odd! I'm already 29 weeks, is that a bit late to introduce that particular book?

OP posts:

RandomMess · 07/08/2011 19:23

Nope, 12 weeks is a long long long time to a toddler. Tell them there is a baby coming and they may assume it is tomorrow! Most people IMHO tell their toddlers way to early and wonder why they act up...............

acatcalledfelix · 07/08/2011 19:28

Thanks ramdom that makes me feel better! I absolutely cannot imagine what his reaction is going to be, poor little mite. He's about to be usurped and he's got no idea, makes me feel so sad....!

OP posts:

RandomMess · 07/08/2011 19:30

Honestly my advice is to make as little fuss about it as possible, very low key and accept that your new arrival will spend a fair amount of time being "ignored" compared to you pfb. either that or go the sling route so you have 2 hands free for your ds.

Iggly · 07/08/2011 20:46

Mmm DS is going to be 26 months when DC2 arrives. He's 22 months now and we haven't told him yet! Wondered if I should

RandomMess · 07/08/2011 20:47

Nah I'd leave it until about a months before you think you will deliver (I knew I would be late)

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 07/08/2011 22:20

Now We Have a Baby was really good. It is one of the few books I saw which deals with the emotional reaction of what it will be like for the older sibling. We have the same age gap between our dds as you will have between your los and we still like reading the book.

2ddornot2dd · 11/08/2011 23:21

I loved 'Baby for Grace' by Ian Whybrow. Very good at emotions of feeling left out (and we still read it now DD2 is 15 months). India Knight does a good one called New Baby (but I wanted a hampster). There are a lot of really rubbish ones out there as well.

BertieBotts · 11/08/2011 23:24

I've heard it's good to get a baby doll for the older sibling too, so they can be like mummy and look after their baby while you are busy feeding, changing, etc.

StealthPolarBear · 11/08/2011 23:27

Little Brother and the Cough is fantastic! When it gets to the "rock his pram and rock his pram..." bit you have to do the actions

iskra · 12/08/2011 09:14

I would leave telling them late too! We weren't able to with DD as she was that bit older (3.2 now & 1 month to go!) so she picked up on all the conversation happening around her, & comes to the midwife with me anyway. It's a really long time for a little child to wait.

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