Introducing a new sibling to a 22 month old

[tinyfeet]

If there's another thread on this subject, please let me know. I'm worried that DD1 will not react well when I bring DD2 home in 4 months. DD1 will be 22 months old when DD2 is born. I'm sure there are loads of books on this subject, but of course I trust Mumsnet advice more than anything else. I fear that DD1 will get jealous or competitive, etc. I have 2 nephews who fight like cats and dogs, and having witnessed that, I want to do anything I can in advance to minimize conflict between the 2. Any general advice?

Specific advice is also needed. DD1's bedroom is right next to ours. We have 2 other bedrooms on the same floor. Should I put DD2 in the bedroom closest to ours and move DD1 into another room? Or should we set up DD2's bedroom in one of the other rooms?

Should I buy gifts for when DD2 is born and give them to DD1 and tell her that they are gifts from DD2? Someone advised that I do this.

Any advice would really be appreciated.

Tinyfeet, babies are easy, trust me! The first time round was really hrd because nobody has a clue about babies, but second time is exhausting butnot hard as they have so few demands.

I agree, runragged, but DD1 didn't sleep for more than a 3 hour stretch for what seemed like the first 6 weeks at least. I'm not looking forward to that! I was breastfeeding constantly! I do hope that DD2 is easier than DD1 in that respect.

he will be - second child syndrome!

It's a she, we think from the scan. Does second-child syndrome mean you get an easier child or does it mean you let them cry more cos you've been-there-done-that?

The latter!

You don't have so much time to jump up every time they so mich as whimper and you realise that they don't need you to anyway.

That's what I figured. The funny thing is that it seems that since you don't jump and cater to the second child's every whimper, they do end up to be more laid back children. I only know one second child who is an absolute nightmare, but she is actually a middle child. All the other ones I know do seem surprisingly laid back.