Tips for keeping a jealous toddler happy with a newborn around please!

[urterriblemuriel]

I'm due with my DC2 in a couple of months, however I'm a little concerned about my 25mo DD. She gets very jealous when I hold other young babies, she approaches me straight away and tries to push them off me (fairly gently though and of course I pass them straight back).

I talk to her every day about the baby, how it loves her already and we also have a great book aimed at toddlers explaining at their level about becoming a big sister. Any other ideas?

Once baby is here, someone also suggested reading books together when breastfeeding so they get attention/cuddles too.

TIA!

When I had my daughter I also had a 4 year old son, when he came to visit me in hospital after I'd had her I had a present for him which I said was from his little sister.

I also let him pick a present for her to get him involved. I let him help with changing times so he used to fetch me a nappy ect

Now and then he has a jealous turn where he will say he hates his baby sister but I guess that's just all part of siblinghood! Kids just learn to adjust :)

All good advice so far. I read somewhere that when your DD first meets the baby it's better if someone other than you is holding the baby - otherwise it's like a direct gut-punch into Things Are Gonna Be Different 'round Here, yo. When reunited with her after the birth, your arms should be as free as they ever have been to give her a huge, reassuring cuddle. Then, from the safety of your lap, she can start investigating the new arrival.

Not sure I've explained it very well but I expect you get the idea!

Another thing I always try and do is make sure my elder DS gets as much positive attention as possible with relation to his little brother. So I try and notice, and comment, every time I see him bringing a toy, passing a piece of apple, doing a silly dance to make him laugh, gently removing small bits of Lego that were about to disappear into his gaping maw honestly, DS2 is bloody lucky DS1 looks out for him, he'd be screwed if he only had me to rely on

I also encourage visitors to pay both DSes equal attention - sometimes people get carried away cooing over the baby and poor DS1 ends up standing there with a face like a wet weekend going "but I NEED to show you this BALLOON". So I try and bring him back into the conversation eg "Yes, DS2 does have a lovely smile. Did you know, the person who is best at making him laugh is definitely DS1. Go on, DS1, make one of your special funny faces for him. See! Amazing!". (and at the crucial moment I prod one of DS2's ever reliable tickle spots just to make sure DS1 does get his pay off!).

Erm can't think of much more, that's loads anyway. Good luck, it will all be fine!

Ps fab nn, I love that film