Preparing toddler for new baby & childbirth/toddler arrangements

[summerlovinvibes]

Will be having ELCS in Oct. Dd will be 2yrs 4 months when baby is born. How and when do you start preparing a 2yo for the new arrival? Is it better to wait until much nearer the time? I occasionally talk about "baby in mummy's tummy" but haven't properly started any other reference.

And as for the actual logistics of giving birth... do the hospitals always ask you to go in 7am? Thinking about being able to drop Dd off at the childminders and then go ... and then I'll send her to my mums for the night I first come home? What did other people do?

Congratulations! I did pretty much the same as you have. Just reiterated over and over again that mummy had a baby in her tummy. Nursery worked with her as well. Tbh DD didn't really get it until the third trimester and she could see a bump and movements. She was 2y 6m when she became a big sister.

She was looked after at home with granddad while I was in hospital, then went to stay with my sister for a few days the day after I got home. That time was invaluable to get BFing going as baby was slightly jaundiced and I had to pump to get it all flushed out. Would have been very difficult to do that with a toddler around, as well as the baby blues hitting hard.

I had an afternoon c section. My parents collected my DS from nursery and my DH was back to put him to bed.

My DS loved his doll to practice taking care of a baby.

Oh I forgot about the C-section bit! If you're on the afternoon list, you might not need to come in until 11am. You will need to talk to your consultant about that.

Hello and congratulations! DD was 2 years 2 months when my baby was born (now six weeks). I prepared her just by talking to her about the baby in mummy’s tummy (we referred to baby by her name which helped I think) and about family relationships - both in our family and our friends. So for example when we visited my friend’s baby I explained that the baby used to be in his mummy’s tummy etc. I got a book as well to read with her about becoming a big sister which was good.

I wasn’t sure how much she understood but she was so excited when we brought the baby home and clearly had understood much more than I’d realised. She is a very gentle and loving big sister and we’ve had no issues with jealousy, so the approach seems to have worked well.

In terms of practicalities i also had a planned section. I had to go into hospital early so my mum came to take care of DD and stay in our house so DH could stay with me until visiting ended. We brought baby home the following evening and DD stayed at our house; I wouldn’t have wanted her anywhere else and it was actually completely fine having her around. DM stayed with us for a few nights longer just to help out and play with DD, and she also went back to nursery on her normal days. It was a really lovely time.

Oh, just a thought. My section was supposed to take place two days before
it actually happened but couldn’t go ahead because of the staffing levels. Thankfully my DM was flexible but I would definitely try to build in some flexibility to whatever you plan if you can.

There is a sweet book called 'there's a house inside my mummy' which is lovely - although the baby is a boy in that one so if you know you're having a girl you do have to change some of the words 😂

Thanks all x