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Children's books

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Original poster

Recommendations for explaining that 2.2 year old is due to be a big sister in Feb?

30 replies

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 22/10/2009 14:52

Wondered what your favourite books on this topic were. TIA

OP posts:
Singstar · 22/10/2009 14:56

Usborne's First Experiences is good but its about all different experiences so you might want to get a book thats specific to the subject. Congrats by the way

Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 22/10/2009 14:59

Thanks Singstar.

OP posts:
flimflammum · 22/10/2009 15:11

Waiting for Baby and the other one by the same people, My New Baby. They have pictures but no words, so you can make it up to fit your circumstances (also don't show bottle feeding).

I also liked I'm a Big Brother/Sister - on same page in Amazon - as it's positive about the things the toddler can do that the baby can't (e.g. eat pizza and apples).

Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 22/10/2009 15:25

Thanks flim.

OP posts:
pointyhat · 22/10/2009 15:41

I quite liked Sophie's Baby. Is it an Anholt?

pointyhat · 22/10/2009 15:42

aha, here it is. It's also about a winter baby which would be nice for yourdd

HappyBump · 22/10/2009 15:44

A House inside my Mummy - lovely book, illustrations are great and also the rhyme is good too. I am reading it to my DS he is 22 months and due to be a big brother in January

Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 22/10/2009 22:02

Thanks pointy and Happy - will check these out as well.

OP posts:
bruffin · 23/10/2009 11:51

The Day the Teddy Bears Came by Martin Waddell, not sure if it's still in print

DuchessOfAvon · 24/10/2009 11:33

I used the ones that FLim is talking about - and all worked really well. In fact, DD1 still likes I Am A Big Sister now - and its been a year since her sibling arrived.

A House Inside My Mummy passed her by - she just didn't get it at all.

Zebra33 · 29/10/2009 14:11

Am also looking for such books thanks for the recomms. But have heard there is a particular one called something along the lines of "9 months" with good illustrations, anyone know it??

Adair · 29/10/2009 14:26

Nice Miffy book

House Inside My Mummy... meh.alright.

Don't get this one. Really grumpy and miserable big sister, dd did not relate at all, as she was really excited about ds! Think they were trying to acknowledge feelings of jealousy but comes across whingy. unappealing illustrations too. though it has some good reviews on amazon... each to their own I guess.

I think this (Penguin) is about a baby sibling. But I could be wrong. Fab book anyway.

Dd was 2.3 when ds was born and they LOVE each other (3.5 and 1 now). Congrats

Zebra33 · 29/10/2009 16:45

Hi Adair, both "this" links are for the Penguin book, what's the other one?

Adair · 29/10/2009 18:28

Oops

the other one is called Hi New Baby!

If you live anywhere near Stoke Newington, you are welcome to come and take them (the two we don't like that is - I'm generous, me! )

Zebra33 · 30/10/2009 15:58

Thanks Adair, managed to find a whole lot more under that link. Not near Stoke Newington but tnx anyway

Anifrangapani · 30/10/2009 16:01

Another way is to take your existing child to the scan. Our DD loved it ( at a similar age to yours) especially when we let her name "her" new brother.

Adair · 30/10/2009 20:08

Ooh yes, dd thought the her baby brother looked like a da-do (crocodile) on the 3mth scan - was v cute! (and she pretended to do heartbeats on all her teddies)

AlaskaNebraska · 30/10/2009 20:09

oh god just tell her

AlaskaNebraska · 30/10/2009 20:10

why do you need a chiffing book

Adair · 30/10/2009 21:26

er... that's a weird question.

Why have any books?

AlaskaNebraska · 30/10/2009 21:28

oyu dont need a book to tell a kid they are having a sibling
just tell them
far nicer

Adair · 30/10/2009 21:49

Must have missed that part where they said they would only introduce the topic via literature. Course you don't need a book, but some children quite like reading, you know.

Am assuming the OP is not planning to shove the book in their hands, gruffly ask 'any questions, love?' and go and have a cuppa.

Can't remember how we told dd, she gradually got the message there was a baby in my tummy and talking, books, films/telly, friends, scan, pictures all probably helped her understand the concept.

MrsBadger · 30/10/2009 22:18

dd (2.3) will be a big sister in February

we told her, yes, obv, and she came to the 20wk scan 'to see the baby on television' etc
we have been to visit friends with new babies, talked to her friends about their new siblings, met other pg mums who are further along etc

but having the books about (none of the aforementioned, they are all 70s and 80s ones from my own childhood) gives her a chnace to look at what it migth be like in her own time and on her own terms. She also uses them as a cue to get us to talk to her about the new baby.

I found 'Sophie's Baby' a bit dark tbh - atm I want to big up the positive aspects of it rather than make her worry about being angry / everyone beign busy etc in advance.

The best one we have is called 'My Brother Sammy' (no not the one about the autistic brother, tis an ancient 70s one where the dad has a porn star tache) as after the big tummy / granny comign to stay / mummy in hospital / bf and nappies scenes, it finishes with the baby asleep in the basket and Mummy, Daddy and new big sister Mara having pizza for dinner together, which is always a draw for dd .

AlaskaNebraska · 30/10/2009 23:09

lol at cuppa

strig · 31/10/2009 16:41

I read with DS (who was 2 when DD was born Our New Baby by Dawn Sirett. It is about a boy so may not be suitable for you! But very simple and comes with stickers - I am a big brother/sister, I help with the baby etc. DS didn't pay any attention to my bump or baby things until we started reading this. I was talking to him about the new baby the whole way through my pregnancy and he came to scans etc but I think the book was the thing that made him understand! So to those who say why a book I would say they definitely work - well in my case!