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Sibling Rivalry

8 replies

littlemisspiggy · 20/09/2005 10:13

Hi! I've just popped over from the "May2006 Babies" thread and would be interested to hear from Mums of 2 or more on

  1. At what stage of pregnancy did they tell DS1/DD1 (mine is 3)of new baby?
  2. How did you deal with any jealousy,clingyness, naughtiness as a result of baby 2?
  3. I know this one might sound silly but how will I love baby 2 as much as I love DS1?Is there enough of the same unconditional love for both? Sorry, lots of questions. I grew up as a single child with a single mum so had all the attention. DH grew up with one sibling but they are not at all close (in fact not even speaking). I would want my children to grow up feeling nurtured and like they are the most important beings in the world to me. Any experiences to share anyone?
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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Lizzylou · 20/09/2005 10:18

Hi LMP,

I was 3 years older than my brother and can't remember when my Mom told me about the new baby coming but I loved helping her out with him and was known as my brothers "second Mommmy"...
I am 16 weeks and my Ds will be 2 years old when this one arrives...I am also concerned about loving another baby in the same way so I will read replies with interest!
As your child is older perhaps they could come with to scans/M/W appointments and get involved that way?

nailpolish · 20/09/2005 10:26

hi

my dd was 2 yrs 2wks when dd2 was born. i had told her from the start about her wee sister always saying "in mummys tummy is your wee sister!" "your wee sister will be here soon!" so she kind of thought the baby belonged to all of us not just "mummy and daddys new baby"

when she was born she was staying at my mums, so my mum said to her in the morning "lets go and see your new sister!" and they went to the shops and got lots of pressies (socks, a teddy, a hat etc) so dd1 could give dd2 a pressie (she got to choose all the things)

she was so excited when she came to the hospital it wasnt true! i was kind of worried about letting her hold her etc, but i tried not to be overprotective etc, and let dd1 help me with everything, even putting her to bed.

i also bought dd1 a baby doll with a cot, highchair etc so she could copy me with dd2

i would try and include her in things such as choosing what the baby was to wear that day, i would say to her "do you think the baby is hungry?" (i hope all this makes sense!)

when the baby was sleeping i would say to her "come on, baby is sleeping, lets go and play"

the baby doesnt get nearly as much time as you spent with your first baby, but they dont seem to mind! they just love watching big sister/brother, and your first baby never had that

good luck xxx

puddle · 20/09/2005 10:27
  1. After the 20 week scan (ds was 2.5 when dd arrived)
2. Erm, lots and lots of affection and attention. get any adult help you can to hold the baby while you give the older one some time. And remeber the process of adjusting to the new baby will be ongoing for your older one as the baby changes and gets more demanding. 3. There's no limit to love. You will love them both differently because they will be different people. But you won't love one more than the other I promise you.

SIbling rivalry, sibling love' is a great book I still look at from time to time (my youngest is nearly 3) and there's a good chapter on preparing your child for a new brother or sister.

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Redtartanlass · 20/09/2005 10:28

Same as Lizzylou, I was 3 when my wee brother was born, and I can still remember ?bathing? my baby by myself. I obviously didn?t do it by myself but my mum must have put in a lot of time and effort to make me feel I had a lot of input with the baby. Apparently she bought loads of wee presents, so that when visitors came with presents for the baby she gave me a present as well. I was allowed to hold the baby kiss the baby and carry the baby. I remember all this!!!

As regards loving the 2nd baby, my ds1 was 18 when ds2 was born and I was so completely and utterly terrified that I could possible love this wee baby as much as this person and I loved, nurtured and knew inside out for 18 years.

But guess what?.. now that ds2 is here I love him just as much as ds1. I would never ever be able to explain the joy of watching my 20 year old son play with my 20 month and both of them loving each other soooo much.

Oh sh am going to cry now, hope this allays some of your fears.

coldtea · 20/09/2005 10:29

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I told my ds after my 23 scan, firstly i wanted to make sure everything was ok. Secondly, i think 9months is a long time to wait! My ds was 2.9 when i told him & he still found 17 weeks a long time, he kept asking when it would be here!

I didn't really get any jealousy. We did all the usual buying presents for him when dd was born, making sure people gave him lots of attention. One thing i think really worked was whenever dd cried or babbled we translated it into her talking to him. We would say she was telling him how lucky she was to have a great big brother & how much she loved him.

Lastly, i can only confirm what everyone says, that when you have this baby you will love them just the same. I found myself asking this & even getting quite tearful about it. In truth i found it was my ds i got cross with when dd was born (though i didn't show it) usually as i didn't want him waking her up. At his young age he didn't see that when she was awake it meant i couldn't give him the individual time i wanted to spend with him.

littlemisspiggy · 20/09/2005 10:30

Thanks Redtartanlass. That's lovely. I guess as your DS1 was old enough it was easier to discuss the issues about DS2 with him.

OP posts:
Redtartanlass · 20/09/2005 10:34

littlemisspiggy, wish that was true can you imagine breaking the news to your 18 year old son, that you're pregnant!!!

"Son, sit down I've got something to tell you"
"Oh my god, you're not pregnanat are you, how could possibley let this happen...yaba yaba yaba"

Very strange role reversal!

vwvic · 20/09/2005 10:44

DD1 was 2years 2 months when dd2 was born. We told her about dd2 as soon as we knew, mainly because I had hyperemesis, so she knew something was wrong. I have to say though, I think it worked out well because she had a long time to adjust to the idea of another person joining our family. She loved coming to the scans, and seeing the "squirmy thing" as she called it! Our midwives were really good too- they allowed her to "hold" the doppler in place, and one even taught her how to feel the baby. Gently, of course. Oh, I'm babbling on, but some of my nicest memories are of how excited she was, especially when she saw my bump move, which just about cracked her up. I don't think I've laughed so much ever!

To deal with you second point, DH and I thought the best way to avoid it was to prepare as much as possible. We got her used to talking to the baby whilst it was still in my bump, also we made a list of ways she could help the baby and me, what she could do the baby couldn't etc, basically never letting an opportunity to tell her how great she was, and how much we valued what she could do pass. I was most worried about how I would fit in breast feeding and coping with dd1's demands. For us we marketed it as a special time to sit down and read a book together, whilst we just let Olive get on with it. We dealt with any negative behaviour in much the same way as we normally would, and tried as hard as we could to emphasise positives.

I remember worrying about not having enough love for both girls. I felt that if my love was like a pie, everyone would end up getting a smaller slice, and that wasn't really good enough. But, do you know what? My pie got bigger overnight, and I can't explain how. I just know that as soon as dd2 was born, I loved her as much as I did when DD1 was born.

Sorry for the ramble and welldone if you got this far!

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