Present for 3.5yo with new sibling?

[beela]

A friend of mine has just had her 2nd baby, so now has 2 DD. She's kept all the stuff from first time round so rather than buy something for the baby I was thinking of getting something for DD1 - e.g. now you are a big sister here is X/Y/Z (toy to play with with new baby / something very grown up just for you etc).

Any ideas on what to get? Am I just making life too complicated for myself? Shall I just go out and buy a cute baby outfit for DD2? (I suspect I may be over-thinking this one...).

I just have the one DS at the moment (and am pg with DC2) so not really sure what the most appreciated gift would be for a second DD! I will also offer cooking and / or playdates (DS gets on really well with her DD1).

I have just had ds2 and ds1 is just over 3.5. He was quite jealous initially and it helped if he was brought a little token when visitors came. In fact he got lots of lovely stuff (as did ds2) but really any little token, even just a magazine will be appreciated. It is also nice to get babygros for new baby. Mine from first time around had all shrunk and 3-6 months were not seasonally appropriate so I appreciated them too (but the present I liked most was bottle of wine and tub of rocky road)!!!!

I agree a token gift is sufficient and a couple of nice new bits for the new baby are good too.

Was thinking how great to offer play dates - having other children over was brilliant for DS when DTs recently arrived (as long as they weren't too mad on babies). Maybe you could offer her a choice of venues in a fun "voucher" way?

Dependent on age all this, obviously, but also DS (3.5) has a baby doll he likes a lot and plays being mummy with (q amusing watching a three year old boy tandem breast feed a bunny and a baby) could be something along those lines she would like but definitely one to check.

Thank you for the feedback!

Good to hear about the baby doll as well, was thinking about getting one for our DS too, he will also be 3.5 when #2 arrives next spring.

We had DS2 in May this year when DS1 was 3.5. What suprised (and pleased) me is that a lot of people who brought something for DS2 also brought something for DS1 - and it was so good as it stopped him feeling left out and helped stop him getting resentful at all the stuff DS2 was getting.

A lot of the stuff he got was cheapish stuff (e.g. a matchbox car or a book/magazine) but it all went down really well and made him feel more involved. I'd definitely recommend getting something (anything will do, esp something that she's really into and that maybe has no link at all with the baby).

I felt quite guilty as prior to this I'd never though about buying presents for older siblins when friends had babies, and I really wish I had!

I too really appreciated it when people who gave presents for dd2 on her arrival also gave a little something to ds1 - mostly just little things like a small diecast car, but he was really pleased and it stopped the rather deflated "oh, it's just another present for dsis". I would personally give a babygro / related item for baby and a little token gift for the eldest.

When dd2 was born, 'she' bought ds1 a present of a wooden tool kit and builder's vest. He loved that she had bought him a present!